The nurse notes that one of her clients is more anxious than usual. The client states, "I don't understand how I can still be alive when my heart has failed.". The nurse's most appropriate response is:

Question

1. "It must be very confusing. Heart failure doesn't mean your heart has quit, just that it no longer is as efficient as it once was. You have internal mechanisms that work to try to keep your blood pressure from falling, but eventually these mechanisms work against the heart's ability to pump blood easily.".
2. "It seems like you are upset. Would you like for me to call the health care provider to explain this to you?"
3. "Heart failure is pretty complicated. It means the heart is failing to work.".
4. "Heart failure is a common problem in the United States. Many people have it. They all have problems such as yours.".

Answer 1

"It must be very confusing. Heart failure doesn't mean your heart has quit, just that it no longer is as efficient as it once was. You have internal mechanisms that work to try to keep your blood pressure from falling, but eventually these mechanisms work against the heart's ability to pump blood easily.".

Rationale: An explanation that helps alleviate the client's concerns may be helpful. Contacting the health care provider is not necessary, since the nurse should know how to respond to this question. Answering with "Heart failure is pretty complicated. It means the heart is failing to work" does not provide the client with enough information. Sharing with the client that heart failure is a common problem doesn't help the client understand the heart issue any better.