Faster ECG Competency: qualitative analysis of RCDP

The PLOS One phenomenological study found that Rapid Cycle Deliberate Practice (RCDP) produced perceived shifts across perceptual, cognitive, behavioral, and professional-identity domains in CCU nurses.

The reported changes mapped to Tanner’s noticing, interpreting, responding, and reflecting phases and were observed in interviews with 13 nurses collected Apr–Jul 2025 and published 6 Jul 2026.

• The sample included 13 CCU nurses with maximum variation in experience (3–20 years) and average interviews of about 43 minutes.
• Participants described immediate perceptual change from isolated numeric/alarm focus to gestalt rhythm recognition and cognitive change from rule-based matching to intuition plus rapid evidence checks.
• The study used Van Manen phenomenology, inductive coding in NVivo, then mapped themes to Tanner’s noticing→interpreting→responding→reflecting framework.

The PLOS One phenomenological study of 13 CCU nurses reports perceived shifts across Tanner’s clinical judgment phases after RCDP training.

In brief: a phenomenological study of 13 CCU nurses (data collected Apr–Jul 2025; published 6 Jul 2026) reports perceived shifts across Tanner’s clinical judgment phases after RCDP training: from fragmented monitoring to holistic pattern recognition, from rule-based matching to integrated intuition and evidence, from hesitant reactivity to proactive responses, and toward a stronger professional identity.

• Source: PLOS One
• Ethics approval: Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital (Approval 2025-2306-01)
• Data repository: OpenICPSR

The authors implemented a three-phase, station-based RCDP program and then interviewed nurses who completed the training, analyzing transcripts with inductive coding in NVivo mapped to Tanner’s framework.

The authors implemented a three-phase, station-based RCDP program (rhythm identification, waveform morphology, arrhythmia classification, emergency response) then interviewed nurses who completed training. Analysis used inductive coding in NVivo, then mapped themes to Tanner’s noticing→interpreting→responding→reflecting framework.

• Participants reported immediate perceptual shifts: from isolated numeric/alarm focus to gestalt rhythm recognition.
• Cognitive change: breakthrough moments where intuition plus rapid evidence checks replaced mechanical textbook matching.
• Behavioral change: increased confidence to initiate interdisciplinary action.
• Identity shift: nurses described an expanded ethical responsibility and ongoing learning commitment.

These findings show that qualitative protocols evaluating training interventions must capture perceptual language, breakthrough narratives, and identity statements in addition to accuracy scores.

If you evaluate training interventions (simulation, RCDP, or blended curricula), these findings show why your qualitative protocol must capture more than accuracy scores, capture perceptual language, breakthrough narratives, and identity statements.

• Design interviews to probe the noticing→interpreting→responding→reflecting continuum (use Tanner’s model as a sensitizing framework).
• Triangulate: pair interview narratives with timestamps of simulation runs or actual ECG strips to link talk to action.
• Measure sustainment: collect follow-up interviews or short surveys at 3/6/12 months to track retention and identity change.

Follow these seven steps to replicate the study’s qualitative workflow and generate actionable outputs for stakeholders.

• 1) Collect: audio-record semi-structured interviews and field notes (target avg ~40–50 min).
• 2) Transcribe: use Evidano transcription with a custom clinical dictionary and PII redaction.
• 3) Code inductively: import transcripts into Evidano, run initial open coding and let themes emerge.
• 4) Map to framework: align stable themes to Tanner’s noticing→interpreting→responding→reflecting.
• 5) Segment analysis: compare experience levels, pre/post, or station-based performance using cross-segment tools.
• 6) Visualize: produce co-occurrence networks and hierarchical code maps to illustrate perceptual and cognitive shifts.
• 7) Report & action: export a one-page executive brief plus a clickable quote bank for educators and managers.

The PLOS One study (published 6 Jul 2026) reports that Rapid Cycle Deliberate Practice produced reported shifts across perceptual, cognitive, behavioral, and identity domains in CCU nurses.

For qualitative researchers and clinical educators who want reproducible, secure, and fast analysis of transcripts and surveys, Evidano can automate the coding, cross-segment comparisons, and visualization steps described here while preserving data privacy.

• Try these steps in your next pilot: upload transcripts to Evidano, run thematic and cross-segment analyses, and produce a stakeholder-ready report in hours, not weeks.
• Start a pilot or request a walkthrough at Evidano and reference the source study at PLOS One.
• Try Evidano for free