What's the name of the ECG thingy that nurses put on a lot of peds patients?

[Samian Q]

It's not an ECG per se, because an ECG would have 15 or so different leads that get placed all over the patient's body in order to get a reading.

But there's this thingy... it's like an ECG, but there's only 3 leads and it goes into the cardiac monitor screen. There's a red wire, a black wire, and a white wire, so "smoke over fire, white is right" is used to place this thing's leads.

What's it called?

[Sezza83, BSN, RN]

We call it a 3 lead ECG in Australia :)

[itsnowornever, BSN, RN]

Called a 3 lead ECG in California too!

Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! :)

[DeBerham]

Not sure, but I think I would call that a 3 lead in Maryland...

[funfunfun550, BSN, RN]

A heart monitor..

[eatmysoxRN, ASN, RN]

Telemetry?

~ No One Can Make You Feel Inferior Without Your Consent -Eleanor Roosevelt ~

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

I'm also going to say telemetry....? Not sure if there is a special "name" for it.

The 3-lead telemetry monitoring is typically used as a transport monitor. It offers two different views of the heart: lateral & inferior. The ER at my hospital uses this when transporting patients.

The 5-lead telemetry monitoring, in addition to monitoring the lateral & inferior parts of the heart, also monitors the anterior part. We use 5-lead monitoring in ICU, CCU & PCU.

The 12-lead allows to look at most surfaces of the heart and to look for changes. I can't say all surfaces because on a 12-lead, you can't see the posterior wall of the heart (you only look for reciprocal changes on the EKG) and we do not routinely do right-sided EKGs (only really indicated if you have an inferior wall MI). It is the gold standard to diagnose an MI and to confirm rhythm changes. 12-leads are not used to routine monitoring. If a patient is complaining of chest pain/discomfort or I notice a new rhythm change on the monitor (whether it's 3 or 5-lead) I will get a STAT 12-lead.

[Samian Q]

ohhh ok :)

[Vespertinas]

The 5-lead telemetry monitoring, in addition to monitoring the lateral & inferior parts of the heart, also monitors the anterior part. We use 5-lead monitoring in ICU, CCU & PCU.

I sort of think it's overkill but many of the ICUs I work in now are using both whips (12 lead) for continuous monitoring.

[Do-over, ASN, RN]

I sort of think it's overkill but many of the ICUs I work in now are using both whips (12 lead) for continuous monitoring.

The monitors must be huge...

[Vespertinas]

Bedside. The size of one of those small kitchen TVs

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

I've seen 12/15-lead units that are no bigger than typical 3-lead units. Unless there's a possibility of MI, you normally don't need to use the 12 or 15 lead monitoring. What they're normally "looking" for is rate and rhythm changes when a patient is on an EKG monitor. What's the difference to the patient? A whole lot of wires and a whole lot of medical stability... The more wires, the less stable the patient will be, from a myocardial standpoint...