El rol de la enfermera coordinadora de asistencia ventricular en España: el futuro ya ha llegado

Abstract

Ventricular assist devices have revolutionized the treatment of patients with advanced heart failure refractory to medical therapy, as a bridge to transplantation, and more recently also as destination therapy. Due to the increase in the number of patients treated with these devices, and the specific and differentiated management required, it has become clear the need to create a new job: a registered nurse or ventricular assist device coordinator (trained in hospitals specialized in mechanical circulatory support), who is responsible for the management of these patients. We believe that this nurse is necessary as it would improve clinical outcomes (reduction of complications), and would be the kingpin in the care of these patients to increase their quality of life, reducing the number of readmissions, and above all, increasing patient and family satisfaction.