Dietary interventions for cardiovascular disease patients. Nursing application.

The aim of this thesis is to give a detailed insight about nurses’ contributions in caring for nutritional needs of hospitalized cardiac patients. The study method used was deductive content analyses, as illustrated by Elo and Kungas (2007). After careful consideration of the articles used, three main themes were brought up: assessment of nutritional status, methods of intervention and nursing challenges in nutrition. The theoretical background was supported by guidelines from the American Heart Association, World Health Organization, ASPEN (American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition), BAPEN (British Association of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition) and Terveysportti Finnish Health Portal. The theoretic framework of the study was provided by Pender’s theory of promotion and Johnson’s behavioral system model. The findings of this study indicate that nurses nutritional responsibilities are related to assessing the nutritional status using screening tools and documentation. Methods of intervention are described through: education, and multidisciplinary teamwork. Lifestyle barriers, insufficient personnel, knowledge gap and inadequate assessment are among the nursing challenges. This study attempts to encourage new opportunities for nursing research in the field of nutrition. Further studies in understanding nutrition’s role in heart patients is necessary