Aims The aim of this research study was to compare electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation competency among emergency nurses and EMS personnel. Design A cross‐sectional comparative descriptive study design was used. Methods This study recruited 170 participants (105 emergency nurses and 65 EMS personnel) in northwest of Iran. Data were collected during 2018 using ECG, an interpretation competency questionnaire and analysed using SPSS V.24 through independent t test, linear regression, Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficient. A statistical significance of p < .05 was assumed. Results The study results showed a mean score of 6.65 ± 2.16 out of 10 for emergency nurses' and 4.87 ± 1.81 for EMS personnel ECG interpretation competency (p < .05). Conclusions Hospital emergency nurses were more qualified to interpret the ECG than the pre‐hospital emergency medical personnel (p = .792 and β (SE)) = 0.22 (0.84). Active involvement in ECG interpretation and standard continued education are needed to develop and improve the emergency nurses and EMS personnel ECG interpretation competency.

Introduction: Preceptors play an important role in the transition of new nurses to the practice

Globally, the nursing profession is experiencing a shortage; this is particularly evident in highly specialized hospital units, such as emergency departments (Gorman, 2019; Schriver, Talmadge, Chuong, & Hedges, 2003). Consequently, newly graduated nurses are employed to work in emergency departments (Salonen, Kaunonen, Meretoja, & Tarkka, 2007). In such wards, that dealing with patients facing imminent life-threatening situations is a common feature, the clinical competence of care providers is a concern. The competency of nursing staff in providing emergency care is a critical factor in patient safety. Further, the quality of services provided in the ED is considered a hospital performance indicator (Tourani et al., 2019). Therefore, nurses and other multidisciplinary team members must be competent and work collaboratively to improve patient and healthcare outcomes (Holanda, Marra, & Cunha, 2019). Considering the complexity and dynamic nature of the ED, ensuring the clinical competency of nursing staff, in particular new nurses, is prominent. Nursing competency has been defined by the International Council of Nurses (1997, p. 44) as: "a level of performance demonstrating

Background: Febrile seizures are common during childhood and have a good prognosis, although they cause fear and anxiety in parents. Parent education is an important intervention in febrile seizures. Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of two educational strategies, written information vs. written information plus verbal instruction on knowledge, attitudes, concerns, and practices of mothers with febrile convulsive children. Patients and Methods: The study adopts a quasi-experimental research design. A total of 102 mothers of children presenting with febrile seizure and admitted to a teaching hospital in Iran were equally assigned to three groups: Group I received no intervention (control group), Group II received a febrile seizure information pamphlet, and Group III received the febrile seizure information pamphlet plus verbal instruction. Knowledge, attitudes, concerns, and practices of participants regarding febrile seizure were measured as primary outcomes in the pre-and post-intervention stages. Results: The results showed that although only a slight change in attitudes toward febrile seizures was found, both the febrile seizure information pamphlet alone and the febrile seizure information pamphlet plus verbal instruction were significantly effective in improving the knowledge, attitudes, concerns, and practices of mothers with febrile convulsive children toward febrile seizures. Conclusions: This study suggests that written materials in the form of a pamphlet can be an effective teaching strategy for educating parents on febrile seizures. However, written and verbal information should be given together where possible.