Maricopa Community Colleges  NCE248   19956-20086 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 07/22/08
NCE248 19956-20086 LEC 2 Credit(s) 2 Period(s)
Cardiac Dysrhythmias
Basic concepts of cardiovascular physiology, conduction system of the heart and major components of dysrhythmia recognition and treatments.
Prerequisites: Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), medical experience, or permission of Instructor.
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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
NCE248   19956-20086 Cardiac Dysrhythmias
1. Describe the basic cardiovascular anatomy and physiology and blood flow of the heart. (I, II)
2. Describe the conduction system of the heart. (II)
3. Specify electrode placement for given cardiac monitors. (III)
4. Identify P waves, PR interval, QRS complex, ST segment, U wave and their wave forms in relation to conduction pathways. (IV)
5. Describe proper method of heart rate calculation, utilizing 1500 and 300 divisible calculations. (IV, V)
6. List the steps of identifying a monitor strip. (VI)
7. Identify sinus, junctional, atrial rhythms and ventricular arrhythmias and treatments for each. (VII, VIII, IX, X)
8. List clinical purposes for cardioversion, defibrillation and AICD placement. (XI)
9. Identify heart blocks and list specific treatments. (XII)
10. Define sensing and capturing of pacer spikes and explain the causes for pacemaker insertion. (XIII)
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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
NCE248   19956-20086 Cardiac Dysrhythmias
    I. Cardiovascular anatomy/physiology
        A. Heart
          1. Chambers
          2. Functions
        B. Route of blood flow
        C. Coronary arteries
      II. Conduction system of the heart
          A. Cardiac cells
          B. Areas of conduction
          C. Pathways
          D. Wave forms
        III. Cardiac monitors
            A. Frequently-used monitor leads
            B. Electrode placement
            C. Troubleshooting
          IV. Wave forms
              A. P waves
              B. P-R interval
              C. QRS complex
              D. ST segment
              E. U wave
              F. Relation of wave forms to conduction pathways
            V. Heart rate calculations
                A. 1500 divisible
                B. 300 divisible
              VI. Monitor strip/identification steps
                  A. Supraventricular or ventricular
                  B. Calculate the heart rate
                  C. Regularity - R to R and P to P intervals
                  D. P-R measurement
                  E. QRS duration
                VII. Sinus
                    A. Rhythm
                    B. Arrhythmia
                    C. Bradycardia
                    D. Tachycardia
                    E. Treatments
                  VIII. Atrial rhythms
                      A. Premature atrial contraction
                      B. Atrial tachycardia
                      C. Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia
                      D. Atrial flutter
                      E. Atrial fibrillation
                      F. Treatments
                    IX. Junctional
                        A. Rhythms
                        B. Junctional tachycardia
                        C. Premature junctional contraction
                        D. Accelerate junctional rhythms
                        E. Treatments
                      X. Ventricular arrhythmias
                          A. Premature ventricular contraction
                          B. Paired PVC's (unifocal and multi-focal)
                          C. Ventricular bigeminy
                          D. R on T to PVC
                          E. Idioventricular rhythm
                          F. Accelerated ventricular rhythm
                          G. Ventricular tachycardia, fibrillation and standstill
                          H. Treatments
                        XI. Cardioversion, defibrillation and AICD placement
                            A. Clinical uses
                            B. Cardioversion
                            D. Defibrillation
                            D. AICD placement
                          XII. Heart blocks
                              A. First degree
                              B. Second degree
                                1. Wenckebach
                                2. Type II
                              C. Third degree
                              D. Treatments
                            XIII. Pacemakers
                                A. Function B., Pacer spikes - definition
                                C. Sensing and capturing
                                D. Atrial pacing
                                E. A-V sequential pacing
                                F. Other
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