The Need for Nursing Education in the Care of Adults with Congenital Heart Defects

Abstract

Background: The population of adults with congeni-tal heart defects is rapidly expanding. Formal and infor-mal nursing education offers little if any training in the care of adults with congenital heart defects, creating a disparity between the growing need for care for these patients and the availability of knowledgeable provid-ers. Methods: A needs assessment survey was conducted to assess educational needs, use of available resources, and learning method preferences of nurses within a Midwestern community hospital (N = 800). The conve-nience sample included 269 responses (n = 269). A pilot survey was conducted with a subset of the population (n = 18). Results: The results showed a poor understanding of adults with congenital heart defects, with findings similar to those of previous studies. Conclusion: Providing education may help to prepare nurses to care for adults with congenital heart defects as these patients are seen in increasing numbers in all areas of health care. J Contin Educ Nurs 2013;44(2):81-88.