{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.0361890694239291, 'fraction_numerical': 0.007385524372230428, 'mean_word_length': 5.775, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Activities of home-based heart failure nurse specialists: a modified narrative analysis.

BACKGROUND
Heart failure nurse specialists strive to optimize patients' outcomes in home-based settings.


OBJECTIVE
To document the activities of home-based heart failure nurse specialists.


METHOD
A modified narrative analysis of clinical notes of home-based heart failure nurse specialists during a 12-month period was used.


RESULTS
Data analysis revealed 7 key activities of home-based heart failure nurse specialists: (1) monitoring signs and symptoms and reinforcing patients' self-management: identifying trends and appropriate action; (2) organization, liaison, and consultation with other health professionals to deal with changes in clinical status; (3) clarifying and reinforcing patients' self-care strategies; (4) assisting patients in their desire to avoid institutionalized care; (5) identifying patients' psychosocial issues: dealing with social isolation; (6) providing support: journeying with patients and patients' families; and (7) helping patients and patients' families deal with death and dying.


CONCLUSIONS
A major proportion of the activities of home-based heart failure nurse specialists are related to facilitating communication between health professionals and providing information and support to patients and patients' families.