Did your nursing program cover 12 lead EKG?

juliaann · Apr 23, 2011

Thanks. What kind of experience did you have before getting the cardiovascular tech position?

I had been a CNA on the cardiac floor for a little over a year. Then I cross-trained to work as the monitor tech (that's when I took basic dysrhythmia through the hospital education center). I did that for about 9 months until the CVT job openend and I transferred. Then I took the 12-lead class and had about 3 days of on-the-job training (I probably only really needed 1).

You don't need to know a whole lot to be competent. But the more you know, the better. My cardiologists love me because they know I'll text them when I see something they need to see, or if they ask me how a stress test looked before they get a chance to look at it they know I'll notice things like ischemia and T-wave inversions and be able to tell them. I

carolmaccas66, BSN, RN · Apr 23, 2011

Our ECG class was covered in about 20 minutes I reckon. We did one on dummies, reviewed the different patterns and that was it.

Do another comprehensive course that will stand you in good stead.

ObtundedRN, BSN, RN · Apr 23, 2011

My school covered it in the last semester. We did 2 full days of EKGs. You need to start out with basic EKG rhythm interpretation, and after you know it well, then you can move to 12-leads. 12 leads its pretty much the same as basic interpretation, but you have to realize what parts of the heart you are looking at. Looking at what the OP posted as what is included in this class, and considering it is $700, I wouldn't waste my time. If your school doesn't cover it, and you get hired into a unit with tele, then you can take a class through your facility, have co-workers teach you, get books, etc.

Try picking up "Rapid Interpretation of EKGs" By Dr. Dale Dubin. It is the best book out for learning EKGs, and is written in such plain english, that you can teach yourself with this book. It will start with basic A&P and how the electrophysiology of the EKG works, and then move into basic EKG rhythm learning, and go into advanced stuff and 12-leads.

pianogirl90 · Apr 23, 2011

I'm studying nursing in Iceland and we learned how to do it in one class, practised on each other and tried taking it while laying on the side etc. to see the difference from when laying on the back.

miss81, BSN, RN · Apr 23, 2011

We covered how to do them but not interpretation. When I started at my current we had a class about how to complete an 12 and 15 lead EKG. In our hosptial only Cardiology Techs, RN's, NP's and MD's can do an EKG, and our Cardiologist has refused to "allow" other staff to to trained to do EKG's. WE had an incident where lead placement was incorrect and the pt's almost rec'd TNK, so he's being very picky!!! He says that he'd rather have a few people trained to do them "exactly right" then a ton of people doing them "a little bit wrong". We do not have Card. Techs on the weekend or during nights so we get our fair share of practice! As for the interpretation when I completed our hospital based critical care course we covered that and I am also using education funding to complete a second course being offered at another hospital soon!