Congestive heart failure is a condition where the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. It can be caused by issues with the heart muscle itself or from other health problems. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling in the legs. Treatment involves medications to help the heart function better like diuretics, vasodilators, and digitalis. Nurses play an important role in managing symptoms, monitoring medication effects, providing education to patients, and assisting with diet and activity levels. Prognosis depends on the underlying cause and can range from full recovery if the cause is treated to long-term management if heart damage is more severe.