EKG Resources

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Hello all, I was hoping someone had some good suggestions for EKG resources??? I will be starting my first NP job in a few months, which is a Cardiology clinic position. My program did not require me to learn how to read EKG. I have a few mo months so I am wanting to prepare. I have ACLS and i have taken an arrhythmia course in the past, so I have basic understanding of some things; however, i want to be more prepared than what i feel now, Thanks!

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Your program didn't require you to learn to read EKGs? This is a basic skill. There is so much more I want to say about this but I will refrain...

"Rapid Interpretation of EKGs" by Dale Dubin is pretty much the go to text to gain familiarity with EKG interpretation. But if you are going to be working in a cardiology clinic you need to go way beyond this text.

"Marriott's Practical Electrocardiography" is also good but be sure to read Dubin's first.

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I know how to read basic EKGs. While we went over some EKGs in school as a refresher, it was never a requirement or heavily covered and never tested on. I want more advanced training for this job, that is what I'm getting at. My program was family practice, I'm assuming I'll need more in-depth knowledge about This.

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Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.

I like Dubin's book. I also did a CE course recently on EKG interpretation, since I don't have the opportunity to do many EKGs these days. My per diem job requires that an MD or DO sign off on all EKGs. That irks me a bit, but I'm always happy for another pair of eyes to take a look.

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...My per diem job requires that an MD or DO sign off on all EKGs. That irks me a bit, but I'm always happy for another pair of eyes to take a look.

Well, knowing that there are NP programs that don't cover that in their programs, maybe (unfortunately) this may be a good thing...

I'm just incredulous at some of these programs. Very disappointing.

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Maybe you should read my edited post again before you judge too much. I was referring to advanced interpretation of EKGs. I shouldve been more clear and careful with my wording. I was just trying to make a quick post. We did not HEAVILY cover EKGs, basic understanding of them in order to know whats normal and not normal, and when to refer. Considering i was in a primary care program, NO i did not learn the advanced interpretation skills needed to be in a cardiology specialty, and why would I??

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
Well, knowing that there are NP programs that don't cover that in their programs, maybe (unfortunately) this may be a good thing...

I'm just incredulous at some of these programs. Very disappointing.

This is a leg jerk reaction.

All programs cover reading a basic EKG and identifying common abnormalities, or they at least should do that it's a core competency that is covered by the board exams.

The OP is being honest and self-reflective here and that's a good thing. I have taken several courses and have a significant amount of provider-level experience reading EKGs and the more I learn the more I feel like I need to learn, and I work in IM not cardiology. I speak with our local EP cards MD frequently and, along with being amazingly helpful, he always says he feels the same way. Reading EKGs is both an art and a practice, and no novice provider (MD, DO, NP, PA, medic) is fully proficient at it.

It is so important in practice to know what you don't know and the OP is being honest about that which is a very good sign. It is also an example of why novice NPs in specialty practice concerns me. At the end of the day though, being overly confident is far worse.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
Maybe you should read my edited post again before you judge too much. I was referring to advanced interpretation of EKGs. I shouldve been more clear and careful with my wording. I was just trying to make a quick post. We did not HEAVILY cover EKGs, basic understanding of them in order to know whats normal and not normal, and when to refer. Considering i was in a primary care program, NO i did not learn the advanced interpretation skills needed to be in a cardiology specialty, and why would I??

See my above post but this shows excellent insight. It also suggests that perhaps a cardiology specialty isn't the right job for you.

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With the utmost respect, I disagree. Cardiology is the right fit for me, and even though I have not had any training in advanced EKG interpretation, it does not mean that I can't do this job. There is not a cardiology NP specialty program out there to my knowledge, so on the job training for these positions is a common thing, at least where I am from. The physicians in this practice are fine with the fact that I will need more training in certain areas and are receptive to teaching. The practice is also willing to pay for me to take some EKG courses. I also did some clinical hours in this practice while I was in school, so I guess they saw potential in me. I feel like anyone going into a specialty practice, is going to need more training. If I had primary care experience, would I not need additional training at all?? I'm not so sure.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
With the utmost respect, I disagree. Cardiology is the right fit for me, and even though I have not had any training in advanced EKG interpretation, it does not mean that I can't do this job. There is not a cardiology NP specialty program out there to my knowledge, so on the job training for these positions is a common thing, at least where I am from. The physicians in this practice are fine with the fact that I will need more training in certain areas and are receptive to teaching. The practice is also willing to pay for me to take some EKG courses. I also did some clinical hours in this practice while I was in school, so I guess they saw potential in me. I feel like anyone going into a specialty practice, is going to need more training. If I had primary care experience, would I not need additional training at all?? I'm not so sure.

With the upmost respect back at you, take some time and really think about this. You seem to have some awareness as to the breadth of your training and education and consider whether specialty cardiology practice really fits this right now for you. If you care to, share with us exactly why you feel this is the "right fit" for you.

I wholeheartedly agree that with some more training and some more experience you can certainly learn to be a proficient EKG reader, and in the same vein, a proficient NP in specialty practice. How long do you think that proficient will take? Do you feel you are adequately prepared right now for it? Now consider it from a primary care perspective as this is where most of your training is: if an experienced PCP (MD, DO, PA, NP) refers a patient to you (or that patient is admitted to the hospital under your care) having read hundreds if not thousands of EKG themselves relying on your expertise to exceed theirs, do you think that patient gets appropriate care?

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share with us exactly why you feel this is the "right fit" for you.

Why does the OP have to justify anything to you?

They don't need your approval or anyone else's on this board to work in their desired speciality.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
If you care to, share with us exactly why you feel this is the "right fit" for you.

I included my full quote for you so it is in the proper context.

Why does the OP have to justify anything to you?

They don't need your approval or anyone else's on this board to work in their desired speciality.

He or she doesn't need to justify anything to me and they don't need my approval, but the OP came here looking for help, and by sharing why this job is the right fit for them, can help give us some perspective and perhaps allow us to suggests some ways to expand on their current knowledge base to prepare for practice.

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