It is important to emphasise that HF is a chronic and progressive syndrome, in which adjustments and modifications in lifestyle are very important. Many patients consider themselves healthy and show little adherence to orientations given by the medical team until they present the first HF decompensation episode. The initial approach with a HF patient should not include all of the aspects regarding the complexity of HF treatment. Nurses must have the ability to evaluate individual needs of each patient and proceed with the education method based on his/her previous level of knowledge about the disease, on his/her school level and also on cognitive functions(3, 5). It is conventionally assumed that when patients learn about their disease they
