Electromyography (EMG)
Included In This Lesson
Study Tools For Electromyography (EMG)
Outline
Overview
- Electromyography (EMG)
- Needles inserted into muscle
- Assess nerve and muscle transmission
Nursing Points
General
- Procedure
- Small electrode needles are inserted into muscle
- Patient contracts muscle
- Electrical impulses measured through electromyograph
- Purpose
- Diagnose nerve/muscle disease
- View transmission of impulses
- Indications
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Muscle weakness
Assessment
- Before
- Explain procedure
- Clean skin to remove oil
- Tell patient the insertion will sting
Therapeutic Management
- During
- Doctor will place needles
- Doctor will give patient direction
- After
- Doctor removes needles
- Assess site for bruising and redness
Nursing Concepts
- Mobility -> altered mobility may indicate EMG
- Functional Ability -> altered functional ability may indicate EMG
Patient Education
- Tell patient they may feel tenderness days after
- Doctor will provide results
Transcript
Hey guys! Welcome to the lesson on the electromyography or EMG!
The purpose of the EMG is to assess nerve and muscle transmission to diagnose disease. Let’s discuss the procedure.
During the procedure, electrode needles are inserted into the muscle. The doctor tells the patient when to contract the muscle, and the impulses are read through the electromyograph. Let’s explore the indications for the EMG.
The doctor might order an EMG if the patient is experiencing numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness. An example is that my husband had an EMG done years ago on his wrist and they diagnosed him with carpal tunnel. Let’s talk about the nurse’s role.
If the doctor orders the EMG, explain the procedure to the patient. Clean the skin and let the patient know that the needle insertion will sting.
During the procedure, the doctor will place the needles and give the patient direction on muscle contraction.
After the procedure, the doctor will remove the needles. Assess the site for bruising and redness.
The priority nursing concepts for the patient with an EMG are mobility and functional ability.
Alright guys, let’s review the key points. The EMG is a test where small electrode needles are inserted into a muscle to measure nerve and muscle functioning to diagnose disease. The doctor might order this test if the patient has any numbness, tingling, or weakness. Before the procedure, explain it to the patient and clean the skin. During, the doctor will place the electrodes and provide direction to the patient on muscle contraction. Assess the site after for bruising and redness.
Okay guys, that’s it on the EMG! Now go out and be your best self today, and as always, happy nursing!
Rina’s NCLEX Study Plan 2026
Concepts Covered:
- Endocrine System
- Studying
- Urinary System
- Tissues and Glands
- Nervous System
- Circulatory System
- Medication Administration
- Hematologic System
- Skeletal System
- Digestive System
- Respiratory System
- Emergency Care of the Cardiac Patient
- Reproductive System
- Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
- Basics of Human Biology
- Muscular System
- Sensory System
- Communication
- Legal and Ethical Issues
- Basics of NCLEX
- Prenatal Concepts
- Prioritization
- Fundamentals of Emergency Nursing
- Documentation and Communication
- Delegation
- Community Health Overview
- Factors Influencing Community Health
- Concepts of Mental Health
- Test Taking Strategies
- Note Taking
- Substance Abuse Disorders
- Behavior
- Concepts of Population Health
- Concepts of Pharmacology
- Health & Stress
- Labor and Delivery
- Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Microbiology
- Depressive Disorders
- Postpartum Care
- Emergency Care of the Trauma Patient
- Emotions and Motivation
- Growth & Development
- Intelligence and Language
- Psychological Disorders
- State of Consciousness
- Respiratory Disorders
- EENT Disorders
- Infectious Disease Disorders
- Integumentary Disorders
- Neurologic and Cognitive Disorders
- Hematologic Disorders
- Cardiovascular Disorders
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Renal and Urinary Disorders
- Oncologic Disorders
- Anxiety Disorders
- Cognitive Disorders
- Eating Disorders
- Personality Disorders
- Psychotic Disorders
- Trauma-Stress Disorders
- Bipolar Disorders
- Developmental Considerations
- Psychological Emergencies
- Somatoform Disorders
- Perioperative Nursing Roles
- Preoperative Nursing
- Central Nervous System Disorders – Brain
- Lower GI Disorders
- Peripheral Nervous System Disorders
- Cardiac Disorders
- Integumentary Disorders
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Noninfectious Respiratory Disorder
- Postoperative Nursing
- Respiratory Emergencies
- Intraoperative Nursing
- Disorders of Pancreas
- Urinary Disorders
- Neurological Emergencies
- Central Nervous System Disorders – Spinal Cord
- Renal Disorders
- Infectious Respiratory Disorder
- Sexually Transmitted Infections
- EENT Disorders
- Shock
- Cardiovascular
- Shock
- Disorders of the Posterior Pituitary Gland
- Endocrine
- Disorders of the Thyroid & Parathyroid Glands
- Gastrointestinal
- Upper GI Disorders
- Liver & Gallbladder Disorders
- Neurological
- Respiratory
- Hematologic Disorders
- Acute & Chronic Renal Disorders
- Disorders of the Adrenal Gland
- Immunological Disorders
- Oncology Disorders
- Female Reproductive Disorders
- Musculoskeletal Trauma
- Vascular Disorders
- Male Reproductive Disorders
- Newborn Complications
- Disorders of Thermoregulation
- Neurological Trauma
- Integumentary Important Points
- Multisystem
- Emergency Care of the Neurological Patient
- Emergency Care of the Respiratory Patient
- Prefixes
- Suffixes
- Fetal Development
- Terminology
- Proteins
- Statistics
- Med Term Basic
- Med Term Whole
- Basics of Mathematics
- Basics of Sociology
- Pregnancy Risks
- Labor Complications
- Newborn Care
- Postpartum Complications
- Understanding Society
- Adult
- Dosage Calculations
- Adulthood Growth and Development
- Learning Pharmacology