Date Available
4-29-2025
Year of Publication
2025
Document Type
DNP Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice
College
Nursing
Department/School/Program
Nursing
Faculty
Dr. Candice Falls
Committee Member
Dr. Patricia Howard
Faculty
Dr. Jill Clemmons
Abstract
Objective: The emergency department (ED) triage process for adult patients presenting with suspected cardiac abnormalities should be reliable; however, delays in identifying significant cardiac rhythms can negatively impact patient outcomes. The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) recommend that patients presenting to the ED with cardiac-related concerns undergo an electrocardiogram (EKG) within 10 minutes of arrival. This project aimed to educate ED nurses and implement changes in the triage process to reduce door-to-EKG times for adult patients with suspected cardiac abnormalities.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study utilized a pre- and post-intervention design to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention on improving ED nurses' knowledge and confidence in cardiac triage protocols. The sample consisted of ED clinical staff nurses (N = 53), primarily aged 26-45 years, with 85% identifying as female and 94% as White, non-Hispanic. Most participants had 1-10 years of clinical nursing experience, and 34% had 1-5 years of ED-specific experience. Data analysis was conducted with descriptive statistics used to summarize participant demographics, knowledge, confidence, and patient care practices.
Results: Statistical analysis revealed a significant improvement in nursing knowledge scores following the intervention (mean increase from 5.7 to 6.2, p = 0.005). Hospital operational data indicated a 10.5% increase in ED patient volume, while door-to-EKG times showed a slight improvement, decreasing from 16 to 15 minutes.
Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the effectiveness of an educational intervention in enhancing ED nurses’ knowledge of AHA/ACC guidelines and cardiac triage protocols. While knowledge improved significantly, further strategies may be required to optimize clinical application and reduce door-to-EKG times more substantially.
Recommended Citation
Douangdara, Khay, "A Triage Process to Decrease Door to EKG Times for Adult Patients with Suspected Cardiac Abnormalities in the Emergency Department" (2025). DNP Projects. 492.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/dnp_etds/492
