Understanding EKGs?

Hello all,

I am reviewing the cardiovascular system for the start of my second year in 2 short weeks....where did the summer GO??? What a nice break it was, but back to the grind.

I am going through my notes on cardiology and need some help with understanding/interpreting EKGs? I have limited experience with the visual aspect of the tracing, but do know what the P, QRS and T represent, lol. Is there any easy way to GET this? If so, I would truly appreciate it?

Kim

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

hello, kimber3ks,

check out this sticky in the ccu forum. lot's of links regarding ecgs:

helpful information for the unit

and, another link to an exceptional site with explanation/s regarding ecg interpretation:

http://www.icufaqs.org/

[emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

P = atrial depolarization

QRS complex = ventricular depolarization

T = ventricular repolarization

Check out this site for learning rhythms, http://www.skillstat.com/Flash/ECG_Sim_022505.html.

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

Some other helpful sites:)

http://library.med.utah.edu/kw/ecg/index.html

http://www.rnceus.com/course_frame.asp?exam_id=16&directory=ekg

http://www.ce5.com/ekg101.htm

http://www.ce5.com/ekg14.htm

http://www.icufaqs.org/

http://www.angelfire.com/ab/cardiosv/arrhythmia.html#normal

http://www.skillstat.com/Flash/ECGSim531.html

http://butler.cc.tut.fi/~malmivuo/bem/bembook/19/19.htm

http://www.studentbmj.com/issues/01/11/education/410.php

http://www.vetgo.com/cardio/concepts/concsect.php?conceptkey=20104

http://www.cardionetics.com/docs/healthcr/ecg.htm

http://www.txai.org/edu/education.htm

http://connection.lww.com/Products/smeltzer10e/Ch27.asp

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

http://www.gwc.maricopa.edu/class/bio202/cyberheart/cardio.htm - cyberheart - tutorials for basic heart anatomy, physiology and ekgs from professor crimando at gateway community college in phoenix, az. has an interactive tutorial quiz

http://rnbob.tripod.com/#section_3_cardiology_in_critical_care - section 3 of this website, nurse bob's micu/ccu survival guide, will help you identify all whole bunch of different rhythms and arrhythmias. nice clear rhythm strips are posted here. the site also covers a host of icu procedures, an extensive section on critical medications organized by categories, fluids and electrolytes, shock, and more!

http://www.kauaicc.hawaii.edu/nursing/ekg/tutorial/tutorial.htm ekg interpretation for healthcare professionals from kaua'i community college nursing school

http://www.kauaicc.hawaii.edu/nursing/ekg/tutorial/lytes.htm - electrolyte and medications: effect on ekgs from kaua'i community college nursing school is just one section from the above site

[sunnyjohn]

subscribing...

[labcat01, BSN, RN]

My absolutely favorite EKG site is

http://www-medlib.med.utah.edu/kw/ecg/index.html

Good luck!

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

found a new ekg tutorial today that many of you might like.

http://learn.sdstate.edu/nursing/ecg.htm - cardiac arrhythmias. a 66-page slide show presentation from dr. gloria craig at south dakota state university school of nursing. this is a very nice, simple explanation of the ekg with corresponding egk tracings. there are animations of the electrical conduction pathway for the various arrhythmias to help show what is going on to create the ekg tracing you see on paper. this is a very nice tutorial that addresses the normal sinus rhythm, sinus bradycardia and tachycardia, premature atrial contractions,atrial tachycardia, atrial flutter, atrial fibrillation, premature junctional contractions, junctional tachycardia, first, second and third degree blocks, premature ventricular contractions (pvcs), ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation and asystole.