Updated Practice Standards for ECG Monitoring: Impact at the Bedside

Webinar Summary

Electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring is integral to acute and critical care nursing units. Skill in ECG monitoring is essential for safe patient care, as is knowledge of which monitoring skills are needed in which patient situations. “Update to Practice Standards for Electrocardiographic (ECG) Monitoring in Hospital Settings” was released in 2017. Learn how this update differs from the prior (2004) standards and how to apply these in your practice. This webinar will engage live participants in polling about specific practices, relating those current practices to the update standards. Topics include QTc monitoring, continuous ST segment monitoring and arrhythmia monitoring. Participants will develop their understanding of applying the standards to patient situations and institutional approaches to implement them. Content will also touch on alarm management, as alarms associated with ECG monitoring are a key contributor to environmental noise and patient safety risks.

Objectives

Identify the appropriate use of QTc monitoring in hospital practice.
Describe three patient situations that are recommended for continuous arrhythmia monitoring, and three that are not.
Discuss three important considerations when establishing an alarm management approach at your hospital.

Presenter

Kristin Sandau, PhD, RN, CNE, FAHA

Kristin E. Sandau has been a professor of nursing at Bethel University, St. Paul, Minnesota, and a cardiovascular nurse at United Hospital, Allina Health for over 25 years. Sandau (chair), along with Marjorie Funk (Yale University, co-chair), led an expert team to author the “Update to Practice Standards for Electrocardiographic Monitoring in Hospital Settings.” This 2017 Scientific Statement, commissioned by the American Heart Association, was endorsed by the American College of Cardiology, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, and Pediatric and Congenital Electrophysiology Society. Sandau's research on ECG monitoring focuses on translation of evidence in the clinical setting. Her publications and presentations have addressed the practical use of ST-segment monitoring in progressive care. She was a site investigator for the PULSE Trial, an NHLBI-funded study with Primary Investigators Marge Funk. Sandau has focused on joint research with colleagues Funk, Drew and Sendelbach, including a multisite study to increase adherence to QTc monitoring for patients on QT prolonging medications. Sandau values her role on an interprofessional team to translate and implement best evidence for ECG monitoring, including use of education and electronic order sets for arrhythmia and QTc monitoring in the multisite Allina system. She enjoys sharing her love of ECG monitoring with undergraduate and graduate students.

Continuing Education Disclosure Statement

Successful Completion

Learners must attend/view/read the entire activity, read Implicit Bias impacts patient outcomes, and complete the associated evaluation to be awarded the contact hours or CERP. No partial credit will be awarded.

Accreditation

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider number CEP 1036, for 1.00 contact hours.

Accreditation refers to recognition of continuing education only and does not imply AACN, ANCC, or CBRN approval or endorsement of any commercial products discussed or displayed in conjunction with this educational activity.

Disclosure

Any relevant relationship between an ineligible company and an individual with the ability to influence clinical content will be identified by the Nurse Planner within the activity. Any relevant relationship between an ineligible company and an individual with the ability to influence clinical content has been mitigated.

AACN programming meets the standards for most states that require mandatory continuing education contact hours for license and/or certification renewal. AACN recommends consulting with your state board of nursing or credentialing organization before submitting CE to fulfill continuing education requirements.

Refund Policy

Continuing Education Activities are nonrefundable.