ELECTROCARDIOGRAM PURPOSE: To record on a graph of paper the patients cardiac electrical activities.

POLICY: A nurse who has had previous instruction in the procedure for taking an ECG may perform it as follows. PROCEDURES POINTS 1. Plug ECG Machine into electrical should be well outlet, turn machine on 2. Prepare patients skin by applying salt paste or alcohol pad. tremors. 3. Apply electrodes and connect patients cables to designate extremities. All patient connections must be tight. shifting 4. Standardize- a standardizing impulse result in distortion of 1 MV should be recorded showing a 1 CM deflection on the ECG paper. ECG causes artificially segments. b. Under dumping causes excessive amplitude or the R-wave. 5. Take and mark the limb lead as follows: leads cause LEAD I interpretation. LEAD II LEAD III AVR AVL AVF Incorrect placement of the limb serious errors in ECG Loose electrodes placement causes slippage of the electrodes on skin and will cause weaving or of the ECG baseline. Standardizing defect of the ECG complex: a. Over damping of the depresses or elevated ST KEY

The ECG Machine grounded. Explain the procedure to patient. The patient must be relax to avoid distortions due to muscular

6. Take chest leads is very V1_ V2_ _ V3_ _ _ V4_ _ _ V5_ _ _ V6_ _ _

leads and mark as follows:

Correct placement of the chest important for serial ECG.

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PROCEDURES 1. Electrode placement of chest leads is patient patient V1- Fourth intercostals space Right sterna border V2-Fourth intercostals space Left border V3- Midway between V2 and V4 V4- Fifth intercostals space mid-clavicular line V5- Anterior axillary line at level of V4 V6- Mid-axillary line at the level of V4 and V5 EQUIPMENTS: 1. ECG Machine with limb and chest electrodes 2. Rubber straps (4) 3. Salt paste (Redux cream) or alcohol pads

KEY POINTS All ECGs must be labeled with name, date and time taken and if is on digitals.