This is a compulsory specialist module within the PgCert Cardiac Care and is available as an option module within the MSc Healthcare Practice programme and an option module within the PGDip/MSc Advanced Clinical Practice programme. It may also be taken as a free-standing module. The module is suitable for nurses and others registered healthcare professionals wishing to develop their ability to use a 12 Lead Electrocardiogram (ECG) as an assessment tool in clinical practice. It will enable students to gain confidence in ECG interpretation through the development of knowledge relating to cardiac physiology, the principles of electrocardiography and the criteria associated with conditions commonly observed on the ECG.

Aims

The module will enable students to develop an understanding and ability to critically appraise cardiovascular pathophysiology and the associated electrocardiographical findings that underpin systematic ECG interpretation. 

What and how you will learn on this module

How you will learn:

This module is delivered using a blended learning approach which integrates a variety of on-campus and online activities, supported by Canvas, the University’s virtual learning environment. A complementary range of activities are employed to engage you in the critical exploration of key topic areas, and the completion of formative tasks during the module also helps to keep you on track with the learning and gain feedback on your understanding of the content. A sense of community is developed and maintained with frequent opportunities for peer learning, enabling you to share your practice experiences and to learn from each other. Level 6 and level 7 students taking this module may be taught together.

Academic writing and critical thinking skills are developed through ‘The Critical Thinking Skills Toolkit’ and other academic practice activities embedded within the module, that have been designed to nurture the skills needed to facilitate you to become a thoughtful, objective and reasoned thinker. This will help you tackle the assignment(s) confidently, understand marking criteria, use evidence, take a reasoned approach, make structured arguments and engage with other points of view. 

What you will learn:

Cardiac physiology and the principles of electrocardiography

• Cardiac conduction system

• Electrical basis of the ECG

• Parameters for normal sinus rhythm

• Recording an ECG including ECG extensions

• Systematic analysis tool.

Limb leads and precordial leads

• Derivation of the leads

• Normal parameters and morphology

• Measurement of the mean QRS axis.

Acute coronary syndromes

• Pathophysiology and classification of acute coronary syndromes

• ECG recognition of ischaemia, injury and infarction

• Infarct imposters

• Right ventricular and posterior myocardial infarction

• Overview of patient care.

ECG derivation, recognition, pathophysiology and implications for patient care of the following abnormalities

• Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

• Left and right bundle branch block

• Hemiblock

• Chamber enlargement

• Pulmonary pathology.

Academic practice

• Database searching

• Referencing and avoiding plagiarism

• Critical Thinking Skills Toolkit.

Course length: 5 teaching days

Assessment

Exam (2 hours)