~twenty years ago, few nurses knew how to analyze an electrocardiogram.

And little wonder; most of them had never even seen one, much less had to evaluate one. Today,

though, electrocardiographs, like thermometers, blood pressure cuffs, and stethoscopes, have

become standard assessment tools. So, reading and interpreting EKG strips is significant not only

for nurses in the cardiac care unit but also in physicians offices, primary care divisions, emergency

departments, and many nursing units in a hospital.

Although the cardiac clinical nurse specialist needs to assess and interpret the more complex

strips, the vast number of nurses -- from beginners to skilled cardiac nurse practitioners -- need a

clear, concise understanding of only the most common EKGs. And they want to be able to link this

information to their basic knowledge of anatomy, chemistry, and physiology so the rationale behind

electrocardiography can be meaningful to them. It is precisely to these goals that the authors of this

manual have dedicated their entire approach.

From beginning to end, they have designed explanations to reach the reader at his level of

understanding. First, they give a basic account of the electrophysiology and conduction systems.

Then, they outline the step-by-step method for analyzing any EKG for rate, rhythm, conduction,

configuration, and location of waves. And finally they explain all common arrhythmias, each time

focusing on the key questions: Where did it originate? What effect does it have on the heart? What

treatment is necessary? What problems might the treatment create? What would happen to the

patient if the problem were not corrected? And what are the implied special nursing considerations?

Interspersed throughout are interesting patient studies, so that theory is always linked with

practice. At the end of each chapter and at the end of the book, the reader has numerous chances to

test what he has learned.

This manual fills, a definite need for a compact, interesting presentation of EKGs. By using it, the

beginner should gain a rapid but thorough grasp of a sophisticated but relatively simple tool. Then,

with continued study and practice, he can build on the basic skills he learns here to become truly

proficient at EKG interpretation. With time at a premium, no practicing nurse can afford to pass up

this practical manual and the enriching experience of painlessly learning the fundamentals of EKG

interpretation.