Educating nurses about cardiac monitoring in a stroke unit.

Nurses in the 20-bed Stroke and Rehabilitation Unit at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital in Sydney, Australia, recently faced the significant challenge of learning how to use cardiac monitors and read and interpret cardiac rhythm strips. This article focuses on the philosophy used to drive their education process, barriers to learning, implementation, and influences on the nurses' workload. Stroke nurses can successfully learn the key elements of cardiac monitoring if provided with proper motivation, education, and support.