Nurses’ Knowledge and Practices of Electrocardiogram Interpretation
Journal Title: International Cardiovascular Research Journal - Year 2019, Vol 13, Issue 3
Abstract
Background: Electrocardiogram (ECG) is a diagnostic tool that is routinely used noninvasively to assess the electrical and muscular functions of the heart. All nurses should be able to recognize basic ECG rhythms. Objective: This study aimed to determine the ECG knowledge and practice among nurses in university hospitals in North Cyprus. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on the registered nurses who worked in critical care units, including intensive care unit, coronary care unit, emergency department, recovery department, and cardiology department in two university hospitals (Near East University Hospital and Dr. Suat Günsel Hospital). Totally, 72 registered nurses worked in both hospitals 65 one of whom took part in the study voluntarily. The study data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire. The questionnaire was prepared in Turkish and was used after being reviewed by three specialist nurses and one cardiologist. The questionnaire contained three sections and 15 questions. Results: The majority of the nurses had B.Sc. degrees (93.8%) and recorded ECGs for patients (89.2%). The majority of the participants had passed ECG training courses (60.0%). Considering the nurses’ knowledge of ECG, the total frequency of correct answers was 69%. Considering their practice of ECG interpretations, the total frequency of correct answers was 67%. Cardiology department nurses had the highest percentage of correct answers (P = 0.002). Indeed, the lowest and highest means of correct answers were observed among the nurses with less than one year and more than six years of work experience, respectively. Conclusion: The study results showed a high level of ECG knowledge and practice among the nurses. The hospital unit and passage of previous ECG training courses played an important role in the nurses’ experience of ECG interpretation. Hence, ECG training courses were effective in improving the nurses’ ECG knowledge.
Authors and Affiliations
Obaydah Yaser Hamed Tahboub, Ümran Dal Yılmaz
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP633325
- DOI -
- Views 100
- Downloads 0
Expression of miR21, miR122, miR146a and miR196 in Symptomatic Carotid Disease
Background: Carotid disease is one of the many forms of cardiovascular disease, which may lead to chronic disability and death. It is a multifactorial inflammatory disease, greatly affected by an individual’s habits like...
The Effect of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester on Development of Left Ventricular Dysfunction in Cirrhotic Rats
Background: Cardiomyopathy is one of the major complications of cirrhosis. Free radical scavenging and antioxidant substances can reduce cardiomyopathy and cardiovascular mortality of cirrhosis. Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Es...
Isolated Unilateral Absent Branch Pulmonary Artery with Peripheral Pulmonary Stenosis and Coronary Artery Disease
Isolated Unilateral Absent Pulmonary Artery (UAPA) is a rare congenital anomaly. It is usually associated with congenital heart defects. A 45 year old male patient presented with complaints of fever with cough and expect...
Characteristics, Outcomes, and Predictors of In-Hospital Mortality in Patients Hospitalized with Acute Systolic Heart Failure (HFrEF): Two- Center Registry of Acute Heart Failure from Iran
Background: Acute Heart Failure (AHF) is a common cause of hospitalization in many countries. Rehospitalization due to AHF is also a very important economic issue for health services. Registries for AHF have been made in...
A Survey on Structural and Functional Cardiac Abnormalities in Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia, a Report from South-East of Iran
Background: Cardiac abnormalities are common complications in Transfusion Dependent Thalassemia (TDT). Objectives: This study aimed to assess functional and structural cardiac abnormalities in TDT patients in Zabol, Sist...