Lessons. Practice Strips and Drills
An EKG, also called an ECG or electrocardiogram, is a recording of the heart's electrical activity. It is a quick and painless procedure. EKGs captures a tracing of cardiac electrical impulse as it moves from the atrium to the ventricles. These electrical impulses cause the heart to contract and pump blood. EKGs are interpreted by medical professionals to understand the following:
Use our lessons, drills and quizzes to improve your EKG knowledge and skills.
This introductory course reviews the main features of electrocardiogram strips. A method for analyzing an electrocardiogram is presented. This method includes assessment of rhythm, calculating heart rate, observing P-wave forms, measurement of wave intervals and segments and the evaluation of other relevant waves. In addition, our drills allow students to practice electrocardiogram identification.
The EKG practice drills provide a fast and interactive method for learning EKGs. Users are asked to identify the arrhythmia category. Immediate feedback is available after answering a multiple choice question.
Our quiz presents twenty tracings for interpretation. A graded quiz provides detailed feedback. Quiz ekg tracings are randomly selected from our database of 375 tracings, so the quiz can be repeated many times.
Our EKG Reference Guide provides information on over forty different types of arrhythmias. For each type there are patient tracings and simulated electrocardiograms. We also provide an annotated tracing with a summary of the key features and values. Interactive digital calipers can be used for measuring key features on each tracing.
Try the ECG interpretation with immediate coaching.
A slide presentation on 12 lead EKG, written by Dr. Michael Mazzini, M.D., Boston University.
Practice 12 lead EKG interpretation with immediate feedback.
The Patient Monitor Quiz is our newest webapp on our EKG.Academy website. Use this quiz to challenge your skills after you have practiced with our monitor drills
Our Monitor Drill is similar to the standard ekg practice drills, but with a twist. Instead of static tracings, the ECGs are presented using a simulated patient monitor. After the twenty tracings are evaluated, we present a graded report along with static images of each tracing. Your score is compared to a mean score for all recent website visitors. Don't worry, your score is kept private.
In cooperation with Project Semilla, we have recently launched Spanish Editions of several of our ECG training modules.
A summary of each of the most common EKG types is provided below.
The EKG rhythm will appear regular. The heart rate is 50-120 bpm, which is faster than a ventricular rhythm but slower than ventricular tachycardia. The P wave is absent and PR interval is not measurable. The QRS complex will typically be wide (>0.10 sec) and bizarre looking.
The EKG rhythm will appear regular with heart rate that is normal (60-100 bpm). The P wave is present before, during (hidden) or after QRS. If visible it is inverted. The PR interval is not measurable. The QRS complex will typically be normal (0.06-0.10 sec).
Cardiac electrical activity is absent. No EKG rhythm can be observed. The P wave and QRS complex are not visible. Confirm using multiple leads.
The EKG rhythm will appear irregular. Heart rate is very fast: over 350 bpm for atrial, but ventricular rate may be slow, normal or fast. The P wave features are absent - erratic waves are present. The PR interval is absent. The QRS complex will typically be normal but may be widened if there are conduction delays.
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