EKG /Phlebotomy

The student should meet the following learning objectives and demonstrate an understanding of the facts and principles presented:

Upon completion of the Anatomy & Electrophysiology of the Unit, and given a diagram of the heart, students will be able to accurately locate and identify the structures of the heart including the four internal chambers, the walls between the chambers, the heart valves and the pulmonary arteries with at least 80% accuracy.
Immediately following an in class discussion on Electrophysiology, the student will be able to summarize in writing, the differences between the electrical and mechanical functions of the heart, the relationship of cardiac arrhythmia monitoring to pulse/perfusion assessment, the sodium pump, polarization and the polarized state, depolarization and repolarization and how it occurs, the five major areas of electrical conduction, the physical layout of the conduction system, the usual pattern of electrical flow through the conduction system that exerts an influence over the rate of cardiac pulse formation, the two opposing branches of the nervous system and how each influences the heart if stimulated in at least 400 words with 80% accuracy.

Upon completion of the 12 Lead Electrocardiography Unit, the student will be able to summarize in writing the advantages of 12 lead EKG tracing and at least 5 of the different considerations taken for lead placement discussed. Additionally, using role play and practicing hook ups on each other, the student will be able to successfully place a 12 lead EKG on the “patient” and determine if the reading was normal with 95% accuracy.

Upon completion of the Waves and Measurements Unit, and using role play, students will be able to prepare all the equipment and materials needed for monitoring, ensure proper patient preparation and safety procedures, place electrodes for basic arrhythmia monitoring, optimize the contact between electrode and the skin, make sure the EKG graph paper is running through the EKG at the standardized speed, properly read the results differentiating between graphic deflections including wave, segment, interval and complex in a single cardiac cycle and properly locate the P wave, PR segment, PR interval, Q wave, R wave, S wave QRS complex, ST segment and T wave of the student’s result with 95% accuracy.

Upon completion of the Analyzing EKG Rhythm Strips Unit, and given a case scenario, students will be able to explain the results of the Rhythm Strips in more detail including pertinent aspects of the systematic analysis of regularity including R-R intervals, P-P intervals, patterns and ectopics, pertinent aspects of a systematic analysis of rate, pertinent aspects of a systematic analysis of P waves including location, morphology and patterns, pertinent aspects of a systematic analysis of PR intervals including location, morphology and patterns, pertinent aspects of a systematic analysis of QRS complexes including location, morphology and patterns with 95% accuracy.

Upon the completion of the Identifying Rhythms using the 12-Lead EKG Unit, and given an end of unit assessment the student will be able to correctly identify arrhythmias that originate in the sinus node, arrhythmias that originate in the atrium, arrhythmias that originate in the AV junction, and arrhythmias that originate in the Ventricles, and characteristics of a sinus pace maker with 95% accuracy.

Upon the completion of all Lab Hours, students will have practiced hook ups on each other and be able to successfully perform a 12 Lead EKG, holter monitoring and echocardiogram, and be able to place lead and electrodes, frontal plane leads, horizontal plane leads, vectors and axis, and interpret EKG deflections with 95% accuracy.