Heart failure (HF) or Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is a physiologic state in which he heart cannot pump

enough blood to meet the metabolic needs of the body.

Heart failure results from changes in systolic or diastolic function of the left ventricle. The heart fails 

when, because of intrinsic disease or structural it cannot handle a normal bloodvolume or, in absence of 

disease, cannot tolerate a sudden expansion in blood volume.

Heart failure is not a disease itself, instead, the term refers to a clinical syndrome characterized by 

manifestations of volume overload, inadequate tissue perfusion, and poor exercise tolerance. Whatever 

the cause, pump failure results in hypoperfusion of tissues, followed by pulmonary and systemic venous 

congestion.

Because heart failure causes vascular congestion, it is often called congestive heart failure, although 

most cardiac specialist no longer use this term. Other terms used to denote heart failure include chronic 

heart failure, cardiac decompensation, cardiac insufficiency and ventricular failure.

Nursing Care Plans

Nursing care for patients with heart failure includes support to improve heart pump function by various 

nursing interventions, prevention and identification of complications, and providing a teaching plan for 

lifestyle modifications.

Here are 16+ nursing care plans (NCP) for patients with Heart Failure:

Content

1. Decreased Cardiac Output

2. Activity Intolerance

3. Excess Fluid Volume

4. Risk for Impaired Gas Exchange

5. Risk for Impaired Skin Integrity

6. Deficient Knowledge

7. Decreased Cardiac Output

8. Excess Fluid Volume

9. Acute Pain

10. Ineffective Tissue Perfusion

11. Hyperthermia

12. Ineffective Breathing Pattern

13. Activity Intolerance

14. Ineffective Airway Clearance

15. Impaired Gas Exchange

16. Fatigue

17. Other Nursing Care Plans

1

Decreased Cardiac Output

Decreased Cardiac Output: Inadequate blood pumped by the heart to meet metabolic demands of the 

body.

Nursing Diagnosis

 Decreased Cardiac Output

May be related to

 Altered myocardial contractility/inotropic changes

 Alterations in rate, rhythm, electrical conduction

 Structural changes (e.g., valvular defects, ventricular aneurysm)

Possibly evidenced by

 Increased heart rate (tachycardia), dysrhythmias, ECG changes

 Changes in BP (hypotension/hypertension)

 Extra heart sounds (S3, S4)

 Decreased urine output

 Diminished peripheral pulses

 Cool, ashen skin; diaphoresis

 Orthopnea, crackles, JVD, liver engorgement, edema

 Chest pain

Desired Outcomes

 Patient will display vital signs within acceptable limits, dysrhythmias absent/controlled, and no 

symptoms of failure (e.g., hemodynamic parameters within acceptable limits, urinary output 

adequate).

 Patient will report decreased episodes of dyspnea, angina.

 Patient will Participate in activities that reduce cardiac workload.