Date
Spring 2024
Document Type
Scholarly Project
Department
College of Nursing
First Advisor
Amy Dievendorf
Abstract
Problem Statement: Timely diagnosis and treatment of nonconvulsive seizures (NCS) and nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) are critical for improving patient outcomes after a cardiac arrest. However, NCSE can only be confirmed with an electroencephalogram (EEG), which is either considerably delayed or unavailable in the Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Purpose: This project aimed to describe the impact of a rapid response electroencephalogram (rrEEG) brain monitor on improving time- to- acquisition and length of stay in the Intensive Care Unit for post-resuscitated cardiac arrest survivors; additionally, does rrEEG increase nurse's knowledge and confidence in managing complex seizure patterns? Method(s): Adult (>18 years old), comatose, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors were analyzed pre-intervention (before the introduction of rrEEG) and post-intervention to determine whether rrEEG will decrease time-to-acquisition and ICU length of stay and increase bedside staff’s knowledge and confidence in managing complex seizure patterns. Analysis: Independent-sample t-tests were utilized to compare time-to-acquisition and ICU LOS data for both conventional EEG and rrEEG (pre and post-intervention). A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RedCap survey results were translated into descriptive statistics to describe and summarize how the dataset from the survey described the sample and its measurements. Implications for Practice: This project supports the claims that rrEEG brain monitors are practical in their use in the critical care setting.
Recommended Citation
Steffen, Lauren Lee, "Evaluating the Impact of Rapid Response Electroencephalogram in Post-Cardiac Arrest Patients" (2024). Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects. 60.
https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/dnp_projects/60
Rights
© 2024, Lauren Lee Steffen