EMT Chapter 25-MCIT-F3-2204 | EKG – What They Didn’t Teach In School
EMT Chapter 25-MCIT-F3-2204 | EKG – What They Didn’t Teach In School :
As EMTs when you deal with Cardiac patients, you interact with EKG technology every time you use an AED, check a pulse or hand over an monitor strip. This course gives you practical knowledge to recognize red flags, understand what the monitor is telling you and support advance providers with confidence. The lessons covered are
- Lesson 1: EKG Basics – What You’re Looking At
- Lesson 2: Normal vs. Abnormal – When to Be Concerned
- Lesson 3: The EMT’s Role in EKG Monitoring
- Lesson 4: Essential Rhythm Recognition
- Lesson 5: Real-World Applications and Case Studies
Excerpt from EMT Chapter 25-MCIT-F3-2204 | EKG – What They Didn’t Teach In School
These are the four rhythms where nothing else matters except high-quality CPR.
Ventricular fibrillation looks like someone’s scribbling on the EKG paper – complete electrical chaos. The heart’s quivering like jello instead of pumping. This is a shockable rhythm, and early defibrillation is crucial.
Pulseless V-tach looks organized on the monitor – wide, fast complexes marching across the screen. But here’s the critical part – no pulse! The electrical activity isn’t generating mechanical pumping. This is also shockable, and the AED will advise a shock.
Asystole is the flatline you see in movies, but here’s a pro tip – always confirm in two leads. Sometimes what looks like asystole is actually fine V-fib, which is shockable. Never trust a single lead showing flatline.
PEA – pulseless electrical activity – is the trickiest. The monitor shows what looks like a normal rhythm, maybe even a perfect one, but when you check for a pulse, nothing. This is why we always, always check for a pulse. The monitor might show something that looks compatible with life, but the patient is in cardiac arrest.
For all four of these, your immediate action is the same – start CPR. Don’t waste time staring at the monitor trying to figure out which one it is. No pulse equals CPR, period. The rhythm analysis comes after you’ve started compressions.
Core Concepts & Takeaways
- Describe the electrical conduction system of the heart, including the role of the sodium-potassium pump and how electrolyte imbalances affect cardiac rhythm interpretation.
- Differentiate between normal sinus rhythm and life-threatening rhythms (ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, asystoly, and pulseless electrical activity) by analyzing rhythm characteristics, including rate, regularity, and QRS complex morphology.
- Demonstrate proper electrode placement techniques for 3-leed, 4-leed, and 12-leed EKG acquisition while applying appropriate troubleshooting strategies for common equipment interference and artifacts.
- Apply systematic assessment principles to correlate EKG rhythm findings with patient presentation, vital signs, and clinical symptoms to identify symptomatic versus asymptomatic rhythm disturbances. And,
- Formulate appropriate EMT-level interventions and communication strategies when cardiac rhythm changes occur, including anticipating advanced provider needs, documenting objective observations within the scope of practice, and transmitting critical findings to medical control.
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
EMT Chapter 25-MCIT-F3-2204 | EKG – What They Didn’t Teach In School
-
Lesson 0 – Introduction
02:36 -
Lesson 1 – EKG Basics – What You’re Looking At
08:18 -
Lesson 2 – Normal Vs. Abnormal – When to Be Concerned
10:07 -
Lesson 3 – The EMT’s Role in EKG Monitoring
10:57 -
Lesson 4 – Essential Rhythm Recognition
12:16 -
Lesson 5 – Real-World Applications and Case Studies
12:54 -
Lesson 6 – Chapter Review
02:41 -
EMT Chapter 25-MCIT-F3-2204 | EKG – What They Didn’t Teach In School | QUIZ
You do not have permission to view this form.
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.
