Nurses’ competency in electrocardiogram interpretation in acute care settings: A systematic review (2024)

Abstract

Aims: Identify and synthesize evidence of nurses’ competency in electrocardiogram interpretation in acute care settings. Design: Systematic mixed studies review. Data sources: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Medline, Scopus and Cochrane were searched in April 2021. Review methods: Data were selected using the updated Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‑Analysis framework. A data-based convergent synthesis design using qualitative content analysis was adopted. Quality appraisal was undertaken using validated tools appropriate to study designs of the included papers. Results: Forty-three papers were included in this review. Skills and attitudes were not commonly assessed, as most studies referred to ‘competency’ in the context of nurses’ knowledge in electrocardiogram interpretation. Nurses’ knowledge levels in this important nursing role varied notably, which could be partly due to a range of assessment tools being used. Several factors were found to influence nurses’ competency in electrocardiogram interpretation across the included studies from individual, professional and organizational perspectives. Conclusion: The definition of ‘competency’ was inconsistent, and nurses’ competency in electrocardiogram interpretation varied from low to high. Nurses identified a lack of regular training and insufficient exposure in electrocardiogram interpretation. Hence, regular, standard training and education are recommended. Also, more research is needed to develop a standardized and comprehensive electrocardiogram interpretation tool, thereby allowing educators to safely assess nurses’ competency. Impact: This review addressed questions related to nurses’ competency in electrocardiogram interpretation. The findings highlight varying competency levels and assessment methods. Nurses reported a lack of knowledge and confidence in interpreting electrocardiograms. There is an urgent need to explore opportunities to promote and maintain nurses’ competency in electrocardiogram interpretation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1245-1266
Number of pages22
JournalJournal of Advanced Nursing
Volume78
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2022
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • acute care
  • competency
  • electrocardiogram interpretation
  • literature review
  • nursing
  • systematic mixed studies review

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Chen, Y., Kunst, E., Nasrawi, D., Massey, D., Johnston, A. N. B., Keller, K., & Fengzhi Lin, F. (2022). Nurses’ competency in electrocardiogram interpretation in acute care settings: A systematic review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 78(5), 1245-1266. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15147

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title = "Nurses{\textquoteright} competency in electrocardiogram interpretation in acute care settings: A systematic review",

abstract = "Aims: Identify and synthesize evidence of nurses{\textquoteright} competency in electrocardiogram interpretation in acute care settings. Design: Systematic mixed studies review. Data sources: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Medline, Scopus and Cochrane were searched in April 2021. Review methods: Data were selected using the updated Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‑Analysis framework. A data-based convergent synthesis design using qualitative content analysis was adopted. Quality appraisal was undertaken using validated tools appropriate to study designs of the included papers. Results: Forty-three papers were included in this review. Skills and attitudes were not commonly assessed, as most studies referred to {\textquoteleft}competency{\textquoteright} in the context of nurses{\textquoteright} knowledge in electrocardiogram interpretation. Nurses{\textquoteright} knowledge levels in this important nursing role varied notably, which could be partly due to a range of assessment tools being used. Several factors were found to influence nurses{\textquoteright} competency in electrocardiogram interpretation across the included studies from individual, professional and organizational perspectives. Conclusion: The definition of {\textquoteleft}competency{\textquoteright} was inconsistent, and nurses{\textquoteright} competency in electrocardiogram interpretation varied from low to high. Nurses identified a lack of regular training and insufficient exposure in electrocardiogram interpretation. Hence, regular, standard training and education are recommended. Also, more research is needed to develop a standardized and comprehensive electrocardiogram interpretation tool, thereby allowing educators to safely assess nurses{\textquoteright} competency. Impact: This review addressed questions related to nurses{\textquoteright} competency in electrocardiogram interpretation. The findings highlight varying competency levels and assessment methods. Nurses reported a lack of knowledge and confidence in interpreting electrocardiograms. There is an urgent need to explore opportunities to promote and maintain nurses{\textquoteright} competency in electrocardiogram interpretation.",

keywords = "acute care, competency, electrocardiogram interpretation, literature review, nursing, systematic mixed studies review",

author = "Yingyan Chen and Elicia Kunst and Dima Nasrawi and Debbie Massey and Johnston, {Amy N.B.} and Kathryn Keller and {Fengzhi Lin}, Frances",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.",

year = "2022",

month = may,

doi = "10.1111/jan.15147",

language = "English",

volume = "78",

pages = "1245--1266",

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Chen, Y, Kunst, E, Nasrawi, D, Massey, D, Johnston, ANB, Keller, K & Fengzhi Lin, F 2022, 'Nurses’ competency in electrocardiogram interpretation in acute care settings: A systematic review', Journal of Advanced Nursing, vol. 78, no. 5, pp. 1245-1266. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15147

