California Career and Technical Education Standards

• HSMT.B.B5.3 Follow patient-verification protocols to ensure readiness and appropriateness of...
• HSMT.FS.4.2 Understand the use of technological resources to access, manipulate, and produce...

California Academic Content Standards (Reinforced)

• ELA.9-10.LS.C.1.1 Formulate judgments about the ideas under discussion and support those judgments...
• ELA.9-10.R.CAGT.2.5 Extend ideas presented in primary or secondary sources through original analysis...3

• What is Going On? - Hooks / Set

  1. Show the clip as your "hook" to grab the student's attention.

  2. Then ask, "How, or is it even possible, could we get an actual recording of the patient's heart rhythm that's showing on the monitor?"

  Answer: Yes, it is possible. It's called an electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG).

  3. How would this help the healthcare team in diagnosing and treating any abnormality that the may be found?

  Answer: The physician, EKG technician, or other assigned health personnel can look at each part of the recording to determine where any damage to the heart may exist. They can then perform other tests to confirm the diagnosis and then treat the patient. Treatment may require medication, surgery, or a combination of both of these treatments to correct the problem.

  4. Today we will be looking at how to properly apply the leads to a patient for an EKG. Proper preparation is essential to obtaining accurate results.

  • Cardiac Arrest Clip [ Watch Video ] [ Download Original Video ] Dramatization of Cardiac Arrest
• It's All In the Chest! - Lecture

  Again, this lesson would be used once the EKG has been explained to the students. Before beginning, conduct a brief question and answer session regarding the purpose of the EKG including:

       1. What the EKG tells us about the heart?

       2. What the EKG does not tell us about the heart?

       3. Review terms related to the EKG (list attached for use).

  • Answers to the 3 Questions [ Download ]
  • Lead Placement Terms [ Download ]
• How is the EKG Done? - Demo / Modeling

  On one of the manikins, use colored sticky dots to demonstrate how the leads are placed on a patient's chest. Start out going step-by-step, explaining and placing the leads in the correct sequence. Follow up your demonstration with the video clip (or vice versa).

  • diagram of lead placement.doc [ Download ] Diagram of Limb and Precordial Leads
  • 12 Lead Placement.mp4 [ Watch Video ] [ Download Original Video ] Lead Placement Demonstration
  • ekg steps leads electrodes.doc [ Download ] Steps to Lead Placement/Types of Leads & Electrodes
• Your Turn to Set Up A "Patient!" - Group Work

  Have students pair up. A member of each team will get a CPR manikin and a set of 10 colored round sticky dots. They will take turns applying the sticky dots on the manikin and critique/correct each other. Explain that they will not practice performing the EKG lead placement on their patient until they get this exercise correct!
• Did they Get it? - Assessment

  1. Monitor the teams. Listen in and assist only as needed, allowing students time and opportunity to peer evaluate among themselves.

  2. Once you observe that a team has completed the exercise correctly, take them (a team at a time) to the area where they will be setting up their patient for the EKG. (should be a separate area that is screened or has curtains for privacy.)

  3. Allow the "patient" to change to the cape/gown open to the front. You and the "nurse" will then return.

  4. Observe as the "nurse" performs the skill using the rubric to assess the student's mastery of the skill.

  5. Continue this until all teams have performed the skill and been assessed using the rubric.

  • EKG Grade Rubric [ Download ]
• Let's Close! - Closure

  Once students have each had a chance to "set up" a "patient" and all equipment is put away, conduct a summary of what was covered and allow the opportunity for questions. Ask for their assessment of their work. Questions such as, "Did it feel diffrently placing the stickies on the manikin than placing electrodes on your patient?" or "What are some obstacles you may face when performing this skill in the clinical area?" would be appropriate.