Arrhythmia Introduction

MUHIMBILI UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH AND ALLIED SCIENCES

SCHOOL OF NURSING

TITLE: EFFECTIVENESS OF STRUCTURED TEACHING IN IMPROVING DETECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF LIFE THREATENING ARRHYTHMIAS AMONG NURSES WORKING IN CRITICAL CARE SETTINGS AT MUHIMBILI NATIONAL HOSPITAL

DINNAH ISSA RUHWANYA (REG.NO. HD/MUH/T.197/2014)

(MSc. Crit. Care & Trauma 1st year students)

SUPERVISOR: Dr. EDITH TARIMO

2015.

INTRODUCTION

Dysrrhythmia or arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm due to disturbance in heart automaticity, abnormal heart conduction or both thus cause reduction in cardiac output, change in heart rate and also affects tissue perfusion(Wilkins, 2005). The progression of an abnormal origination of electrical impulse causes abnormal formation of

• It demonstrates the links that exist between research results and research objectives

The researcher decided to use the AACN Synergy Model for Patient Care to guide this study because the patient is always the centre of nursing, and because this particular model is applicable to all patients in all settings. This particular model also indicates the links between practice and outcomes. AACN Synergy Model for Patient Care for this research is that it is readily adaptable to the critical care setting where patients are critically ill and where by the knowledge and skills of nurses need according to the patients’ personal characteristics.

The three components of the model are: patient characteristics, nurse competencies and the health care system. AACN Synergy Model for Patient care (Source: Curley 1998:69)

Application of the AACN synergy model for patient care during life threatening arrhythmias detection and

The ectopic impulses fire at a rate of 400 to 600 times/minute, causing the atria to quiver instead of contract. Atrial fibrillation may occur in the following cardiac surgery, long-standing hypotension, pulmonary embolism, COPD, electrolyte imbalances, mitral insufficiency, mitral stenosis, hyperthyroidism, infection, coronary artery disease, acute MI, pericarditis, hypoxia, and atrial septal defects. Atria fibrillation occurs most commonly in patients over 50 years of age and those who have other types of heart disease. Sometimes, atrial fibrillation occurs in