The Expanding Role of Nurses in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Procedures

Abstract

It is well-documented that nurses must possess effective clinical judgment skills and provide competent care in order to maximize their impact and positively influence patient outcomes. In clinical practice, the number of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures has been steadily growing and as a result of effective nursing care, these procedures have become increasingly safer. Approximately 500,000 patients are currently living with severe aortic stenosis, a reason for which one would undergo a TAVR procedure. As the prevalence of aortic stenosis continues to rise with an increasing older adult population, so does the demand for TAVR procedures. Nurses must understand the procedure, monitor patients appropriately, anticipate potential complications, and deliver optimal nursing care for patients undergoing TAVRs. This case study–based paper reviews the standard postprocedural nursing care for TAVR patients and the important role nurses play in obtaining the best outcomes.