title: Atrial electrogram interpretation improves after an innovative education program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To avoid adverse patient outcomes from inappropriate treatment, it is recommended that an atrial electrogram (AEG) be recorded whenever atrial arrhythmias develop in patients after cardiac surgery. However, AEGs are not commonly performed because nurses lack knowledge about differentiating atrial rhythms on AEGs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether completing a novel online evidence-based education program on interpreting AEGs would improve critical care nurses' AEG interpretation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Specialized critical care nurses were taught about obtaining and interpreting atrial rhythms on AEGs using a 42-minute online mini-movie. AEG interpretation was assessed pre and two and eight weeks post-intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AEG interpretation increased two weeks post intervention and was retained at eight weeks. Some participants used this newly acquired knowledge to interpret arrhythmias that were not taught during the education program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Accurate interpretation of AEGs is an easy skill for specialized critical care nurses to learn via an online education program.
authors.forename: Julie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Preston
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Currey
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Considine
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000451:nursing*; D001315:Australia; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D064648:Critical Care Nursing / Q000193:education*; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac / Q000451:nursing*; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing / Q000193:education; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009733:Nursing Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic