ECGs for Nurses

ECGs for Nurses provides everything the nurse needs to know about the electrocardiogram. Accessible yet comprehensive, and packed with case studies, this portable guide enables nurses to become skilled practitioners in an area often seen as highly complex. Using real ECG traces as examples, possible effects on the patient and treatment options are discussed, with a focus on the role of the nurse. This fully illustrated second edition remains the essential reference guide for nurses working in all acute areas, as well as general nurses and students learning about ECGs for the first time. One of the only ECG texts written by a nurse specifically for nurses Written by an expert in the field Easy-to-access information, full of practical advice Essential for nurses working and studying in intensive care, high dependency units, theatre, theatre recovery coronary care units, medical wards and accident and emergency. Case studies and discussion of real ECGs throughout. New to this edition Fully updated throughout with up-to-date guidelines and procedures Includes new guidelines on management of cardiac arrest arrhythmias Case studies added to all chapters

Foreword iv Acknowledgements vi Chapter 1 The conduction system in the heart 1 Chapter 2 Principles of ECG monitoring 10 Chapter 3 ECG interpretation of cardiac arrhythmias 40 Chapter 4 Cardiac arrhythmias originating in the SA node 50 Chapter 5 Cardiac arrhythmias originating in the atria 72 Chapter 6 Cardiac arrhythmias originating in the AV junction 96 Chapter 7 Cardiac arrhythmias originating in the ventricles 114 Chapter 8 Cardiac arrhythmias with atrioventricular block 135 Chapter 9 Cardiac arrhythmias associated with cardiac arrest 155 Chapter 10 Recording a 12 lead ECG 169 Chapter 11 Interpreting a 12 lead ECG 182 Chapter 12 Management of peri-arrest arrhythmias 220 Chapter 13 Record keeping 243 Appendix 249 Index 286