Dysrhythmias - Help!!

[Hut1244]

I am a brand-spanking new grad halfway through orientation in a medical ICU. Thankfully I LOVE it so far, but I do have a problem. I received very little education on dysrhythmias in nursing school, as my professor explained "the hospital you work for will make you take a class!". Which they will...in January. Which means I will be off orientation and on my own for a good two months without any clue about heart rhythms. On top of that, I am scheduled to take ACLS in December, BEFORE my dysrhythmia class. I am scared that I will be completely lost in ACLS. Even more important, I am worried that I will be unsafe for my patients once I am off orientation. My hospital does not have a CCU, so we get cardiac patients on our floor frequently. I am pushing my manager to do everything she can to squeeze me into a class before December but on the off chance she can't, what books/resources would you recommend? I have heard good things about ECG's Made Easy, but I am interested in hearing other opinions. Keep in mind that I am a beginner and I will be basically teaching myself. THANKS!!!

[amoLucia]

In today's computer age, I'm sure there CEU modules out there but am not sure how to 'blindly' judge degree of complexity before you put out any money.

I'm a fossil - I still have my old 'Andreoli Manual of EKGs'.Found that to be my best resource but that was way back when we still wrote on cave walls in the south of France.

I was also blessed to have a co-worker staff nurse who took the time to mentor me with EKG interpretations. She was excellent. And that was waaaaay before she went on for further educ to become a nursing school professor. I guess she was unknowingly sowing the seeds for a phenominal career in education. I prob could still read a strip after all these years gone by. Thank you CB.

[SeaH20RN, BSN]

Check out You Tube. They have great teaching videos

[KBICU]

Free ECG Simulator! - SkillSTAT

I encourage all my students to use this....good luck !