Published
Give me some time I am working on it:chuckle So far I have written the Australasian sticky, started the UK sticky and am currently working on one for Rural nursing that will cover resources from around the world. I personally would love to see stickies for all forums and if anyone is interested in contributing once started please, please feel free.
If there's no p wave, there's an atrial problem.
Calculating rate is pretty cool. Count the little squares between any 2 p's or r's, then divide into 1500, and there you have it. Or count the number of beats in six seconds and multiply by ten--but the other way is more accurate (and way more fun if you are into that).
another way to count the rate is by counting from p-p intervals [atrial rate] and multiplying x 10 or from r-r intervals [ventricular rate] and multiplying x 10.
you can try this link below:
http://www-medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/ecg/ecg_outline/lesson1/index.html
I don't think it works if you count between the p to p or r to r and multiply by ten.
The rate would be higher the further apart those landmarks were, when in fact the further apart they are, the slower the rate.
For example, take two different strips. One has 10 little squares between the p's and one has 20. By your method, the first one would have a HR of 100 (when it is actually 150), and the second would have a rate of 200 (when it is actually 75).
Check it out--you'll see what I mean....
This is definitely the sort of thing to look up in a dependable source before applying the info on an exam (or a patient...)
Hey--realized just now that you may have felt assaulted at my comment about checking out sources.....
That was not directed at you! That was because of exactly what you describe--that's how you were taught in class.
I'm a student too and one of my frustrations was that our instructors made so many errors, and those were the ones I caught~
Being a student is an uneasy, insecure spot to be in, but so much more so when instructors mess up....
Thank you--and please accept my apologies if I seemed out of line--it wasn't personal!
there was not an implication of offensiveness in your post, at least not to me, and did not take any. i have no quarrels with those who seek to help educate and find it helps one to think or go and find how the other's person is saying what they are, a good thing, indeed.originally posted by chris_at_lucashey--realized just now that you may have felt assaulted at my comment about checking out sources.....
that was not directed at you! that was because of exactly what you describe--that's how you were taught in class.
i'm a student too and one of my frustrations was that our instructors made so many errors, and those were the ones i caught~
being a student is an uneasy, insecure spot to be in, but so much more so when instructors mess up....
thank you--and please accept my apologies if i seemed out of line--it wasn't personal!
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i am glad to learn from nurses, nursing students and the like. :kiss
Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN
12,126 Posts
I am looking for any link(s) to sites about ECG reading. How to figure what is artial or ventricular problems, how to figure out the rate, etc. Our book on this subject SUCKS and the teacher explaining over and over is making things worse. Wound appreciate anything, thank you