Each Icon below will take you to a page for the Respective ACLS EKG. These pages cover all of the cardiac arrhythmias that you will experience in the ACLS provider course. Rhythms from Ventricular Fibrillation to Complete Heart Block are covered. Examples of each ECG tracing are provided, and after each article is a short video that simulates the ACLS ECG on a defibrillator monitor.
You will also find a question and answer section below each rhythm video. This area covers the most common questions asked about each rhythm. Feel free to leave a comment or question as you review the content.
Anne Wambui says
WHY IS V.FIB NOT A PEA
Jeff with admin. says
VF is not considered PEA because VF is not an organized rhythm. VF is a chaotic firing of the ventricles and if very disorganized. VF will never produce significant perfusion.
Pulseless VT is technically considered PEA but since it responds well to high energy shocks just as with VF it is treated with the left branch of the cardiac arrest algorithm instead of the right branch.
Do not treat VF or pulseless VT as PEA. Treat them first with high energy unsynchronized shocks and high-quality CPR.
Kind regards,
Jeff
ladybug100 says
I am a Respiratory Therapist and a clinical instructor. I always recommend this site to my students. They love it. So do I.
Dan Egelton says
I have been an ICU RN multispecialty, Thorasic surgery, Cath Lab… This website is by far the best I have found, well done and very informative. I would recommend this for all level practitioners. Love the fact that you take explanations on rational and medication dosing and information a level past what is required. Thank You Jeff.
Do you offer TNCC, ENPC certifications? I will be doing PALS very soon and you have my business.
Thank You,
Dan
Jeff with admin. says
Thank you so much for the encouragement and feedback. I’m so glad that the site has been helpful for you.
At this time, in do not offer any training for TNCC or ENPC.
Kind regards,
Jeff
Vicky says
Very good site to pass the acls test .because of this site I clear my acls test .I would recommend all of us to practice on this before going for exam.
Hayden Perreira says
I am interested in taking an AHA ACLS course but have no formal training in ecg or pharmacology in relation to ACLS. There was an online AHA course called ‘Learn Rhythm Adult’ (onlineaha.org). That course is now discontinued.
Can someone with no ecg background take your course? If so, which package should I purchase?
Hayden Perreira
RN
Jeff with admin. says
If you use the interactive course guide on this website, you will receive all of the training for ECG and pharmacology that you need to understand them within the framework of advanced cardiac life support.
Any ACLS training package should work. The only difference is the length of time. You receive the same content and you pick the amount of time that you would like to subscribe for.
Make sure to watch the introductory video on the homepage if you decide to use the website.
Kind regards,
Jeff
Brenda Meyer says
Do students learn about a normal rhythm, and what the pqrst letters symbolize in a NSR rhythm? My students are new to reading rhythms.
Jeff with admin. says
For the past seven years, I have stuck fairly strictly with following the content in the American Heart Association ACLS provider manual. I had expected those taking the training course to be familiar with normal sinus rhythm, however, I think that your suggestion is a good one. I will be adding a page that clarifies normal sinus rhythm in the near future. Thank you for the suggestion.
For those that are completely new to looking at an ECG, even normal sinus rhythm may be difficult to understand and identify.
Kind regards,
Jeff
JCDownes says
This is most helpful to me. I do not work with ECG being in an antenatal/gyn unit but this is the first time I can actually recall these basic rhythms, finally understanding the “blocks”, and actually remember the rhythms. Thank you.
Jeff with admin. says
Thanks for the comment. I’m so glad that the site has been helpful for you. Kind regards, Jeff
janko12 says
I just purchased your ACLS course and will take it next month for re-certification. Just wondering if the written questions will be similar to the AHA ACLS certification 2016. The first time I took the written exam, I found it to be extremely hard to pass. I look forward to start your program but any info on the written exam will benefit.
Thanks much..
Jeff with admin. says
There are practice questions, megacode scenarios, and videos on the website that thoroughly review all of the content from the AHA ACLS provider manual. This website should give you a complete preparation for the AHA ACLS provider course.
Kind regards,
Jeff
Andrew says
Thanks for making this great video review of ACLS rhythms, I found it very helpful.
espinoza.p4013 says
Dear Jeff:
You did an excellent job on your website! It served as the perfect refresher for me . I only reviewed for 2 days and got all 50 (scored 100/A+) written questions correct plus rocked my megacode.
Lina
calannon says
THANK YOU FOR THIS SITE JEFF!! I just completed ACLS for the first time and passed with flying colors! I had none of the prerequisite knowledge and learned it all from this fantastic site! I had it on my iPhone so it was convenient to study from while I was on vacation or stuck in traffic!
My ACLS instructor was especially impressed with my Megacode responses. The sample quizzes and Megacodes from you saved me for sure -you made learning FUN!
I’ve recommended you to all my co-workers regardless of whether they’re taking ACLS for the first time or just re-certifying.
Thanks again!
-Cathi
Kelly Buford says
I agree 100%! I’m taking my first ACLS class in a week and this website has been a valuable resource!
julezzz26 says
Just passed my acls recertification after using your site. Thank you so much for your incredible site. I never would have passed without it! A million thanks!
Paul E. Morris MA-IC MST ES EMT BDLS says
I am scheduled to take an American Heart Association ACLS Class to get my AHA ACLS back on April 9th, and 10th. Does anyone have advice so I can successfully get through, and pass the Class, and quickly move forward to AHA PALS, and Advanced Trauma Life Support ATLS ????
Preparing for the Paramedic Program BYUi .
Thank you
Paul E. Morris
MA-IC MST ES EMT BDLS
Volunteer MCI Medical Assistant, EMT
Medical Reserve Corps
Washington State
Jeff with admin. says
This site will thoroughly prepare you for AHA ACLS certification and you should have plenty of time to prepare if you start now. After you finish with ACLS, I think it would be wise to complete advanced trauma life support and then move on to PALS.
Kind regards,
Jeff
Kwang Lim says
Hi Jeff, Wow ! There are tons of info ! I am so excited.!
About 3rd degree block EKG, it is a hard strips to recognized quickly.
Although, it is a completely disorganized PQRS, actually some video shows more # of QRS, than some others ( type 2) . Are those QRS perfusion? I see the imminent danger. Can you kindly
explain about the physiological aspect ? Also 3rd degree block has to have certain # of QRS ?
ex. less than 40, 30, 20 / min. etc. Thank you so…. much.
Kwang
Jeff with admin. says
Physiologically speaking, the atrium and the ventricle are not coordinated at all. The atria are doing their own thing and the ventricles are doing their own thing. Electrical impulses are not being delivered from the atrium to the ventricles. There is no specific number of QRS complexes or p-waves. There is simply no coordinated effort between the upper and lower parts of the heart.
Kind regards,
Jeff