Pediatric critical care nurses' knowledge of cardiac dysrhythmias

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe pediatric critical care nurses' knowledge of dysrhythmias in critically ill pediatric patients and relate this knowledge level to certain demographic variables (education, nursing experience, certification, supplemental training, area of employment and geographic region of residence). DESIGN: A descriptive survey. SETTING: American Association of Critical-Care Nurses' 19 geographic regions of the United States. PARTICIPANTS: Of 1000 questionnaires mailed to pediatric critical care nurses who were members of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses in 1991, 356 responses were received (a response rate of 36%). INTERVENTION: A criterion-referenced, self-administered test regarding pediatric dysrhythmias and a demographic sheet randomly mailed to 1000 pediatric critical care nurses. Test results were analyzed and compared with demographic variables. RESULTS: The mean total test score was 66%. Significantly higher total test scores and selected subtest scores were demonstrated in relationship to the following variables: increased age; certification in pediatric advanced life support, advanced cardiac life support or adult critical care; increased years of adult critical care experience; advanced dysrhythmia courses and dysrhythmia self-study; and perceived knowledge level above that of the advanced beginner. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric critical care nurses' overall knowledge of dysrhythmias was low. Knowledge strengths included recognition of basic and life-threatening dysrhythmias and calculation of basic ECG measurements. Knowledge deficits included importance of sinus bradycardia in the neonate, appropriate intervention for life-threatening dysrhythmias and calculation of an irregular heart rate. These deficits should be considered when planning continuing education programs for pediatric critical care nurses.

Does Certification Status of Oncology Nurses Make a Difference in Patient Outcomes?

“…In this study, the certified nurses had significantly more years of experience in nursing, oncology nursing, and home care. As noted in other studies (Iberti et al, 1994;Pettinger et al, 1993;Walthall et al, 1993), certified nurses scored higher on clinical knowledge than noncertified nurses. One might theorize that such clinical knowledge is exchanged readily among nurses in this homecare setting because they form a small, tightly knit group.…”

“…In an assessment of 216 critical-care nurses, Iberti et al (1994) found that knowledge about use of a pulmonary artery catheter was significantly associated with critical-care certification. Similarly, Pettinger, Woods, and Herndon (1993) evaluated knowledge of pediatric dysrhythmias using data from 356 pediatric critical-care nurses who responded by mail to a self-administered test. These researchers found that criticalcare certification or certification in advanced life support was associated with significantly higher test scores.…”

“…Finally, no differences may exist between certified and noncertified nurses in clinical practice. Although the literature supports differences in clinical knowledge between these groups (Iberti et al, 1994;Pettinger et al, 1993;Walthall et al, 1993), decision-making style (Henry, 1991;White et al, 1992), quality (Catolico et al, 1996), and consistency (Hughes, 1988), these differences may not translate into differences in patient outcomes as measured by symptom management, adverse events, and episodic care utilization.…”

Evaluating the education results of the nurses who had basic electrocardiography education in Acıbadem Health Group: Recognizing deadly rythms

“…çalışmalarında erişkin ya da pediatrik yoğun bakım deneyiminin aritmi bilgisini arttırdığı tespit edilmiştir. [13] Hemşirelerin çoğu öldürücü ritimleri tanıyabilmiştir. atriyal fibrilasyonu ritmi doğru olarak değerlendirdikleri belirlenmiştir.…”