ECG Interpretation Using the CRISP Method: A Guide for Nurses

Nurses often struggle with identifying electrocardiogram (ECG) rhythms, but rapidly interpreting these rhythms is an essential skill that every nurse should master, especially in the perioperative setting. The CRISP (Cardiac Rhythm Identification for Simple People) method is an algorithm designed to help nurses rapidly interpret ECGs. Key aspects of assisting patients with suspected cardiac issues include the nursing assessment, correct three-lead ECG placement, and calculation of the heart rate. Then the perioperative nurse can use the steps of the CRISP method to identify nursing actions related to specific arrhythmias, including determining whether QRS complexes are present, P waves are present, and QRS complexes are wide or narrow or whether there are more P waves than QRS complexes.