Background Although continuous electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring is ubiquitous in hospitals, monitoring practices are inconsistent. We evaluated implementation of American Heart Association practice standards for ECG monitoring on nurses’ knowledge, quality of care, and patient outcomes. Methods and Results The PULSE Trial was a 6-year multi-site randomized clinical trial with crossover that took place in 65 cardiac units in 17 hospitals. We measured outcomes at baseline, Time 2 after Group 1 hospitals received the intervention, and Time 3 after Group 2 hospitals received the intervention. Measurement periods were 15 months apart. The 2-part intervention consisted of an online ECG monitoring education program and strategies to implement and sustain change in practice. Nurses’ knowledge (N=3,013 nurses) was measured by a validated 20-item online test, quality of care related to ECG monitoring (N=4,587 patients) by on-site observation, and patient outcomes (mortality, in-hospital myocardial infarction, and not surviving a cardiac arrest) (N=95,884 hospital admissions) by review of administrative, laboratory, and medical record data. Nurses’ knowledge improved significantly immediately following the intervention in both groups, but was not sustained 15 months later. For most measures of quality of care (accurate electrode placement, accurate rhythm interpretation, appropriate monitoring, and ST-segment monitoring when indicated), the intervention was associated with significant improvement, which was sustained 15 months later. Of the 3 patient outcomes, only in-hospital myocardial infarction declined significantly after the intervention, and was sustained. Conclusions Online ECG monitoring education and strategies to change practice can lead to improved nurses’ knowledge, quality of care, and patient outcomes.

Purpose-To examine the appropriate use of arrhythmia, ischemia, and QTc interval monitoring in the acute care setting.Methods-We analyzed baseline data of the PULSE Trial, a multi-site randomized clinical trial evaluating the effect of implementing ECG monitoring practice standards. Research nurses reviewed medical records for indications for monitoring and observed if arrhythmia, ischemia, and QT interval monitoring were being done on 1,816 patients in 17 hospitals.Results-Almost all (99%) patients with an indication for arrhythmia monitoring were being monitored, but 85% of patients with no indication were monitored. Of patients with an indication for ischemia monitoring, 35% were being monitored, but 26% with no indication were being monitored Corresponding Author: Marjorie Funk, PhD, RN, Professor, Yale University School of Nursing, 100 Church Street South, PO Box 9740, New Haven, CT 06536-0740, Telephone: 203-737-2346, marjorie.funk@yale.edu. Publisher's Disclaimer: This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. NIH Public Access MethodsThe PULSE Trial is a 5-year (2008-2013) multi-site randomized clinical trial to evaluate the implementation of the AHA Practice Standards for ECG Monitoring 6 on nurses' knowledge, quality of care including the appropriateness of monitoring, and patient outcomes. The intervention consists of an online ECG monitoring education program and strategies to implement and sustain change in practice, led by nurse champions on each unit. The study takes place in 17 hospitals: 15 in the United States, 1 in Ottawa, Canada, and 1 in Hong Kong, China (Table 1). All hospitals received institutional review board approval. Sites include both academic medical centers and community hospitals. Hospital units involved in the study are primarily for the treatment of cardiac surgical and medical patients. They include both intensive care units (ICUs) with "hard-wire" bedside cardiac monitoring and step-down units with "wireless" telemetry monitoring.For the baseline quality of care data, our sample consisted of 2,744 observations on 1,816 patients on these adult cardiac units. One of three research nurses, who were experienced ICU nurses with expertise in ECG monitoring, visited each site for 5 days. If time permitted, they observed patients more than once during their 5-day visit. They collected data on the use and appropriateness of monitoring by reviewing the current medical records to determine if the patient had a Class I or II indication for arrhythmia, ischemia, or QT interval monitoring. The AHA Practice Standards 6 used the following rating system for indicati...

Objectives In patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), we sought to: 1) describe arrhythmias during hospitalization, 2) explore the association between arrhythmias and patient outcomes, and 3) explore predictors of the occurrence of arrhythmias. Methods In a prospective sub-study of the IMMEDIATE AIM study, we analyzed electrocardiographic (ECG) data from 278 patients with ACS. On emergency department admission, a Holter recorder was attached for continuous 12-lead ECG monitoring. Results Approximately 22% of patients had more than 50 premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) per hour. Non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) occurred in 15% of patients. Very few patients (≤1%) had a malignant arrhythmia (sustained VT, asystole, torsade de pointes, or ventricular fibrillation). Only more than 50 PVCs/hour independently predicted an increased length of stay (p<.0001). No arrhythmias predicted mortality. Age greater than 65 years and a final diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction independently predicted more than 50 PVCs per hour (p=.0004). Conclusions Patients with ACS seem to have fewer serious arrhythmias today, which may have implications for the appropriate use of continuous ECG monitoring.

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