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Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

1996

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Graduate Nursing

First Advisor

Sharon Hofland

Keywords

electrocardiography, nursing

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the practices of nurses related to electrocardiographic (EGG) monitoring. It was a replication of a study by Drew, Ide, and Sparacino with modifications of the tool and methodology. A questionnaire was completed by 41 nurses in attendance at two chapter meetings of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. Average years of experience with ECG monitoring was 10 years. Most of the nurses had five-electrode/ lead wire systems capable of displaying two simultaneous leads in their units. Lead II was the only lead selected for continuous monitoring with a single channel monitor, and lead II was chosen as one of the leads to monitor with a dual-channel system by 97% of the respondents. None of the respondents were able to correctly place electrodes and connect lead wires to obtain a MCLl or MCL6 lead. Eighty-two percent of the respondents had incorrect electrode placement using a five-electrode/lead wire system; inaccurate placement of the chest electrode accounted for 96% of these errors. Hypotheses testing included comparison of unit of employment with ECG practices and comparison of years of ECG monitoring experience with ECG practices. Increased years of experience had a positive correlation with increased accuracy in choosing an appropriate lead for ECG monitoring of a patient with an acute anteroseptal wall myocardial infarction.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Electrocardiography
Nursing

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

91

Publisher

South Dakota State University

Rights

Copyright © 1996 Gail Hall. All rights reserved

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