What would be an appropriate nursing diagnosis for a patient with heart failure?

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An appropriate nursing diagnosis for a patient with heart failure is excess fluid volume. This condition is characterized by the heart's inability to pump effectively, leading to fluid retention in the body. Patients with heart failure often exhibit signs of fluid overload, such as swelling in the extremities, pulmonary edema, and increased blood pressure.

In managing heart failure, nurses need to assess for signs of fluid retention and monitor the patient’s weight and intake/output to address the risk of excess fluid volume. Implementing interventions to manage this diagnosis may involve medication management, dietary modifications, and education on daily weight monitoring and fluid restrictions to help prevent complications associated with fluid overload. By focusing on this nursing diagnosis, the care plan can be tailored to effectively alleviate symptoms and improve patient quality of life.

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