Evidence-based strategies for teaching dysrhythmia monitoring practices to staff nurses

Standards for dysrhythmia monitoring were established by the American Heart Association in 2004, but they have not been fully implemented in everyday nursing practice. Nurses working on units with cardiac monitoring must be able to prepare the skin and place electrodes correctly, monitor in the appropriate lead, and identify potentially lethal dysrhythmias. This article presents a literature review of evidence-based strategies for educating staff nurses on dysrhythmia monitoring practices. Based on the findings of this literature review, there is evidence to support the use of an interactive web-based learning format combined with unit-based collaborative activities and competency validation. The program should incorporate Chickering and Gamson's seven principles for good practice in undergraduate education. More research is needed with randomized controlled studies to determine the most effective strategies.