This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Audrey Kleet, RN, MS, on inotropic therapy for acute HF care, at-home infusion
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
MORRISTOWN, N.J. — In this video, Audrey Kleet, RN, MS, ACNP-BC, CCRN, CCTC, CHFN, of the Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute, Morristown Memorial Hospital, discusses her presentation at the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses Annual Conference in Los Angeles on the use of inotropic therapy for patients with acute HF.
The presentation included discussion of treatment guidelines, and of the ways the therapy can be used outside of a hospital setting. Kleet said that early literature indicated that inotropic therapy may not be beneficial, but that new data has indicated the potential for the treatment to improve short-term quality of life among patients with advanced HF.
Kleet emphasized the importance of providing patient education about the treatment, as well as ensuring that a patient has an adequate support system outside the hospital to allow for a smooth transition from hospital-based care to at-home treatment. She also noted that collaboration and communication between interdisciplinary teams, including physicians, nurses, nutritionists, therapists and social workers, is critical when managing inotropic therapy in the home environment.