The EKG (ECG) Graph
Included In This Lesson
Study Tools For The EKG (ECG) Graph
Outline
Overview of the EKG Graph
- The EKG graph represents the electrical conduction of the heart
- Assists with identifying heart rate and rhythm
Nursing Points for EKG Graphs
General EKG information
- EKG graph
- Y-axis – Vertical
- Voltage
- 1 large box
- 0.5mV
- X-axis -Horizontal
- Time in seconds
- Large box
- 0.20 Seconds
- Smaller boxes
- 0.04 seconds
- Markings
- Top of graph paper
- 3 seconds apart
- Y-axis – Vertical
Common Nursing Concepts for EKG Graphs
- EKG Rhythms
Transcript
Hey guys in this lesson we are going to break down the EKG graph paper
Ok so here we have an EKG graph, we have our Y axis which is the vertical line and it measures the voltage. One large box is 0.5 millivolts. This is important when measuring the amplitude of the waveforms, especially when there is an elevation that should not be there, like in a STEMI. We also have our X axis which is the horizontal line and it measures time in seconds. As you can see, there are big boxes and in each big box there are 5 small boxes. The big box is 0.20 seconds and the smaller one is 0.04 seconds. So let’s break that down a little more!
So here is a big box, again from here to here is 0.20 seconds, if you look at these smaller boxes, they are each 0.04 seconds. There are 5 small boxes in 1 big box. If you multiply each box that is 0.04 seconds by 5 it equals 0.20 seconds. The seconds in these boxes are important when you have to identify how long it takes for one waveform to get to the other. At the top of this paper, you will also see these markings, these markings are usually every 3 seconds but in this particular graph they are every second, the markings are not always there. So if you have an EKG paper that does not have the markings at the top just know that 5 large boxes is 1 second, 15 boxes are 3 and 30 boxes are 6 seconds. So knowing that will help you identify if you are looking at a 6 second strip.
So the key points to remember are the Y- axis is the vertical line and it measures voltage, basically how high are the waveforms getting. The x-axis is the horizontal line which measures seconds. The large boxes have 5 smaller boxes in them, the large box is 0.20 seconds and the Small boxes are 0.04 seconds. Each EKG graph paper has markings at the top and they are 3 seconds apart. I hope this has helped yall identifying the lines on the graph paper!
Make sure you check out all of the resources attached to this lesson. Now, go out and be your best self today! And, as always, happy nursing!
KRISTELLE
Concepts Covered:
- Cardiac Disorders
- Cardiovascular
- Circulatory System
- Nervous System
- Skeletal System
- Emergency Care of the Cardiac Patient
- Shock
- Shock
- Disorders of the Posterior Pituitary Gland
- Endocrine
- Disorders of Pancreas
- Hematology
- Gastrointestinal
- Upper GI Disorders
- Liver & Gallbladder Disorders
- Newborn Complications
- Renal
- Respiratory
- Test Taking Strategies
- Note Taking
- Prefixes
- Suffixes
- Medication Administration
- Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Respiratory Disorders
- Respiratory System
- Urinary System
- Pregnancy Risks
- Labor Complications
- Hematologic Disorders
- Fundamentals of Emergency Nursing
- Factors Influencing Community Health
- Delegation
- Perioperative Nursing Roles
- Lower GI Disorders
- Emergency Care of the Neurological Patient
- Acute & Chronic Renal Disorders
- EENT Disorders
- Central Nervous System Disorders – Brain
- Documentation and Communication
- Preoperative Nursing
- Disorders of the Adrenal Gland
- Disorders of the Thyroid & Parathyroid Glands
- Endocrine System
- Legal and Ethical Issues
- Adult
- Basics of NCLEX
- Communication
- Understanding Society
- Immunological Disorders
- Substance Abuse Disorders
- Studying
- Fetal Development
- Terminology
- Cognitive Disorders
- Musculoskeletal Trauma
- Intraoperative Nursing
- Tissues and Glands
- Vascular Disorders
- Eating Disorders
- Microbiology
- Male Reproductive Disorders
- Sexually Transmitted Infections
- Infectious Respiratory Disorder
- Anxiety Disorders
- Depressive Disorders
- Oncology Disorders
- Personality Disorders
- Psychotic Disorders
- Trauma-Stress Disorders
- Respiratory Emergencies
- Noninfectious Respiratory Disorder
- Basics of Chemistry
- Neurologic and Cognitive Disorders
- Integumentary Disorders
- Newborn Care
- Basics of Mathematics
- Statistics
- Emergency Care of the Trauma Patient
- Hematologic System
- Hematologic Disorders
- Developmental Considerations
- Digestive System
- Behavior
- Postpartum Care
- Basic
- Integumentary Disorders
- Metabolism
- Cardiovascular Disorders
- Concepts of Population Health
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- EENT Disorders
- Basics of Human Biology
- Postoperative Nursing
- Urinary Disorders
- Neurological Emergencies
- Prenatal Concepts
- Disorders of Thermoregulation
- Community Health Overview
- Neurological Trauma
- Renal Disorders
- Concepts of Mental Health
- Childhood Growth and Development
- Prenatal and Neonatal Growth and Development
- Postpartum Complications
- Concepts of Pharmacology
- Integumentary Important Points
- Emotions and Motivation
- Health & Stress
- Multisystem
- Proteins
- Renal and Urinary Disorders
- Developmental Theories
- Reproductive System
- Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Adulthood Growth and Development
- Psychological Emergencies
- Growth & Development
- Female Reproductive Disorders
- Basics of Sociology
- Neurological
- Intelligence and Language
- Labor and Delivery
- Reading
- Oncologic Disorders
- Bipolar Disorders
- Med Term Basic
- Peripheral Nervous System Disorders
- Infectious Disease Disorders
- Muscular System
- Central Nervous System Disorders – Spinal Cord
- Learning Pharmacology
- Prioritization
- Somatoform Disorders
- Writing
- Pediatric
- Emergency Care of the Respiratory Patient
- Sensory System
- State of Consciousness