203: A Systematic Approach for Interpreting ECG Arrhythmias

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. On completion of this chapter the student will have mastered the following objectives.
2. Be able to define the term cardiac, myocardium, electrocardiogram (ECG), “heart rate”, depolarization, repolarization, arrhythmia, Sinus Rhythm, & aberrant conduction
3. Name the heart’s four chambers.
4. Be able to define the stages of cardiac circulation.
5. Be able to define the components of the cardiac electrical conduction system.
6. Be able to calculate timing intervals on the ECG graph paper.
7. Be able to define the components of the electrocardiogram (ECG).
8. Be able to correlate the ECG graph waves with the physical cardiac cycle.
9. Be able to identify the two basic cardiac monitoring leads.
10. Be able to define the five steps necessary to interpret cardiac rhythms.
11. Be able to calculate heart rates by three different methods.
12. Be able to list the qualities required for a sinus rhythm to occur.
13. Be able to define Sinus Tachycardia, Sinus Bradycardia, Sinus Arrhythmia.
14. Be able to list the qualities found in various abnormal cardiac rhythms, and identify each abnormality in the rhythm strip.
15. Be able to define the term ectopic site, bigeminy, trigeminy, unifocal & multifocal PAC’s.
16. Be able to pick out the proper medical interventions for the various atrial arrhythmias.
17. Be able to determine the difference between a Low, Middle & High junctional ectopic site.
18. Be able to pick out the proper medical intervention for the various junctional arrhythmias.
19. Know the normal width for ‘QRS’ complexes.
20. Be able to pick out the proper medical interventions for junctional arrhythmias.
21. Be able to determine the underlying rhythm that is pacing the ventricles in a Third Degree Atrioventricular block.
22. Be able to pick out the proper medical interventions for the various atrio-ventricular arrhythmias.
23. Be able to recognize the various aberrant ‘QRS’ complex morphologies & the various ventricular ‘QRS’ complex morphologies.
24. Be able to list the various ECG qualities that indicate the presence of aberrant conduction & the presence of ventricular beats.
25. Be able to pick out the qualities found in each of the following abnormal cardiac rhythms, and identify each abnormality in a rhythm strip: Sinus Exit Block, Sinus Pause (Arrest)
26. Be able to pick out the proper medical intervention for sinus exit blocks and pauses.