What question did this study set out to answer?

This study aims to assess the knowledge of nursing professionals regarding ECG interpretation.

January 10, 20260 citationsOpen Access

When knowing how to read an ECG tracing makes a difference: observational study on nursing skills.

RVRaul Ripari VolturnoMarche Polytechnic University CGChiara GattiMarche Polytechnic University SBSimona BacaloniMarche Polytechnic University

Key Result

Only 15.2% of nursing professionals have specialized training in cardiology, highlighting a need for improved ECG interpretation skills.

Key Points

This study aims to assess the knowledge of nursing professionals regarding ECG interpretation.
Conducted a cross-sectional observational study using a social media-based sampling strategy
Collected responses through an online questionnaire from 308 nursing professionals
Analyzed correct response rates to various ECG-related questions
98.1% of participants acknowledged the importance of ECG interpretation knowledge
Only 15.2% had advanced training in cardiology or critical care
84% of the questions were answered correctly overall, with specific difficulties in recognizing pathological conditions

Structured PICO

Population

308 nursing professionals (working and providing direct care), 63% female, predominantly working in Italy.

Outcome

Level of ECG-related knowledge, assessed via a 12-question online quiz (10 tracing recognitions and 2 theoretical questions)

While nurses demonstrated a generally high rate of correct ECG interpretation (84%), significant gaps in recognizing specific critical abnormalities like pathological Q waves and atrial tachycardia suggest a need for enhanced targeted training.

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 0% vs 0%

Abstract

INTRODUCTION The nursing profession is gaining increasing importance within both public and private healthcare systems, due to the responsibilities assumed based on the clinical tasks performed. One such task is the interpretation of the electrocardiogram (ECG), which, in addition to its correct execution, can help prevent adverse or even fatal events in at-risk patients. OBJECTIVE To investigate the level of ECG-related knowledge among nursing professionals. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional observational study was conducted through a social media-based sampling strategy, using an online questionnaire. A total of 308 responses were collected. RESULTS 98.1% of the sample considers it important to have knowledge in the field of ECG interpretation, but only 15.2% have a master's degree in cardiology or critical and emergency area training and 38.3% of participants have never participated in ECG-related training events. 84% of the questions were answered correctly. The traces that obtained the lowest number of correct answers were those corresponding to pathological Q wave (30.5% correct) and atrial tachycardia (15.3%). The questions with the highest correct answer rate, on the other hand, were respectively the order of the main waves that appear in the ECG (94.2%) and ventricular fibrillation (84.7%). CONCLUSIONS Although the discipline of cardiology has been part of nursing training since its inception, first in regional schools and now in three-year degree courses, further theoretical and practical study could lead to an improvement in nursing skills regarding the interpretation of the ECG.

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