Chairperson, Graduate Committee: M. Jean Shreffler-GrantHerring, Russel Ryan2018-09-202018-09-202018https://scholarworks.montana.edu/handle/1/14554The purpose of this project was to identify and analyze the potential costs and benefits associated with the inclusion of a certified heart-failure nurse responsible for inpatient education and outpatient follow-up services for heart-failure patients. Admission and avoidable readmission data for a representative, Eastern Montana, inpatient healthcare facility were obtained and analyzed as the standard care model, and then compared against a care model utilizing a specialist heart-failure nurse responsible for inpatient education and outpatient, post-discharge follow-up care. A five-year pro forma was constructed, presenting a five-year cost versus savings forecast, in which a positive savings trend was estimated over the course of a five-year period.enHeart failureNursingHospitals--Admission and dischargeCost effectivenessDissertationCopyright 2018 by Russell Ryan Herring