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Step 3 - P wave Morphology (Shape) - Course # 318-5
Description
- The lead most commonly referenced in cardiac monitoring is lead II.
- For the purposes of this training module, lead two will specifically referenced unless otherwise specified.
- The P wave in lead II in a normal heart is typically rounded and upright in appearance.
- Changes in shape must be reported. This can be an indicator that the locus of stimulation is changing or the pathway taken is changing.
- P waves may come in a variety of morphologies i.e. rounded and upright, peaked, flattened, notched, biphasic (second complex, pictured), inverted and even buried or absent!
- Remember to describe the shape. This can be very important to the physician when diagnosing the patient.
How to use this module.
This module is organized into a series of lessons. These lessons are listed on the right side of the content area. To navigate to a lesson, either
click on the lesson name or use the arrows at the bottom right. Each lesson contains several slides. These slides are lists with tabs
that appear above each slide. To navigate to a slide, either click on the tab or use the gray arrows that appear on the left and right sides of the slides.
Within the lesson are questions. These questions are used to reinforce key concepts, but they are not used for scoring or grading. After
completing this module, we encourage you to use our drills and quizzes to practice what you have learned. Finally, after completing most or all of
the modules, you might try our EKG Graded Quizzes to test your knowledge.
Our affiliated website, Practical Clinical Skills, provides additional drills and quizzes with certifcates of achievement. If you have an account, then your signin name and password will
work on that website as well. Click here for EKG contents and apps at Practical Clinical Skills.
318 Step 3 - P wave Morphology (Shape) - Course # 318-5