THE KAPLAN NURSING CHANNEL

CARDIO 1.1 - ECG INTERPRETATION REVIEW

Session Objectives:

 Review the normal ECG pattern in lead II.

 Review characteristics of patterns originating in the atria cycle with potential causes and
therapeutic management.
 Review characteristics of patterns originating from the ventricles with potential causes and
therapeutic management.

Points of Emphasis:

 The ECG provides a graphic representation of the heart’s electrical activity.

 Normal ECG waveforms include the P, QRS, and T waveforms.
 There are 8 steps to a systematic analysis of the ECG which include analysis of the HR, rhythm, P
wave, PR interval, QRS duration, ST segment, T wave, and QT interval.
 Atria patterns include rhythms that originate from the sinus node, multiple ectopic foci, or a
single ectopic foci with a re-entry pattern.
 Ventricular patterns include rhythms that originate from a single ectopic ventricular foci with a
re-entry pattern or multiple ectopic ventricular foci.

References:

Hinkle, J. L., & Cheever, K. H. (2018). Brunner & Suddarth’s textbook of medical-surgical nursing (14th
ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.

Ignatavicius, D. D., Workman, M. L., & Rebar, C. R. (2018). Medical-surgical nursing: Concepts for
interprofessional collaborative care (9th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.

Lewis, S. L., Bucher, L., Heitkemper, M. M., & Harding, M. M. (2017). Medical-surgical nursing:
Assessment and management of clinical problems (10th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.