Heart Education Awareness Resource and Training through eLearning (HEARTe)
The practice nurse (PN) and Raza discuss heart failure
See the additional information box to find out what we should consider when breaking bad news.
Scene 1
PN: thinks : I hate having to tell people this: how can I explain to him so he understands
PN: Says: Your test results have come back and it shows that you have heart failure
Raza: thinks: Am I dying?
Raza: Says: What does heart failure mean
Scene 2
PN: I know it’s a scary term but it doesn”t mean your heart is about to stop. It just means your heart is not pumping effectively.
This explains why you have been feeling breathless, tired and cannot cycle to work
Raza: What can you do about it and what happens next?
Scene 3
PN: let’s begin by looking at what medications can help
Additional Information
What should we consider when breaking bad news for patients and family:
Ensure there is an quiet environment where they are not going to be disturbed
Tailor information to individual needs.
Check their understanding
Elicit and explore reactions to the information given
Determine how much they want to participate in decision-making
Discuss treatment options so that the they understands the implications
Enable them to follow agreed decisions about treatment
Identify, offer, discuss and signpost relevant further support (e.g. psychology, information resources, support groups) that they and relatives/carers might find helpful
Additional useful reference:
Buckman, R. (1992) How to break bad news: a guide for healthcare professionals. The John Hopkins University Press. Maryland. U.S.A.
