EKG Basics
The test used to measure the electrical activity of the heart.
Electrocardiogram (EKG)
The wave that represents atrial depolarization.
P wave
Leads that are placed on the chest.
Precordial leads
Normal Sinus Rhythm (NSR) = ____ bpm
60-100
Continuous heart rhythm monitoring over 24–48 hours.
Holter monitoring
Where the electrical impulse is generated. Termed the pacemaker of the heart.
SA node
The vertical lines on EKG represent _____.
Amplitude/Gain
The reason you should avoid excessive tension and crossing of wires when attaching leads.
Atrial fibrillation has an increased risk of ____.
Blood clots
Electrical interference from nearby equipment.
AC interference
The sequence of events that occurs during one heartbeat.
Cardiac cycle
The wave that represents ventricular repolarization.
T wave
You place ___ leads on the body to see ___ views of the heart.
1 = 10
2 = 12
Term when the atria are triggered to contract too early.
Premature atrial contraction (PAC)
Artifact associated with breathing or poor electrode connection.
Wandering baseline
T/F Diastole = Relaxation.
True
Standard speed used for EKG paper.
25 mm per second
Leads that record impulses that travel from a negative to a positive pole.
Bipolar limb leads
T/F Ventricular tachycardia will never have a pulse.
False
(It can be with a pulse or pulseless)
T/F Your patient should limit activities with a Holter monitor.
False
(Resume normal activities)
When the electrical impulse reaches the Purkinje fibers, the ____contract.
Ventricles
Type of EKG that monitors all 12 leads at once.
Multichannel EKG
List 2 unipolar leads.
Leads aVL, aVR, aVF
A life-threatening rhythm with no organized electrical activity.
Ventricular fibrillation
During a stress test, you notice that the patient's blood pressure is elevated, and they begin complaining of SOB. You should ___.
Notify the provider
(And stop the test if patient safety is a concern)