Overview
Now it’s easier than ever to understand and interpret basic dysrhythmias! Barbara J. Aehlert’s ECGs Made Easy, 5th Edition uses a clear, conversational approach and plenty of practice exercises to help you learn ECG recognition. Add the practice rhythm strips in the book with those on the Evolve companion website, and you have more than 500 practice strips for ECG interpretation. Each ECG rhythm includes a sample rhythm strip and a discussion of possible patient symptoms and general treatment guidelines. Also included are ECG Pearls with insights based on real-world experience, Drug Pearls highlighting medications used to treat dysrhythmias, and a handy plastic heart rate calculator ruler for fast interpretation of rhythms.
• Clear ECG discussions highlight what you need to know about ECG mechanisms, rhythms, and heart blocks, such as: How Do I Recognize It? What Causes It? What Do I Do About It?
• ECG Pearl boxes offer useful hints for interpreting ECGs, such as the importance of the escape pacemaker.
• Drug Pearl boxes highlight various medications used to treat dysrhythmias.
• Introduction to the 12-Lead ECG chapter provides all the basics for this advanced skill, including determining electrical axis, ECG changes associated with myocardial ischemia and infarction, bundle branch block, and other conditions.
• A comprehensive post-test at the end of the book measures your understanding.
• A heart rate calculator ruler is included with each textbook, so you can measure heart rates while practicing ECG recognition.
• Chapter objectives and key terms focus your attention on the most important information.
• Updated content includes 25 new photos and drawings, for a total of almost 500 illustrations - all in full color.
• NEW! 10 practice rhythm strips and 65 replacement rhythms are added to the Stop and Review chapter quizzes for a total of 215 practice strips in the book.
• NEW Animation boxes indicate when you can view animations of key material on the Evolve companion website.
• NEW! 20 replacement rhythm strips are added to the Evolve site for a total of 100 practice strips online - together with the book, there are now 315 workable practice strips available.
Editorials
Reviewer: Polly A Royal, DNP, RN-BC(Purdue University School of Nursing)
Description: This book is designed for healthcare professionals in acute care areas who want to master basic ECG interpretation. Each chapter provides a "Stop & Review" assessment and multiple strips for practice interpretation. An extensive post-test using a variety of assessments is also included. The Pocket Reference for ECGs Made Easy provides a quick bedside reference.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide the essential information needed to interpret ECGs, understand the significance of a variety of rhythms, identify symptoms associated with different rhythms, and treat rhythms as needed.
Audience: The intended audience is students in paramedic, nursing, and medical schools as well as allied healthcare providers and monitor technicians. This is an appropriate resource for teaching in small interactive seminars. The author's clinical experience provides valuable insight into practical ECG interpretation.
Features: The book begins with anatomy and physiology, basic electrophysiology, and sinus mechanisms. It then progresses to discuss atrial, junctional, and ventricular rhythms. Atrioventricular blocks and the use of pacemakers are discussed. Unfortunately, the use of pacemakers to improve cardiac output in heart failure is not discussed. The book concludes with an introduction to 12-lead ECG and an extensive post-test.
Assessment: This is a great book for interactive learning of ECG interpretation.