This study aimed to analyze the literature production
about the nurse's role in the performance and interpretation of the
electrocardiogram (ECG) in the intensive care unit (ICU). This is a
research of an integrative review of published literature in data banks:
LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences), SciELO
(Scientific Electronic Library Online), BDENF Database (Nursing) ,
MEDLINE (International Literature on Health Sciences), viewed through
the website of BSV (Virtual Health Library) and BIREME (Regional
Medical Library) by having descriptors Decs: "Electrocardiogram",
"intensive care unit", "nursing". It was established as criteria for inclusion
the published articles in the period from 2000 to 2010. Based on data
collected it was shown that the nurse has a key role in the process of
systematization, of the critical patient, both, in providing and in the
interpretation of the electrocardiogram in the intensive care unit. It is
concluded from this study that the knowledge on the role of nurses in
providing and interpretation of the electrocardiogram, in the field of
research is still incipient. Therefore, it is necessary to deepen this
knowledge in order to minimize and prevent possible complications that
may be identified in time to have an intervention in the exact timing with
the whole crew interaction, thereby preventing undesirable reactions
capable of increasing the morbidity of patients hospitalized in the
intensive care unit
