Question

How do you accurately interpret a variety of EKG rhythms from 6 second strips?

Answer 1

Important things to note about the squares:

Each large block contains 25 squares
Each small square represents 0.04 seconds of time
5 small squares equal 0.20 seconds of time
When you are trying to calculate the heart rate with the six second rule, you must count out enough LARGE squares to equal 6 seconds. Therefore, 30 large squares would equal 6 seconds.

Atrial Rate

Identify the p-waves
Beginning at the first p-wave start counting 30 large squares.
Then count how many p-waves are between the 30 large squares.
Take that number and multiple it by 10 and this is your heart rate.

Ventricular Rate

Identify the r-waves
Beginning at the first r-wave start counting 30 large squares.
Then count how many r-waves are between the 30 large squares.
Take that number and multiple it by 10 and this is your heart rate.