Pre-Licensure / Pre-Residency
Designed for Medical Students, Paramedics, Nursing Students, ED Technicians, or anyone else who wants to start learning more about how to use ECGs effectively in clinical settings.
The Goals:
Develop a foundational understanding of the ECG’s purpose, learn basic ECG interpretation steps, and begin integrating findings with clinical symptoms to avoid isolated misinterpretation.
Core Topics
- ECG Basics and Purpose
- ECG 101: The Basics
- Basic Anatomy of an ECG Tracing:
- Lead Placement and the Concept of Vectors
- Systematic Interpretation Approach:
- Normal vs. Abnormal and Clinical Correlation
- Recognizing normal sinus rhythm and normal rate ranges
- Understanding that “abnormal” patterns must be correlated with patient symptoms (e.g., chest pain, hypotension, altered mental status)
- Intro to bradycardia, tachycardia, and the importance of evaluating vital signs and patient presentation before reacting to the monitor
- Basic Arrhythmias and Clinical Significance
- Sinus Tachycardia and common causes (fever, hypovolemia, anxiety)
- Sinus Bradycardia and potential clinical scenarios (increased intracranial pressure, hypothermia, medications)
- Sinus Arrhythmia
- Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter Basics:
- When is it dangerous?
- Link hemodynamic stability to the patient’s history
- Intro to Ischemia and Injury Patterns
- ST Elevations or Depressions:
- Basic meaning and why clinical correlation is crucial (chest pain, risk factors)
- Emphasis on not calling STEMI from ECG alone without examining the patient
- ST Elevations or Depressions:
- Basic Recognition of Life-Threatening Conditions
- Ventricular Tachycardia and Ventricular Fibrillation:
- Immediate correlation with patient responsiveness
- Complete Heart Block:
- Symptomatic vs. asymptomatic bradycardia considerations
- Ventricular Tachycardia and Ventricular Fibrillation:
Teaching and Assessment Methods
- ECG STAT Posts & Weekly Workouts:
- Review linked materials, then mark them as completed.
- Save your favorites for quick reference.
- Skills Exams:
- Test your learning to reinforce important concepts in ECG interpretation.
- Identify areas needing further study and track your progress as you move toward higher levels.
By following this Student Level Curriculum, learners will develop a solid foundation in ECG interpretation, emphasizing clinical correlation at every step. This approach prepares them for more advanced ECG studies in future levels.
A place to start! Understand the basics of ECG waveforms, normal rhythms, and the importance of clinical correlation.
Solidify a systematic approach to ECG interpretation, learn to identify life-threatening arrhythmias, and get introduced to the many different ischemia patterns.
Continue building your skills with in-depth exploration of conduction blocks, subtle ischemic changes, toxicologic & metabolic ECG patterns, and advanced arrhythmias.
Rapid recognition of more rare syndrome and complex clinical scenarios. Continue learning about difficult rhythms, and develop nuanced clinical integration of the ECG patterns you have learned for rapid decision making.
Rapid pattern recognition, expert-level case discussions, and teaching strategies for mentoring the next generation of ECG experts.
