ECG Interpretation

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I don't consider myself a "slow" person, but I have tried in the past to understand and interpret ECG with little success. Anyone have any tips or good websites?:typing

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

Have you taken an EKG class?

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Just about all (if not all) of the links above can be found on this sticky thread:

https://allnurses.com/forums/f15/helpful-information-ccu-other-critical-care-units-140706.html

Agree that dysrhythmia and ECG course would be beneficial.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Ask to sit with one of your hospital's monitor techs for a couple of shifts. Nothing teaches you how to read them like staring at them for 12 hours straight.

Classes are good introducers, but nothing will stick if you don't get a chance to routinely practice. Also, classes and many textbooks give you a "textbook" waveform to practice patterns with.

You may know how to recognize normal sinus, but when they have a 1st degree block and a right bundle branch block with bigeminal PACs along with baseline artifact from movement and inferior q-waves from a prior MI, it isn't so easy. You need to see the real deal.

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Specializes in Critical Care,Recovery, ED.

Beside the book learning it requires practise practise and more practise. particularly if you are talking 12 lead interpertation as well as rhythm strips.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

constantly,

Don't stress. I taught this for many years... Based on my experience, it usually takes 3 courses to really 'get it'

Course One: HUH?

Course Two: OK, I remember some of that

Course Three: Oh! so that's how it works!

You're normal.

Previous poster was correct - unless you apply your new found knowledge, you won't retain it.

Make sure you not only can analyze the strips, but understand what is happening with the patient. Otherwise, you may find yourself 'splaining why you just tried to shock a patient because of a loose lead that created "v tach" :confused: (that would be a no no).

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I would certainly take a course, and then, consider practicing at some of the websites provided here. I took one that was phenomenal. If you live in New York, Beth Israel School for Nursing has an excellent three day class, and their instructors really explain things in such a fun way that I still remember it all.

Now, reading and studying through a book and seeing live monitors and strips can be entirely different (at least it is for me). I have not gotten that hands on experience per se, but, what I have done is made copies of EKGs done in my clinic, cut off the names (in order not to violate HIPPA) and brought them home to interpet for myself independently. I think I need to start doing that again. I do like interpeting, and as soon as I get them correct more consistently, I plan to get orientation to work the tele floor or ER as a per diem monitor nurse.

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