EMR Chapter 25-MCIT-F3-1210 | The Shifting Heart
EMR Chapter 25-MCIT-F3-1210 | The Shifting Heart: This course is for EMRs and though an EMR , you do not deal with the diagnosis or treatment of a shifting heart, understanding axis deviation makes you a better member of the cardiac assessment team. This course starts with the basics of how the heart electrical system really works and then continues to explore what happens when things shift.
The lessons covered are
- Lesson 1: The Heart’s Electrical Compass
- Lesson 2: When the Heart Shifts Direction
- Lesson 3: What You’ll Actually See
- Lesson 4: Your Role in the Cardiac Assessment Chain
Excerpt from EMR Chapter 25-MCIT-F3-1210 | The Shifting Heart
Let’s talk about what “normal” actually means. Here’s something important: normal isn’t just one specific number—it’s a range. Just like blood pressure or heart rate, there’s a range of normal when it comes to cardiac axis.
For most people, a normal cardiac axis falls somewhere between -30 degrees and +90 degrees. Now, don’t worry about memorizing those numbers—that’s not your job. What I want you to take away is this: different people naturally have different axes, and that’s okay. A tall, thin person might have a slightly different axis than a short, heavy person. That doesn’t mean something’s wrong—it’s just variation in normal anatomy.
Think about a pregnant woman—as the baby grows, it pushes up on the diaphragm, which pushes up on the heart, which can shift the electrical axis. Is that abnormal? No, it’s expected for that situation. Same thing with athletes who have enlarged hearts from conditioning—their axis might be different from a sedentary person’s, but it’s still normal for them.
Core Concepts & Takeaways
- Differentiate between normal cardiac axis and axis deviation by analyzing how the heart’s electrical direction correlates with physical positioning and underlying cardiac pathology.
- Analyze the clinical significance of left versus right axis deviation by identifying patient populations at risk and recognizing patterns in chronic cardiac disease presentations.
- Formulate comprehensive patient assessments for individuals with suspected cardiac abnormalities by integrating vital signs, patient history, physical findings, and subjective complaints to identify subtle changes from baseline.
- Demonstrate effective communication within the cardiac assessment team by applying SBAR format to relay assessment findings, clinical concerns, and baseline changes to advanced providers.
- Evaluate the EMR’s scope of practice in cardiac assessment by distinguishing between appropriate supportive actions and procedures requiring advanced certification, while recognizing when to escalate care.
Important Notes:
To get credit for this course, you must watch all the lessons in their entirety, the course review, and pass the quiz at the end with a score of 75% or better.
Course Curriculum
EMR Chapter 25-MCIT-F3-1210 | The Shifting Heart
-
Lesson 0 – Introduction
02:46 -
Lesson 1 – The Heart’s Electrical Compass
11:01 -
Lesson 2 – When the Heart Shifts Direction
12:27 -
Lesson 3 – What You’ll Actually See
13:20 -
Lesson 4 – Your Role in the Cardiac Assessment Chain
13:49 -
Lesson 5 – Chapter Review
04:06 -
The Shifting Heart QUIZ
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An application for accreditation has been submitted to the Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education.
Disclosure: The planners, faculty, and content developers of this activity have no relevant financial relationships or commercial interests to disclose. No commercial support was received for this activity.
