Nurses' Performance Regarding Electrocardiography Application and Its Interpretation: Suggested Nursing Guideline

Abstract

Background: Electrocardiography is the most commonly used diagnostic test in cardiology. It contributes significantly to the diagnosis and management of patients with cardiac disorders. Aim: This study aims to assess nurses' performance regarding electrocardiography application and its interpretation and develop suggested guideline based on nurses need assessment. Design A descriptive exploratory research design was utilized for the conduction of this study. Setting the study was carried out in coronary care unit of Assiut University heart hospital. Study subject: A convenient sample of all available nurses (40) working within the coronary care unit at Assiut university heart hospital. Data collection tools: I - self – administration questionnaire form which composed of nurses demographic characteristics' and nurses’ knowledge regarding ECG application and is interpretation, II- Nurses practice observational checklist. Results: revealed that, 80% of the studied nurses had got unsatisfactory level of knowledge regarding ECG application and interpretation and 92.5% of nurses under study had got unsatisfactory level of practice regarding ECG application and its interpretation. Conclusion: More than three quarter of the studied nurses had got unsatisfactory level of knowledge regarding ECG application and interpretation and the majority of the studied nurses had got unsatisfactory level of practice regarding ECG application and interpretation. Recommendations: Training program including the suggested guidelines toward ECG application and interpretation must be implemented for nurses based on their need assessment, and evaluate its effectiveness on performance.