Chris Nicholson works as a Heart Failure Specialist Nurse for Central Lancashire PCT where he set up and runs the service. It is a nurse-led, community-based service, with hospital in-reach. The caseload is currently around 350 heart failure patients and the area is a mixed population. Prior to his current job Chris has worked as a nurse and charge nurse on coronary care units in secondary and tertiary cardiac centres and as a Nurse Clinician in Cardiology after having completed his Clinical Masters Degree.

"This book is easy to read, despite having minimal pictures and diagrams. It would be a helpful tool for students, newly qualified nurses and any practitioner requiring a refresher or update on heart failure." (British Journal of Perioperative Nursing, June 2009) This useful handbook introduces the reader to key issues in enhancing the care of patients with heart failure. (British Journal of Cardiac Nursing, July 2008)"An absolute must for any practitioner involved in running a heart failure service and should also be on the shelf of every university library, coronary care unit, medical unit and GP surgery." (Nursing Standard, May 2008)

• About the Author. Preface.Part I Introduction.1 Definitions.Introduction.Historical Outline.Definitions.Terminology.Grading of Heart Failure.2 Epidemiology.Overview.Prevalence.Incidence.Subgroup Differences.Future Trends.3 Causes.Overview.Ischaemic Heart Disease.Hypertension.Valve Disease.Arrhythmias.Infection.Alcohol.Diabetes.Genetic Heart Failure.Other Rare Rauses of Heart Failure.Iatrogenic Heart Failure.4 Outcomes.Prognosis.Mortality.Morbidity.Quality of Life.Health Economics.5 Physiology.The Normal Heart.The Failing Heart.Part II Diagnosis and Assessment.6 Clinical Assessment.Role of Clinical Assessment.Assessment Skills.Presenting Complaint.Past Medical History.Lifestyle Review (Social History).Medication Review.Symptoms of Heart Failure.Signs of Heart Failure.Signs of Structural Change.Systemic Signs.Assessment Tools and Competency.7 Investigations.Use of Investigations.Investigations for Diagnosis.Investigations for Follow-up.Heart Failure Screening.Electrocardiogram (ECG).Echocardiogram.Chest X-ray (CXR).Blood Tests.Cardiac Catheterisation.Impedance Cardiography (ICG).Nuclear Imaging.Part III Treatment.8 Treatment Essentials.Education.Information.Lifestyle.9 Exercise Training.Background.Exercise Physiology.Rationale for Exercise Training.Evidence Base.Safety.Types of Exercise Training.Service Delivery.10 Medicines.Overview.Guidelines.Treatment Principles.Elderly Patients.Asymptomatic Patients.Nursing Role.Diuretics.ACE-inhibitors.Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (A2RB).Beta-blockers.Aldosterone Antagonists.Digoxin.Nitrates.Other Vasodilators.Oxygen.Inotropes.Anti-arrhythmic drugs.Opioids.Drugs to Avoid.11 Invasive Treatments.Role of Invasive Treatments.Cardiac Surgery.Devices.Emerging Technologies.12 End-Stage Heart Failure.Defining ‘End-Stage’ Heart Failure.The Dying Heart.Symptoms.Resuscitation Issues.Psychological and Spiritual Dimension.Family and Carers.Specialist Palliative Care.Service Issues.Part IV Policy and Service Issues.13 Policy Framework.Historical Perspective.National Service Frameworks.Professional Guidelines Specific to Heart Failure.Primary and Secondary Care.Future Developments.14 Service Issues.Heart Failure Services.Funding.Key Partners.Patient Participation.Identifying Patients.Referrals.Service Effectiveness.Heart Failure: Clinical Trials Index.Glossary and Abbreviations.References.Index.