Clinical Project: ECG Interpretation & Arrhythmia Management in ED

This clinical project addresses the issue of poor ECG interpretation in the emergency department, which leads to high mortality and in-hospital cardiac arrest rates. The project aims to enhance nurses' knowledge and competence in ECG interpretation and arrhythmia management through literature review and professional development strategies. The review highlights the significance of ECGs in identifying complications and treating abnormal heart rhythms, and it explores innovative teaching methods such as online teaching, flipped classrooms, and simulation experiences to bridge the theory-to-practice gap. The project evaluates the outcomes of different learning techniques, emphasizing the necessity of practical exposure and mentorship to overcome barriers in clinical settings. Ultimately, the project seeks to improve patient outcomes by enhancing the ECG interpretation skills of nurses in the emergency department.

INTERPRETATIO
N OF ECG
READING IN
EMERGENCY
DEPARTMENT
NAME OF THE STUDENT:
NAME OF THE UNIVERISTY

DETAILS OF THE CLINICAL
PROJECT
• Poor experience in ECG interpretation in
the emergency department
• Low level of emergency nurse’s
knowledge and competence in relation
to ECG interpretation and management
of arrhythmia
Aim of the clinical project:
• To increase knowledge related to ECG
interpretation skills by literature review
and enhance opportunities for
professional development
• To identify best strategies to develop

ISSUE RELATED TO THE
CLINICAL PROJECT
• High rate of mortality and in-hospital
cardiac arrest due to poor interpretation
of ECG and implementation of
subsequent management steps
• Poor competence in ECG interpretation
due to low level of training and
challenges in ECG interpretation
• Lack of focus on innovative methods to
enhance learning and professional
development of nurse

IMPLICATION
• The clinical project would help to
develop knowledge related to ways to
enhance knowledge regarding ECG and
arrhythmia management
• Review of research evidence will give
idea regarding the efficacy of different
techniques in improving ECG analysis
skills
• The critical reflection on issue would
help to plan best course of action to
engage in learning and professional
development

OUTCOME OF THE
CLINICAL PROJECT
 Lack of practice exposure for nurse in
relations to ECG interpretation and application
in clinical setting (McGrath & Sampson, 2018)
 Significance of ECG as a first line of option to
identify complication and treat abnormal
heart rhythm and reduce cardiac attack in
patient (Ruhwanya, Tarimo & Ndile ,2018).
 Innovative teaching methods like online
teaching, flipped classroom and simulation
experiences are effective in reducing the
theory to practice gap in interpreting ECG
(Hernández-Padilla et al. 2016; Tubaishat &
Tawalbeh, 2015)

EVALUATION OFOUTCOME
• Nursing students can take part in online
teaching course. However, barrier in
application of teaching content cannot
be solved by this approach
• Participating in simulation experience
and taking feedback from mentor is
necessary to overcome barriers in
practice

REFERENCES
Hernández-Padilla, J. M., Granero-Molina, J., Rosales, R., Sao-
Romao-Preto, L., Füge, K., & Fernández-Sola, C. (2016).
Effects of two teaching interventions on nursing students’
acquisition of competence in ECG
interpretation. Resuscitation, 106, e52.
McGrath, A., & Sampson, M. (2018). Electrocardiograms: a
guide to rhythm recognition for emergency
nurses. Emergency Nurse, 26(1).
Ruhwanya, D. I., Tarimo, E. A., & Ndile, M. (2018). Life
threatening arrhythmias: Knowledge and skills among
nurses working in critical care settings at Muhimbili National
Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Tanzania Journal of
Health Research, 20(2).
Tubaishat, A., & Tawalbeh, L. I. (2015). Effect of cardiac
arrhythmia simulation on nursing students’ knowledge
acquisition and retention. Western journal of nursing
research, 37(9), 1160-1174.