Certified EKG Technician

This comprehensive 50-hour EKG Technician Certification Program prepares students to function as EKG Technicians. This course will include important practice and background information on anatomy and physiology of the heart, medical disease processes, medical terminology, medical ethics, legal aspects of patient contact, electrocardiography, and stress testing. Additionally, students will practice with EKG equipment and perform hands on labs including introduction to the function and proper use of the EKG machine, the normal anatomy of the chest wall for proper lead placement, 12-lead placement, and other clinical practices.

Objectives

  • Apply the basic electrophysiologic principles of cardiac conduction to the anatomy and physiology of the body
  • Identify proper placement of leads to ensure an accurate and consistent EKG reading
  • Evaluate various EKG rhythm strips following established normal criteria for each of the wave forms and intervals
  • Analyze a variety of EKG rhythm strips, identifying rate, rhythm and intervals
  • Analyze a variety of EKG rhythm strips for common dysrhythmias
  • Apply an understanding of the technical aspects of the EKG machine to the correct use of the machine and interpretation of artifacts
  • Describe the functions, associated terminology, types, and rhythm strips of pacemakers
  • Describe diagnostic electrocardiography in terms of goals, types, procedures, indications, and contraindications
  • Explain how to interpret a 12-lead EKG strip
  • Explain myocardial infarction in terms of physiology, symptoms, and EKG interpretation
  • Describe common cardiac medications

Hands-on Labs and Activities

  • Donning and Doffing Medical Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • Performing Hand Hygiene
  • Performing Required Steps in Patient Identification
  • Cardiac Anatomy, Physiology, and Medical Terminology
  • 12-Lead EKG Placement
  • Vital Signs
  • Patient Preparation and Safety for an EKG Procedure
  • Using an EKG Machine
  • Calculating a Heart Rate from an EKG Strip
  • Interpreting an EKG Strip
  • Interpreting Rhythms Originating in the Sinus Node
  • Interpreting Rhythms Originating in the Atria
  • Interpreting Rhythms Originating in the AV Junction
  • Interpreting Rhythms Originating in the Ventricles
  • Interpreting AV Blocks

Certification Opportunities