title: Why are we prolonging QT interval monitoring?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  At present, monitoring of the QT interval (QTI) is not a standard practice in the medical intensive care unit setting, where many drugs that prolong the QTI are administered. This literature review looked at the current research for evidence-based standards to support QTI monitoring of patients with risk factors for QTI prolongation, which can result in life-threatening arrhythmias such as torsade de pointes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this article is to establish the existence of evidence-based standards for monitoring of the QTI and to raise awareness in the nursing profession of the need for such monitoring among patients who are at high risk for prolonged QTI.
  
  
  METHODS
  To determine whether published standards for QTI monitoring exist, a search was conducted of the bibliographic databases CINAHL, EBSCOhost, Medline, PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library for the years 2013 and 2014. Also, a survey was conducted to determine whether practice standards for QTI monitoring are being implemented at 4 major hospitals in the Memphis area, including a level 1 trauma center.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The database search established the existence of published guidelines that support the need for QTI monitoring. Results of the hospital survey indicated that direct care nurses were not aware of the need to identify high-risk patients, drugs with the potential to prolong QTI that were being administered to their patients, or evidence-based standards for QTI monitoring.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Review of the research literature underscored the need for QTI monitoring among high-risk patients, that is, those with genetic conditions that predispose them to QTI prolongation, those with existing cardiac conditions being treated with antiarrhythmic medications, or those who are prescribed any new medication classified as high risk on the basis of clinical research. This need is especially crucial in intensive care unit settings, where many antiarrhythmic medications are administered.
authors.affiliation: Trina Barrett, MSN, RN, CCRN, joined the faculty of The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) Memphis, College of Nursing, in November of 2012 as an instructor. She earned her master's degree in nursing education in 2009 and received her bachelor of science in nursing degree in 2005, both from Union University. She is currently enrolled in the DNP-Nurse Executive track at the University of South Alabama. She supervises students in the clinical setting in the Acute Care, Adult Health and Leadership courses and colectures in the BSN/MSN Acute Care Course. My 13-year nursing career started at the Regional One Medical Center Intensive Care Unit in 2001.
authors.forename: Trina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Barrett
mesh_terms: D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis; D004562:Electrocardiography; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic