Any tips on reading EKG's?

[nicoleinphilly]

First, I would like to say God bless you all. I am in my last semester of nursing school and we are learning how to read EKG's...I just learned it any my head is spinning!:roll

Any way, I know once I start memorizing some stuff it'll make more sense but I was wondering if you guys had any memorization tips you learned along the way to recognize a certain arrythmia or ANYTHING that has to do with EKG's.

This repolarization and depolarization has me a little confused...does repol mean the heart isn ot contracting at the time and depol means it is contracting?

Please help me if you can! Thank you so much guys!

Nicole

[ShandyLynnRN, BSN, RN]

I am of no help. I started crying during the class over ekg's. ARGH!

[JohnnyGage]

First of all, the best way to learn EKGs (after the basics about waves and intervals, etc) is to practice. And practice, practice, practice. (You might even want to practice some more.) Go to a telemetry floor during clinicals and run off every strip you can find, then do your interpretation and then ask an experienced nurse to check your answers. Best way, hands down.

In terms of depolarization and repolarization... depolarization occurs immeditately prior to contraction of a muscle. The p-wave and QRS complexes are depolarization. Repolarization occurs during relaxation (t-wave). Another way to think of it: depolarization = systole (of any given chamber atrial or ventricular) and repolarization = diastole.

Two great books: ECGs Made Incredibly Easy, and Rapid Interpretation of EKGs, by Dale Dubin. (I don't remember who did Incredibly Easy, but there's a bunch of them out there.)

[RNforLongTime]

The incredibly Easy Series published by Springhouse is VERy Easy to understand. I suggest you start with that book

[safdarimt]

I suggest you refer to An Introduction to Electrocardiography by Leo Schamroth

and also don't forget practice makes perfect

Best regards

[KC CHICK]

Learn to recognize NSR, then your fatal arrythmia's, then everything in between will fall into place a little easier. It was for me, anyway.

Just have to memorize P-R, QRS interval lengths for NSR. That way, if one of them is off, you know it's not NSR. Also, check for irregularity of the rythm...that's another big clue.

Anne:D

[Mimi Wheeze]

Johnny Gage, for some reason, your one sentence "re-pol = diastole and de-pol = systole" really helped me! It just summed it all up for me, and now it makes more sense! :kiss

Thank you!

KC Chick: where did you get that heart graphic? Is there a website or something? You guys are great!

[KC CHICK]

It's the website that's shown on the graphic.

There are many websites with EKG information. Just plug EKG into your search engine and you should find a bunch.

[Mimi Wheeze]

Duh! Didn't even see the web address on the graphic!

Thanks!

[RNCENCCRNNREMTP]

Dubin's, Dubin's, Dubin's!!!!!

The best book for starting to read 12 lead EKG's.

I teach from it and all participants love it.

[Sleepyeyes]

Excellent website, has learning and games to teach ECG interpretation:

http://www.skillstat.com/ECG_Sim_demo.html

I'm finally getting the hang of this.

[JoL]

I found a good site http://www.skillStat.com first thing you should learn in Normal Sinus Rhythm and the electrical current through the heart the rest is a doddle.