The nurse is creating a plan of care for a patient with a cardiomyopathy. What priority goal should underlie most of the assessments and interventions that are selected for this patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The priority nursing diagnosis of a patient with cardiomyopathy would include improved or maintained cardiac output. Regardless of the category and cause, cardiomyopathy may lead to severe heart failure, lethal dysrhythmias, and death. The pathophysiology of all cardiomyopathies is a series of progressive events that culminate in impaired cardiac output. Absence of complications, adherence to the self-care program, and increased activity tolerance should be included in the care plan, but they do not have the priority of improved cardiac output.

The Nurse Is Creating a Plan of Care for a Patient