Do you know any good EKG books?

baltdave · Jan 6, 2010

I think that the greatest book regarding ecg interpretation is called "dubins rapid interpretation of the ecg" dont remember dubins first name but am sure you can find it cheap on half.com or amazon....it has been used by generations of physicians and nurses....you cant go wrong with it.

lindarn · Jan 6, 2010

I think that the greatest book regarding ecg interpretation is called "dubins rapid interpretation of the ecg" dont remember dubins first name but am sure you can find it cheap on half.com or amazon....it has been used by generations of physicians and nurses....you cant go wrong with it.

Dubins first name was Dale. And you are right-Dubins is the best book to learn EKG's.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

Emergency RN · Jan 6, 2010

i'm going to be working on a cardiac floor....my job starts in couple of weeks so i have some time to brush up on ekg skills...does anyone know any good ekg for a dummy? i know that a lot of people swear by dubin's ekg book but i did flip couple of pages of this book and his teaching style of rhythms doesn't seems that much appealing to me...i do have some ekg books though.
...rhythms are my weakest point... as far as i need something easy lol :) any recommendation out there?

baltdave and lindarn are both right.

you know, generations of nurses (myself included) and paramedics have used dale dubin's rapid interpretation of ekg's. it's been in print for over 30 years and in 26 languages. why?

because it is simplistic, easy to remember, and it does teach you all the basic rules by rote learning. that is exactly what a newbie needs. don't try to get a book that is too sophisticated if you're just starting out. considering that rhythms are your weakest point (your words, not mine), if you don't at least master everything that is in dubin's, you really shouldn't be working on a cardiac floor. dubin's is probably as basic as it gets. :uhoh3:

GilaRRT · Jan 6, 2010

Except you would be supporting a convicted sex offender by buying the book.

Emergency RN · Jan 6, 2010

except you would be supporting a convicted sex offender by buying the book.

convicted, sentenced, time served in jail, and released already over 20 years ago. no offense, but do we need to nail him on a cross too? his personal life, insofar as i'm concerned, remains his own business. imho, the book stands on it's own.

for those that want to read more about dubin's personal travails:

http://www.snopes.com/college/homework/foundcar.asp

http://medstudentitis.blogspot.com/2007/02/dale-dubin-my-hero.html

http://scrubnotes.blogspot.com/2007/08/truth-behind-rapid-interpretation-of.html

...and finally, a comment from the third link, in regards to the saucy revelation by the blogger of dubin's sordid past:

anonymous said... his book is the best out there for interpreting ekgs. your blog, on the other hand, sucks.

GilaRRT · Jan 6, 2010

Convicted, sentenced, time served in jail, and released already over 20 years ago. No offense, but do we need to nail him on a cross too? His personal life, insofar as I'm concerned, remains his own business. IMHO, the book stands on it's own.
For those that want to read more about Dubin's personal travails:
http://www.snopes.com/college/homework/foundcar.asp
http://medstudentitis.blogspot.com/2007/02/dale-dubin-my-hero.html
http://scrubnotes.blogspot.com/2007/08/truth-behind-rapid-interpretation-of.html
...and finally, a comment from the third link, in regards to the saucy revelation by the blogger of Dubin's sordid past:

Hey, I never said the book was bad. Anecdotally, many people seem to enjoy the book. However, he was into some pretty serious stuff back in the eighties, I will spare people the details. It's only personal life until a crime is committed IMHO. Perhaps he pulled himself together and leads a happy, productive life. I sure hope his victims did.

I am not saying buy or do not buy the book.

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Jan 6, 2010

I've never read Dubin. I learned my basic arrhythmias in nursing school from my nursing text, had a one day class in rhythm interpretation when I started on the cardiac floor, used websites and PDA programs for studying/sharpening skills, and used "ECG Interpretation Made Incredibly Easy".

Still not too good at 12 leads, but you don't need that to work on a cardiac floor. What you need is to be strong at rhythm strips.