Ausmed > Conferences & Seminars > Understanding ECGs and Cardiac Arrhythmias & Their ManagementUnderstanding ECGs and Cardiac Arrhythmias & Their Management
Understanding ECGs and Cardiac Arrhythmias & Their Management
10.50
CPD
Hours
10.50
RCNA
Points
Event Type:
Duration:
Relevant To:
Seminar
Two Days
RNs, ENs
General Description
Does your work require you to perform the 12 Lead ECG? Do you understand how to interpret simple rhythms? Is it time you had a refresher on the use of ECGs? Then these two 'highly evaluated' study days are for YOU. You will be thoroughly taught the skills necessary for performing an ECG and will confidentially walk away with skills you can immediately apply in your workplace.
Learn your nursing role in regard to patient care before, during and after ECG procedures. Learn how to correctly place the leads on a patient's body and how to correctly generate a rhythm strip. You will also learn the rationale behind common cardiac arrhythmias which will assist you to interpret simple ECG tracings.
There are limited places available at these study days as numbers of attendees are purposefully held at a relatively low level to ensure maximum interaction with the teacher. Please book early to guarantee your place.
Need for Program
Whilst most nurses have some experience in ECG recording, the quality of the tracing is sometimes debatable, and makes accurate medical diagnosis difficult. There is therefore, a need to ensure all nurses are able to record a high quality diagnostic standard 12 lead ECG. In addition, most nurses are expected to have a sound understanding of normal cardiac rhythms and life threatening arrhythmias likely to require immediate and possibly life saving interventions.
Nurses are required to obtain a minimum of 20 continuing professional development (CPD) hours each year.
Aims and Objectives
The aim of this program is to provide a sound knowledge base of cardiac anatomy and electrophysiology plus increase confidence in basic interpretation of key ECG changes and cardiac arrhythmias in order to increase the confidence and skill of all nurses (RNs and ENs) in relation to assessment of cardiac function.
At the conclusion of this program, participants should be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the electrophysiological basis of normal cardiac function.
- Identify, in detail, the criteria to be used when interpreting normal sinus rhythm.
- Demonstrate an understanding of nursing responsibilities relating to the recording of a diagnostic standard 12 lead ECG and be able to identify significant abnormal changes that require urgent reporting.
8:30am - Registration and Refreshments
9:00am - Needs Analysis and Introduction to the Program
Basic Electrophysiology for ENs
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Revision of cardiac anatomy and electrophysiology
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Significance of ECG recording and analysis
10:00am - Morning Tea & Coffee
10:30am - Introduction to Electrophysiology
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Recording and interpreting cardiac electrical activity
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Significance of ECG waveforms
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Practice in rhythm interpretation
11:30am - Recording a 12 Lead ECG
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Why are ECGs recorded?
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How are they recorded?
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How to prepare a person for an ECG
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Criteria to use when recording a diagnostic standard ECG
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Techniques for minimising potential problems, including emotional responses of patients
12:30pm - Lunch Break & Time to Network
1:30pm - Simplifying 12 Lead ECG Interpretation
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Which approach should be used for analysising a 12 lead ECG?
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When a person has chest pain, how do you know if it is ischaemia, injury or infarction?
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What are the significant changes on an ECG reading which need to be reported?
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Enrolled Nurses responsibilities for ECG interpretation
2:30pm - Afternoon Tea & Coffee
3:00pm - Recognition of Other ECG Changes
This will be a practical session concerning electrolyte imbalance, hypertrophy, pericarditis, etc.
4:00pm - Close of Day One of Program
9:00am - Start of Day Two
9:00am - Introduction and Needs Analysis
-
Update regarding the role of the EN in performing and interpreting ECGs and arrhythmias
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Review of relevant advanced cardiac anatomy and electrophysiology
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Assessment of cardiac function including cardiac output
-
Review of electrical activity of the heart
10:00am - Morning Tea & Coffee
10:30am - Basic Electrophysiology
This session will address:
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Steps in analysing cardiac rhythms
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How to identify criteria for sinus rhythms
11:30am - Simplifying Arrhythmia Interpretation
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How to identify abnormal rhythms, understand their causes and their effects
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Introduction to tachy-arrhythmias
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A look at other specific arrhythmias
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Management options - drugs, defibrillation, pacing
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Practise rhythms
12:30pm - Lunch & Time to Browse the Book Display
1:30pm - Brady-Arrhythmias
This session will address:
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A range of brady-arrhythmias and their specific arrhythmias
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Management options including drugs, defibrillation and pacing
2:30pm - Afternoon Tea & Coffee
3:00pm - Questions and Practise: Arrhythmia Scenarios
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Review of rhythm strips - mixed arrhythmias
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Understanding the role of the EN in the management of cardiac emergencies
4:00pm - Close of Seminar and Evaluations
Heather Schubert OAMHeather has extensive experience and qualifications in acute care nursing and education including management roles in ICU and CCU. She teaches Basic and Advanced Life Support and has an interest in assisting all nurses – regardless of their training level - to develop enhanced clinical assessment skills and to take a more active role in the management of emergencies. Heather was a founding member of the S.A. Branch of the Australian College of Critical Care Nurses (previously CACCN), is a Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing, Australia and is on the SA committee of the Australian Resuscitation Council. She has her own business as a Consultant Nurse Educator, is a Clinical Associate of the Adelaide University and has taught aspects of emergency and acute care extensively in metropolitan and rural communities throughout South Australia. She was awarded an Order of Australia in 2009 for her services to critical care nursing and education in SA.
