Increasingly, the emphasis in health care is on wellness and prevention, and efforts are focused on keeping patients out of costly healthcare centres. High-risk cardiovascular patients are identified and incorporated into risk reduction and management programmes. The aim of this study was to explore the role of the nurse in such a programme and make recommendations about the expansion of this role. By conducting a literature study, the ideal role of the nurse in a risk reduction and management programme was analysed, thereby reaching the study’s first objective. The second objective was met by conducting qualitative research on the current role of the nurse in cardiovascular health risk management in South Africa. The researcher then compared the empirical data to the ideal role as it emerged from the literature. The findings were presented as areas for expansion of the role of the nurse in a cardiovascular risk management programme. / Dissertation (MCur (Clinical))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Nursing Science / unrestricted