Management of an Adult Patient With Congenital Heart Disease

Abstract

The health care environment in the United States heralds changing population demographics, presenting challenges for modern health care systems. The most remarkable impetus for prodigious medical luminary attention is the expanding growth of aging adults in the population. Individuals born with congenital heart disease (CHD) are a subset of this demographic evolution reflecting current health care trends. Where historically limited prognoses underscored the expansion and quality of life for individuals born with CHD, current technological advancements now pave the road to lengthy existence for these individuals, creating an aging population of patients with CHD needing access to health care. The advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) is called on to fill gaps in health care access issues and should be prepared to serve this population.