A heart rate of 38 can be normal in an athlete.¹ But it also can require an immediate pacemaker insertion if accompanied by chest pain, shortness of breath, and an EKG/ECG interpretation of third-degree heart block.² Looking at a sheet of paper with a tracing on it does not provide enough information. Are you feeling nauseous, dizzy, lightheaded, or tired?.Have they ever been diagnosed with a heart condition?.What is their baseline physical activity?.Do they have underlying heart conditions?.Is your patient talking to you or are they struggling to catch their breath?.Do you smoke or have you ever smoked? If so, how many packs per day?.Would you describe it as more of a dull pressure or squeezing or more of a sharp, stabbing, or.When does the pain usually occur – morning, afternoon, or night?.Are they having chest or referred (arm) pain?.
#CARDIOGRAPH LEARNING SKIN#
Is the patient’s skin warm and dry, or is it damp and clammy?.This must come first! There are many clues you can learn when obtaining the EKG that will help you analyze and act on what you see. How do you know when you need to act immediately or can wait for expert consultation? Here are seven tips to help you gain confidence in interpreting what you see.
#CARDIOGRAPH LEARNING HOW TO#
> Related: How to Become an EKG Technician How to Read an EKG/ECG They are often used to diagnose heart problems in combination with an echocardiogram, or echo. The EKG/ECG is a printed capture of a brief moment in time.ĮKGs can be used to diagnose heart attacks, heart problems including electrical malfunctioning and other heart problems. An EKG/ECG is a representation of the electrical activity of the heart muscle as it changes with time, usually printed on paper for easier analysis. > Click to See the Top Cheap and Fast Online RN to BSN Programs What is an ECG?īefore interpreting an EKG it is important to know what an EKG is and its importance. This article has been reviewed by our panel of experienced registered nurses: This article will explain how to read an EKG and everything you need to know about it. A 12-lead EKG is considered the gold standard however, a 4 lead EKG can also diagnose different heart conditions. Both refer to the same procedure however, one is in English (electrocardiogram – ECG) and the other is based on the German spelling (elektrokardiogramm – EKG).ĭoes looking at a 12-lead EKG/ECG put your own heart into a lethal rhythm? Nurses are usually the first ones to read that “hot off the press” EKG tracing. It’s important to know that there is no difference between an ECG and an EKG. Being able to interpret or read an electrocardiogram, more commonly referred to as an EKG or ECG is an important skill for nurses. Regular, irregular, fast, slow, wide, narrow, stable, unstable.
![cardiograph learning cardiograph learning](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/groAAOSwcBhWVArv/s-l300.jpg)
Updated and Medically Reviewed by Kathleen Gaines MSN, RN, BA, CBC Advanced Practice Nurses of the Permian Basin.ACNP- American College of Nurse Practitioners.How to Become a Healthcare Administrator.How to Become a Medical Biller or Coder.