Cardiac Monitoring 5 day course

🫀 Basic Cardiac Monitoring Course

Instructor: Nurse Nina, Nurse Louie, Nurse Louis, Nurse Leslie, and Nurse Maria
Location: Hybrid (In-person and Online via Zoom)
Schedule: Monday – Thursday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Remediation Friday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (optional review, tutoring, and retesting)

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🎯 Course Overview

This beginner-friendly 4-day course will help CNAs, PCTs, LVNs, RNs, and aspiring Monitor Techs recognize and interpret basic EKG rhythms, understand cardiac electrical pathways, and respond appropriately to rhythm changes. Participants will be guided through simplified steps with visuals, rhythm songs, hands-on practice, and live Q&A. All learners will leave with a solid foundation to build confidence in a telemetry setting.

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📅 Day-by-Day Course Outline

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🩺 Day 1: The Heart’s Blueprint – Anatomy, Physiology & Introduction to the EKG

Focus: Build the foundation — understand the “why” behind the wave

Topics:

• Welcome, introductions, and expectations

• The role of cardiac monitoring in healthcare

• Cardiac anatomy made simple (with heart model or animation)

• Electrical conduction system of the heart

  • SA Node, AV Node, Bundle of His, Purkinje fibers

• The Cardiac Cycle explained visually

• What is an EKG? What are telemetry leads?

• EKG paper basics: boxes, lines, time values

• Introduction to waveforms:

  • P, QRS, T waves and PR/QR intervals

Interactive:

• Cardiac coloring worksheet

• “Draw Your Heart’s Electricity” activity

• Group breakout: build your own heart rhythm!

Homework:

• Review heart anatomy video

• Flashcard quizlet link for cardiac terms

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📉 Day 2: Know Your Normals – Sinus Rhythms and Basic Interpretation

Focus: Learn the rules before recognizing the exceptions

Topics:

• 5-Step Approach to Rhythm Interpretation

• How to calculate a heart rate from EKG paper (practice sheet)

• Identifying:

  • Normal Sinus Rhythm (NSR)

  • Sinus Bradycardia

  • Sinus Tachycardia

  • Sinus Arrhythmia

• Causes, signs, and basic interventions

• Artifact vs actual rhythm

Interactive:

• Rhythm Song: “Sing the Sinus Rules”

• Rhythm matching cards game

• Practice strips with immediate feedback

Homework:

• “Find the Rhythm” worksheet

• Review video on sinus vs atrial rhythms

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❤️‍🔥 Day 3: When the Rhythm Isn’t Right – Atrial, Junctional, and Heart Blocks

Focus: Identify common arrhythmias and when to worry

Topics:

• Atrial rhythms:

  • Atrial Fibrillation

  • Atrial Flutter

  • Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)

• Junctional rhythms (accelerated, escape, tachycardia)

• Atrioventricular (AV) Blocks:

  • First-degree, Second-degree Type I & II, Third-degree (complete)

• Nursing actions vs Monitor Tech responses

Interactive:

• “Rhythm Rumble” – Kahoot quiz showdown

• Highlighted case studies for group discussion

• Drug focus: Rate control meds and their side effects

Homework:

• AV block drag-and-drop activity

• Audio flashcards: Hear and repeat rhythm names

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⚡ Day 4: When Things Go South – Ventricular, Paced, and Emergency Recognition

Focus: Urgent rhythms and how to act fast

Topics:

• Ventricular rhythms:

  • PVCs, V-Tach, V-Fib, Asystole, Agonal

• Introduction to Paced rhythms

• Immediate action steps for lethal rhythms

• Code Blue overview

• Rhythm recognition exam prep

• Final Q&A

Exams:

• Recognition Quiz: Urgent arrhythmias (must pass at 100%)

• Final Exam: Multiple choice + rhythm interpretation (pass at 85%)

Interactive:

• Rhythm strip stations

• Emergency scenario role-play

• “Pass the Pulse” competition (team game)

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🧾 General Course Info

Eligibility:

• RNs, LVNs, CNAs, PCTs, and students

• Non-licensed learners must attend the Prep Workshop online only. 

Completion Requirements:

• 100% Attendance

• 100% on Urgent Rhythm Recognition

• 85% or higher on final rhythm exam

CE Info:

• 21.75 CE contact hours (BRN CEP #17758)

• CE Certificate awarded at the end of Day 4 if the student passes the final exam. 

Course Dates:

• Every first Monday–Thursday of the month in person, online on demand, and online every second Monday – Thursday of the Month. 

• Optional Friday remediation

Tuition:
💲$297 (includes all materials, worksheets, rhythm cards, and practice tests)

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✨ Extras (Optional Add-ons)

• Live tutor support with Nurse Nina 💻

• Bonus: Downloadable NCLEX-style rhythm questions for nursing students 

• Group pricing for hospitals or home health agencies