Skilled Cardiac Monitoring at the Bedside: An Algorithm for Success

Abstract

The ECG lead monitoring algorithm was developed to provide a tool to assist bedside nurses in monitoring ST segments and dysrhythmias.

Design and validation of a three-instrument toolkit for the assessment of competence in electrocardiogram rhythm recognition

“…17,32 Literature often suggests that nurses and nursing students' continue to lack competence in ECG rhythm recognition, [8][9][10][11] which could interfere with the achievement of positive patient outcomes. 1,4,14 Consequently, nursing educators are faced with the challenge of promoting safe practice by developing valid and reliable assessments tools that can be used to rigorously assess nursing students' competence before being allowed to work without supervision. 6,37 It has been argued that accepting the holistic definition of competence could help nursing educators to develop more effective, valid and reliable assessment tools.…”

“…Rapid and accurate interpretation of cardiac arrhythmias by nurses has been linked with safe practice and positive patient outcomes. [1][2][3][4] Conversely, it has been highlighted that errors in the recognition of life-threatening cardiac rhythms could compromise patient outcomes. 2,3 Consequently, regardless of their expertise, nurses are expected to be competent in electrocardiogram (ECG) rhythm recognition.…”

“…[8][9][10][11] In many countries, nursing education does not include a final licensing examination, which means that nurses are allowed to practise without supervision immediately after completing their undergraduate programmes. 12 Therefore, in order to promote patient safety and positive patient outcomes, [1][2][3][4] most undergraduate programmes in nursing include training in ECG rhythm recognition. 13 In addition to this, our literature review shows that numerous efforts to design and implement innovative training interventions aiming to improve nursing students' acquisition and retention of competence in ECG rhythm recognition have been made.…”

Competency in ECG Interpretation and Arrhythmias Management among Critical Care Nurses in Saudi Arabia: A Cross Sectional Study

“…Therefore, it is vital that nurses are competent to carry out an initial assessment and make an early identification and quick decisions to manage ECG abnormalities and activate appropriate emergency health teams or initiate first-line treatments [ 15 , 16 , 17 ]. Nurses’ rapid and accurate interpretation of cardiac arrhythmias has been linked to safe practices and positive patient outcomes [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ].…”

Improvement of in-hospital telemetry monitoring in coronary care units: An intervention study for achieving optimal electrode placement and attachment, hygiene and delivery of critical information to patients

“…In addition, nurses need to possess and use knowledge about correct electrode placement, skin preparation and practical use of the telemetry unit to best meet the needs of the patients and to provide the appropriate level and quality of care. [8][9][10][11][12] Thus, the human factor in electrocardiographic monitoring remains as important today as it was five decades ago. However, this topic has received little research attention.…”