Managing Heart Failure in Primary Care: A Case Study Approach

K. Melissa Hayes, DNP, ANP-BC, CHFN, is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in the Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program.  Dr. Hayes received her BSN from Harding University, her MSN from Vanderbilt University, and her DNP from Duke University.   Dr. Hayes has over 25 years of experience as an Adult Nurse Practitioner and continues to practice in the Heart and Vascular Clinic at Nashville General Hospital focusing on the heart failure population. Her primary teaching responsibilities include Advanced Health Assessment, Primary Care and Clinical Instruction for Nurse Practitioners.  Chronic disease management of the heart failure patient as well as heart failure education is Dr. Hayes’ area of expertise. Dr. Hayes frequently lectures about heart failure at the local and national level.   

Nicole R. Dellise, DNP, FNP-BC, CHFN, is the Structural Heart ProgramDirector at TriStar Centennial. She is also an Instructor of Nursing in the Family Nurse Practitioner Program at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. She began her career as a heart failure nurse in 2008. She then received her Master’s in Nursing from Belmont University in 2012 followed by her Doctorate in Nursing in 2017.  Dr. Dellise has a strong passion for improving heart failure care across the continuum. She has led hospital wide heart failure quality improvement projects and developed educational programs for hospital nursing staff. Additionally, Dr. Dellise has served as a peer reviewer for a reputable heart failure nursing journal.  Dr. Dellise is a published author in the area of heart failure. She has spoken locally and nationally.