Register today to advance your ECG skills! Leave with brand new insights to recognize not only lethal rhythms, but other diagnoses that can present with ECG changes. Learn how to assess for other patient clues that will help you analyze the complete clinical picture and initiate crucial interventions.
Imagine taking care of your patient when he suddenly becomes pale, diaphoretic, and tells you his heart is “going crazy”. You check his pulse…because that’s what nurses do… his heart rate is rapid and his blood pressure is 70/50. You connect him to the cardiac monitor get a stat ECG. His rate is >200, it looks like atrial fibrillation, but the QRS is wide…OH NO!!
Reading ECG’s proficiently takes practice and fine tuning over time. Experienced nurses from various departments and units have admitted to feeling terrified of ECG’s. Yes….terrified to miss something that the patient’s ECG is indicating. You don’t need to know everything, but you do need to know how NOT to miss the big stuff!
