How to get EKG training?

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I just got my first CNA job in LTC. I'm grateful for the opportunity but eventually, I'd like to work in a hospital. (Just about every hospital requires at least six months and usually a year of CNA experience for entry CNA jobs.) I'm especially interested in some positions in cardiac surgery that give preference to CNAs with EKG experience. There's no way I'll get that kind of experience at my current job.

Does anyone know how to get EKG experience or training when your job doesn't offer it? (I'm in Washington state if that helps.)

Thanks, Wise Ones, for any pointers you can give me.

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There are EKG courses taught at vocational schools and some community colleges. Some hospitals will train their monitor techs, but that just depends on the hospital. Your best bet would be to take a course and be sure to include that in your resume.

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Specializes in None yet..

Who knew? Not this green newbie. Thanks so much!

:yes:

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There also may be a hospital based program. Like the other poster said vocational school and community colleges may have it. The community college where I am from has the class listed where the CPR courses are listed.

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Google "EKG and Phlebotomy Training"

Usually the Red Cross offers the two courses together. For a fee of course.

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It also depends on your state. None of the community colleges or the Red Cross in my state offer EKG courses. And it will also depend on the hospital. I work at a hospital and the only people who do the EKGs are the nurses, lab personnel, and our sonogram person.

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Normally the EKG training is to monitor the station with the HUC. They won't be performing EKG's, but they might put on 6or 12 leads. EMT's working in the ER would run EKG's. You would learn to spot abnormal rhythms .

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Specializes in None yet..
It also depends on your state. None of the community colleges or the Red Cross in my state offer EKG courses. And it will also depend on the hospital. I work at a hospital and the only people who do the EKGs are the nurses, lab personnel, and our sonogram person.

Yes, that's the case in my area as well! The local Red Cross does not offer EKG or phlebotomy training. Also, none of the community colleges offers a stand-alone EKG certification that would qualify me to take the certification exam. (I don't want to take the multi-quarter phlebotomy program.) I did find one online course but the American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians hasn't responded to my inquiry about whether a certificate of completion from that program would qualify me to sit for the exam.

That's why I was hoping someone out in allnurse.com land might be able to give me the name of a qualified online program. I'd still like that just in case the one I found isn't up to snuff.

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hey Seattlejess! I know this thread is so very old but I'm in the same predicament you were, and my internet search actually lead to this post. If any chance you still read this, did you end up going with the online ECG course? I'm waiting to hear if the CCI would accept my online course as eligibility to sit for the certified cardiographic tech exam. I'm in Seattle as well. I did find a ECG course at Edmonds but I contacted the advisor there to see if I could skip any of the pre-reqs and she said no... (why I need to take and pay for a course about "Healthcare Careers" when I already work in the medical field seems excessive). It's so hard to tell which online courses are legit, and which ones would be an acceptable qualification for hospitals here. :sorry:

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If you are still searching for an online EKG course, I found University of San Francisco's program. EKG Technician Certification | Online Courses | College of Extended Learning | San Francisco State University | Bay Area, California Their program costs $1299. I am going to take the Edmond's Community College course in the spring. If you are still looking for a course, you might want to contact them again. On their website they state:

"Note: Students with previous healthcare experience or education may be able to waive some or all of the prerequisites. Please consult with an advisor for more information."

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