Abstract
Bedside nurses caring for patients with permanent pacemakers often lack the formal training needed to independently perform device interrogations. This reliance on specialists can delay patient care. Additionally, no standardized competency program existed across four high-acuity inpatient units at a Level I Trauma Center. This quality improvement project aimed to improve registered nurses' competency in pacemaker interrogation through a structured educational program with three components. The project had a SMART goal: to ensure that 70% of participating nurses would achieve a knowledge score of 70% or higher within 12 weeks. The quality improvement used a pre/post design with a four-week retention assessment. Fifty registered nurses from the intensive care unit, cardiac care unit, telemetry unit, and emergency department participated. The intervention included didactic instruction, scenario-based simulations aligned with the INACSL standards, and targeted reinforcement to address knowledge gaps. Knowledge was assessed at
Questionnaire (PKQ). Mean knowledge scores increased from 24.4% at baseline to 72.0% after the intervention and 85.1% at four-week retention. Competency pass rates increased from 0% at baseline to 63% after the intervention and 90% at retention. Perception scores were favorable, although confidence remained lower than objective knowledge gains. A structured education and simulation program improved nurses’ knowledge of pacemaker interrogation and may provide a practical model for device-related competency development.
Date of publication
Fall 11-15-2026
Document Type
DNP Scholarly Project (Local Access Only)
Language
english
Persistent identifier
http://hdl.handle.net/10950/5220
Committee members
Dr. Emily Harvey, Dr. Shivas Niduasa, Dr. Emily Fox, Dr. Angie Mcinnis, Dr. Jeni Chilton
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Recommended Citation
Odohofre-Jones, Afiong, "DNP Final Report: IMPROVING CLINICAL PROFICIENCY IN PACEMAKER INTERROGATION THROUGH STRUCTURED EDUCATION AND SIMULATION" (2026). DNP Final Reports. Paper 109.
http://hdl.handle.net/10950/5220
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