The electrocardiogram (EKG) is an important tool that is used to evaluate heart health. The technician is responsible for the administration of the exam and needs a basic understanding of EKG rhythms to determine whether or not the exam has been completed properly and to perform an initial evaluation of the results. Individuals who put forth the effort to learn about the different types of rhythms and what they mean will discover that they enjoy higher levels of career satisfaction and are in a better position to provide comprehensive care.

A standard electrocardiogram is administered using cables that are commonly referred to as ‘leads.’ The leads are designed to detect voltage differences between electrodes and transmit information to the recorder so that a visual representation of the differences can be created. The typical 12-lead EKG uses ten electrodes that include RA, LA, RL, LL, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, and V6. Additional leads … Click Here to Continue Reading