Electrocardiogram Interpretation Competency Among Emergency Nurses in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Electrocardiogram (ECG) is considered one of the most frequently carried out diagnostic tests in emergency rooms. To develop and refine the competencies of emergency nurses, it becomes imperative to assess the current level of knowledge and practice among nurses regarding ECG and other diagnostic tests. The study aimed to assess the ECG interpretation competency and its associated factors among emergency nurses in Jordan. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2022 to March 2023. Data were collected from 287 Jordanian emergency nurses working in six governmental, private, and teaching hospitals, and they had at least 1 year of clinical experience. Badell-Coll ECG Interpretation Competency Questionnaire was used in this study. Descriptive analyses were conducted using an independent t-test and one-way analysis of variance. A statistical significance of P < 0.05 was assumed. Results: Approximately, 61.43% of emergency nurses had been involved in educational sessions on ECG interpretation. The mean of the total participants' score on the ECG assessment tool was 4.35 out of 10. Significant differences were found in the ECG interpretation competency scores based on the highest educational level (t(285)= -0.64, P < 0.001), job title (t(285)= -5.91, P < 0.001), and previous engagement in ECG training sessions (t(285) = 2.50, P = 0.013). Conclusions: The level of emergency nurses' ECG interpretation competency was low. Nurses should engage in ECG refreshing courses to improve their ability to detect arrhythmias early. Efforts should be made to improve the nursing educational curricula and ECG training sessions by employing electronic systems and addressing both basic and advanced arrhythmias.