Need help with ACLS rhythms

To be honest, nursing school taught you enough to identify a few lethal rhythms that might hit the boards, got them all wrong can still pass. You may not have focused too much on them, just try to pass the cardiology test and move on. Completely NORMAL.

If you are in a position that requires ACLS, in orientation or in an additional class a dysrhythmia class should be offered PRIOR to ACLS. Now this is what I've experienced. For some reason if your facility does not offer the basic class, one get a book from the library. Two go up to the CCU or ask any monitor tech if they would be willing to save you strips, have you "time them out", name them and review them for you. Your nurse educator may be able to do this as well.

You must know the rhythms to pass ACLS, it's all about that, you can't treat what you don't know is there... the drugs then are irrelevant!

ASK for help and do your part and read, practice the strips and get feedback. BEST of LUCK. ACLS is not the scary thing it was years ago but you do need to know the rhythms and I hope I've given you some ideas on where to start;)

Are you talking about the algorhythms or heart rhythms? If you are talking about actual heart rhythms, then"zookeeper3" basically covered it all. If you are talking about the algorhythms, the only way to get those down is memorize them and practice, practice, practice!!

During the ACLS megacode, you will have to identify a rhythm and do the appropriate action. For my megacode, I had a lady that walked into the doors of the ED and collapsed. I did not know any information on her other than she was an older lady. When we attached the monitor, she was in one rhythm (brady I think), then after I did all the appropriate actions for that rhythm, she went into a different rhythm. We each had a total of 3 different rhythms on our megacode.

Don't let the megacode freak you out. If you know your heart rhythms and the algorythms, you will do fine! Everyone in my class passed :)

I see that you are working in Cardiac Care ,so rhythm recognition is vital. When I am teching a pre ACLS course I try to get everyone to learn the elctrical path of the heart first. It really help when you have this down in identifying a rhythm on a monitor or strip. Rate and regularity identification is key. Knowing the rate helps you think of what area of the heart that is setting the rate. Strips on a test are so hard to read. There is a book at Borders called Rhythm's made easy, real helpful and simple to get. I tell people to take actual strips from pt's when you have time and try and figure them out. Usuallly you can get a co worker or doc to pitch in and help. There are also many ACLS sites you can google to practice and review. Good Luck! The new ACLS Book also comes with a cd that has practice strips I believe.

Therre are also excellent 12 EKG interpretation courses for CEUs as well as Basic Arrythmnia CEUs on line.