A national survey of arrhythmia nurses: roles, qualifications and professional development needs

Hall, A and Jones, I ORCID: 0000-0002-3081-0069 (2026) A national survey of arrhythmia nurses: roles, qualifications and professional development needs. British Journal of Cardiac Nursing, 21 (5). pp. 1-13. ISSN 1749-6403

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Abstract

Introduction: The role of the arrhythmia nurse is increasingly vital in cardiovascular care. This survey aimed to delineate the current landscape of arrhythmia nursing in the UK, focusing on roles, responsibilities, qualifications, and professional development requirements.
Methods: A national online survey was conducted between October 2023 and March 2024, disseminated through professional bodies including the Arrhythmia Alliance, British Association for Nursing in Cardiovascular Care, British Cardiovascular Society and British Heart Rhythm Society. The survey was a scaled-up iteration of a 2022 pilot audit and gathered data on demographics, qualifications, work environment, clinical responsibilities, leadership, teaching, research involvement, and perceived development needs.
Results: 102 responses were received. 69% of arrhythmia nurses operate at Band 7, with significant experience (many over 20 years qualified). 35% have a Masters level qualification. Over half are non-medical prescribers, and most possess advanced life support qualifications and ECG interpretation skills. While most are BHRS members, few hold BHRS accreditation. Roles are diverse, encompassing various clinics (e.g., AF, syncope) and procedures (e.g., ILR implantation, DC cardioversion), with many nurses undertaking multiple roles. Leadership and teaching are common responsibilities. Areas identified for further development include specialised training, accessible online courses, and dedicated study time and budgets, which are currently lacking for many.
Discussion: This survey highlights the advanced and multifaceted nature of the arrhythmia nurse role. There is a clear need for standardised competency pathways, greater support for professional accreditation, and dedicated resources for continuous professional development to meet the evolving demands of arrhythmia care. The findings provide a foundation for workforce planning and the development of targeted educational initiatives.
Conclusion: Arrhythmia nurses are a highly skilled and an integral part of the cardiac and advanced practice team. Addressing the identified needs for structured training, accreditation support, and development opportunities is crucial for optimising patient care and advancing the specialty. Further qualitative research is planned to explore these findings in greater depth.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	4203 Health Services and Systems; 4205 Nursing; 42 Health Sciences; Health Disparities and Racial or Ethnic Minority Health Research; Health Disparities; Heart Disease; Cardiovascular; Cardiovascular; 1102 Cardiorespiratory Medicine and Haematology; 1110 Nursing; 1117 Public Health and Health Services; 4205 Nursing
Subjects:	R Medicine > RT Nursing
Divisions:	Nursing and Advanced Practice
Publisher:	Mark Allen Group
Date of acceptance:	7 April 2026
Date of first compliant Open Access:	15 June 2026
Date Deposited:	15 Jun 2026 09:30
Last Modified:	16 Jun 2026 08:17
DOI or ID number:	10.12968/bjca.2025.0070
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/28842

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