Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences Biomedical Multimedia Unit

Introduction to Cardiac Arrhythmias

This web-based module was designed to assist students enrolled in the Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Clinical Nursing (Adult Acute Care) to develop skills in interpreting and analysing cardiac rhythm disturbances. It gives students the opportunity to visualise events occurring in the cardiac conducting system, and to relate them to the waveform and intervals of an ECG (electrocardiograph). It features some of the most commonly seen arrhythmias and allows students to compare these to a normal sinus rhythm. The module is used as an adjunct to lectures, recommended readings and supervised practice within the student's clinical area.

Curriculum Usage

Introduction to Cardiac Arrhythmias is currently being used asa part of the curriculum for Postgraduate Nursing (Acute Care), and as a resource in the medical curriculum.

Project Screen Grabs

Click on the thumbnail to view a larger image.

   
Stylised diagram of the heart   This screen shows the stylised visual representation of the heart and the important components of the cardiac conducting system. This stylised diagram forms the basis of the ECG package.
   
Explanation of ECG waveform  

A visual explanation of the waveform and intervals of an ECG (electrocardiograph)

 
     
Cardiac cycle and ECG   This screen shows an animation relating the events occurring in the cardiac conducting system to an ECG
     
Comparison of animated ECG with real example  

Students are also able to access "real life" examples of the arrhythmias. This screen shows a comparison of the ECG animation to a real ECG recording.

Credits

Developed by the Biomedical Multimedia Unit in association with the School of Nursing, The University of Melbourne.

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