The rating system devised by the American College of Cardiology Emergency Cardiac Care Committee in the Statement of Practice Standards for Electrocardiographic Monitoring in Hospitals (2004) explains a Class I category to be "Cardiac monitoring is indicated in most, if not all, patients in this group" (pp. 2722). Class I includes all patients at significant risk of an immediate, life-threatening arrhythmia. If a patient is required to leave the monitored unit for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures, then cardiac monitoring should be continued with a portable, battery-operated monitor-defibrillator used by a healthcare provider who is skilled in ECG interpretation and defibrillation.

Answer the following questions,consider the 16 categories of patients who are considered Class I.
1. Do any of these patient categories surprise you?
2. What types of patients are on continuous cardiac monitoring in your practice setting or in your previous experience?
3. What, if any, are some of the discrepancies between this practice standard and the policies and/or procedures in the practice setting?