CLINICAL PRACTICE
New cardiovascular guidelines: Clinical practice evidence for the nurse practitioner Leanne L. Lefler, PhD, ACNS-BC, APRN, FAHA (Associate Professor)1 , Matthew Hadley, DNP, BC-PNP-BC, FNP-BC (Chief Clinical Officer)2 , Joan Tackett, MNSc, APRN, FNP-BC (Clinical Instructor)1 , & Ayasha P. Thomason, MNSc, APRN, WHNP-BC (Assistant Professor)1 1 2
College of Nursing, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas Integrated Care Professionals, Little Rock, Arkansas
Keywords Cardiovascular disease; prevention; treatment; nurse practitioners. Correspondence Leanne L. Lefler, PhD, ACNS-BC, APRN, FAHA, College of Nursing, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham, #529, Little Rock, AR 72205. Tel: 501-296-1939; Fax: 501-296-1765; E-mail: [email protected] Received: 22 September 2014; accepted: 10 March 2015 doi: 10.1002/2327-6924.12262
Abstract Purpose: Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) have recently changed. Goals of these guidelines have shifted to the promotion of health and control of risk rather than solely on treatment of CVD. This article summarizes the six new cardiovascular screening, prevention, and treatment guidelines for use in practice. Data sources: Published and peer-reviewed guidelines published jointly and in collaboration with the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology constitute the evidence base for this article. Conclusions: The potential for making lifestyle changes a way of life instead of a diet or program is an important point to make in clinical visits. If nurse practitioners (NPs) could promote a way-of-life lifestyle change to individuals in America, even change at a modest level, we could improve the health of the nation. Implications for practice: NPs need to be aware of new guidelines and best practices to improve the cardiovascular health of their patients. We summarized these new guidelines into an easy-to-interpret format for use in practice.
The American Heart Association (AHA) promotes seven healthy behaviors, called Life’s Simple 7 (http://mylifecheck.heart.org/), with the goal to improve cardiovascular health among Americans. The Simple 7 recommendations promote ideal risk factors that include smoking cessation, reducing body mass index (BMI) to
New cardiovascular guidelines: Clinical practice evidence for the nurse practitioner Leanne L. Lefler, PhD, ACNS-BC, APRN, FAHA (Associate Professor)1 , Matthew Hadley, DNP, BC-PNP-BC, FNP-BC (Chief Clinical Officer)2 , Joan Tackett, MNSc, APRN, FNP-BC (Clinical Instructor)1 , & Ayasha P. Thomason, MNSc, APRN, WHNP-BC (Assistant Professor)1 1 2
College of Nursing, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas Integrated Care Professionals, Little Rock, Arkansas
Keywords Cardiovascular disease; prevention; treatment; nurse practitioners. Correspondence Leanne L. Lefler, PhD, ACNS-BC, APRN, FAHA, College of Nursing, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham, #529, Little Rock, AR 72205. Tel: 501-296-1939; Fax: 501-296-1765; E-mail: [email protected] Received: 22 September 2014; accepted: 10 March 2015 doi: 10.1002/2327-6924.12262
Abstract Purpose: Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) have recently changed. Goals of these guidelines have shifted to the promotion of health and control of risk rather than solely on treatment of CVD. This article summarizes the six new cardiovascular screening, prevention, and treatment guidelines for use in practice. Data sources: Published and peer-reviewed guidelines published jointly and in collaboration with the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology constitute the evidence base for this article. Conclusions: The potential for making lifestyle changes a way of life instead of a diet or program is an important point to make in clinical visits. If nurse practitioners (NPs) could promote a way-of-life lifestyle change to individuals in America, even change at a modest level, we could improve the health of the nation. Implications for practice: NPs need to be aware of new guidelines and best practices to improve the cardiovascular health of their patients. We summarized these new guidelines into an easy-to-interpret format for use in practice.
The American Heart Association (AHA) promotes seven healthy behaviors, called Life’s Simple 7 (http://mylifecheck.heart.org/), with the goal to improve cardiovascular health among Americans. The Simple 7 recommendations promote ideal risk factors that include smoking cessation, reducing body mass index (BMI) to