Nurses’ competency in electrocardiogram interpretation in acute care settings: A systematic review. / Chen, Yingyan; Kunst, Elicia; Nasrawi, Dima et al.
In: Journal of Advanced Nursing, Vol. 78, No. 5, 05.2022, p. 1245-1266.

Research output: Contribution to journalReview ArticleResearchpeer-review

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N2 - Aims: Identify and synthesize evidence of nurses’ competency in electrocardiogram interpretation in acute care settings. Design: Systematic mixed studies review. Data sources: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Medline, Scopus and Cochrane were searched in April 2021. Review methods: Data were selected using the updated Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‑Analysis framework. A data-based convergent synthesis design using qualitative content analysis was adopted. Quality appraisal was undertaken using validated tools appropriate to study designs of the included papers. Results: Forty-three papers were included in this review. Skills and attitudes were not commonly assessed, as most studies referred to ‘competency’ in the context of nurses’ knowledge in electrocardiogram interpretation. Nurses’ knowledge levels in this important nursing role varied notably, which could be partly due to a range of assessment tools being used. Several factors were found to influence nurses’ competency in electrocardiogram interpretation across the included studies from individual, professional and organizational perspectives. Conclusion: The definition of ‘competency’ was inconsistent, and nurses’ competency in electrocardiogram interpretation varied from low to high. Nurses identified a lack of regular training and insufficient exposure in electrocardiogram interpretation. Hence, regular, standard training and education are recommended. Also, more research is needed to develop a standardized and comprehensive electrocardiogram interpretation tool, thereby allowing educators to safely assess nurses’ competency. Impact: This review addressed questions related to nurses’ competency in electrocardiogram interpretation. The findings highlight varying competency levels and assessment methods. Nurses reported a lack of knowledge and confidence in interpreting electrocardiograms. There is an urgent need to explore opportunities to promote and maintain nurses’ competency in electrocardiogram interpretation.

AB - Aims: Identify and synthesize evidence of nurses’ competency in electrocardiogram interpretation in acute care settings. Design: Systematic mixed studies review. Data sources: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Medline, Scopus and Cochrane were searched in April 2021. Review methods: Data were selected using the updated Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‑Analysis framework. A data-based convergent synthesis design using qualitative content analysis was adopted. Quality appraisal was undertaken using validated tools appropriate to study designs of the included papers. Results: Forty-three papers were included in this review. Skills and attitudes were not commonly assessed, as most studies referred to ‘competency’ in the context of nurses’ knowledge in electrocardiogram interpretation. Nurses’ knowledge levels in this important nursing role varied notably, which could be partly due to a range of assessment tools being used. Several factors were found to influence nurses’ competency in electrocardiogram interpretation across the included studies from individual, professional and organizational perspectives. Conclusion: The definition of ‘competency’ was inconsistent, and nurses’ competency in electrocardiogram interpretation varied from low to high. Nurses identified a lack of regular training and insufficient exposure in electrocardiogram interpretation. Hence, regular, standard training and education are recommended. Also, more research is needed to develop a standardized and comprehensive electrocardiogram interpretation tool, thereby allowing educators to safely assess nurses’ competency. Impact: This review addressed questions related to nurses’ competency in electrocardiogram interpretation. The findings highlight varying competency levels and assessment methods. Nurses reported a lack of knowledge and confidence in interpreting electrocardiograms. There is an urgent need to explore opportunities to promote and maintain nurses’ competency in electrocardiogram interpretation.

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Chen Y, Kunst E, Nasrawi D, Massey D, Johnston ANB, Keller K et al. Nurses’ competency in electrocardiogram interpretation in acute care settings: A systematic review. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 2022 May;78(5):1245-1266. doi: 10.1111/jan.15147

Nurses’ competency in electrocardiogram interpretation in acute care settings: A systematic review (2024)
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