:: SCC - Radiologic Technology Continuing Education ::


New User? Register Here...

CLICK HERE

User Name:
Password:

Forgot your password?

SUBMIT

Want to take this course? Click here to sign up!

Title

Basic ECG Interpretation: An Introduction for Radiologic Technologists (1 credit hours)

Abstract

This course is an introduction to principles of electrocardiographic (ECG or EKG) interpretation. It includes basic physiological principles that underlie the production of an ECG tracing and the single lead interpretation of cardiac arrhythmias. It will not address the use of more sophisticated 12-lead tracings used in the diagnosis of cardiac ischemia, infarction and hypertrophy. These topics will be presented in a subsequent advanced course intended for those already familiar with the basics of electrocardiography.

This activity is approved for Category A credits by the ASRT/Approval Expiration date: December 1, 2010.

This activity may be available in multiple formats or from different sponsors. The ARRT does not allow CE activities such as internet courses, home study programs or directed readings to be repeated for CE credit in the same or any subsequent biennium.

Author

Dan Becker, DDS

Dr. Becker received his bachelor of science in zoology from Ohio University in 1968 and his doctor of dental surgery from Ohio State University in 1972. Although Dr. Becker is a dentist, his interest always centered on academia and he began teaching biology at Sinclair Community College (Dayton, OH) as a part-time instructor in the autumn of 1972. He accepted a full-time faculty position in the Dental Hygiene department in 1976, but continued his teaching within the Biology department as well.

Dr. Becker's interest in pharmacology and anesthesia attracted him to Miami Valley Hospital where he became involved with their dental residency instructing dental residents and learning from mentors during rotations within departments of anesthesia and emergency medicine. During this time, he developed and taught courses in pharmacology and pathophysiology for nursing and other allied health programs until his teaching at Sinclair became entirely devoted to these subject areas. Currently he is a full professor at Sinclair Community College and Associate Director of Education at Miami Valley Hospital. He has published in numerous scientific journals and textbooks, and lectures extensively throughout the United States and Canada.

Objectives

After completing the module the learner should be able to:

Describe the components and intrinsic firing rates of the cardiac neural conductive tissues.
Explain the basis for the sinoatrial node functioning as the normal pacemaker of the heart.
Explain the electrical events in an action potential and contrast the purpose of an action potential in cardiac neural conductive cells from that in conventional nerve cells.
Explain the actual physiologic events represented by each component of an ECG tracing.
Define “lead” and describe the position of the electrodes for each of the three primary limb leads of Einthoven’s Triangle.
State the time units for the small and large squares along the horizontal axis of conventional ECG paper.
Describe two methods for assessing an ECG tracing for heart rate.
Explain the 5 steps presented in this lesson that can be followed to assess an ECG tracing.
Explain the criteria suggested in this lesson for categorizing cardiac rhythms into four groups.
Identify the most common atrial and ventricular arrhythmias.

Resources

Bibliography
Brunwald E, Zipes DP, Libby P. Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 6th edition, Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Co. 2001.

Goldberger AL. Clinical Electrocardiography: A Simplified Approach. 6th edition, St. Louis: Mosby, Inc. 1999.

Guyton AC, Hall JE. Textbook of Medical Physiology. 10th edition, Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Co. 2000.

Thaler MS. The Only EKG Book You’ll Ever Need. 4th edition. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins., 2003.

Wagner GS. Marriott’s Practical Electrocardiography. 9th edition. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins Co., 1994.

Want to take this course? Click here to sign up!