title: Accuracy of cardiac rhythm interpretation by medical-surgical nurses: a pilot study.
abstract: Nurses care for increasing numbers of patients requiring cardiac monitoring. Ability to identify cardiac rhythms is a key element in nurses' ability to promote patient safety. A quasi-experimental pilot study using a stratified random sample of 32 medical-surgical nurses examined accuracy of cardiac rhythm interpretation. Findings showed a statistically significant disparity in performance between registered nurses and licensed vocational nurses. These findings suggest a need to improve staff development in the area of cardiac rhythm interpretation.
authors.affiliation: Nursing Professional Development, Scott & White Healthcare, 2401 South 31st Street, Temple, TX 76508, USA. egoodridge@sw.org
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Goodridge
authors.forename: Cari
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Furst
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Herrick
authors.forename: Juhee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Phyllis Hart
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Tipton
mesh_terms: D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003422:Critical Care; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000451:nursing; D006801:Humans; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009871:Operating Room Nursing