12-Lead EKG Simplified: Which Lead Sees Which Part of the Heart

12-lead EKG simplified

Electrocardiograms (EKGs) are one of the most tested skills on the NCLEX and a critical responsibility for every nurse and registered nurse (RN nurse) at the bedside. Understanding the 12-lead EKG and which lead corresponds to which part of the heart helps in recognizing ischemia, infarction, and arrhythmias early. For nursing students and graduates, this … Read more

Pacemaker Strips: Recognizing Spikes and Nursing Care

Pacemaker Strips

For nursing students preparing for the NCLEX and for every registered nurse (RN nurse) at the bedside, understanding pacemaker strips is a critical skill. Nurses often encounter patients with pacemakers in telemetry units, critical care, and even medical-surgical floors. Recognizing pacemaker spikes and providing the right nursing care ensures both patient safety and accurate documentation. … Read more

ST Elevation vs Depression: What It Means for Nurses

ST Elevation vs Depression

Electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG) interpretation is one of the most tested NCLEX topics. For a registered nurse (RN nurse), recognizing ST elevation vs ST depression can mean the difference between saving a life and missing a critical diagnosis. This guide breaks down the basics for nursing students, new graduates, and any nurse preparing for the NCLEX or … Read more

Artifact on EKG Strips: Causes and How Nurses Fix It

Artifact on EKG strips nursing

Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) interpretation is a critical skill for every RN nurse, registered nurse, and nursing student preparing for the NCLEX. While many EKG readings show real cardiac activity, sometimes unusual markings appear on the strip that are not caused by the patient’s heart. These are known as artifacts, and they can confuse both … Read more

V-Tach vs V-Fib: How to Recognize and Respond

V-Tach vs V-Fib

V-Tach vs V-Fib: How to Recognize and Respond For every nurse, RN nurse, or nursing student preparing for the NCLEX, cardiac arrhythmias are a must-know. Among the most critical are ventricular tachycardia (V-Tach) and ventricular fibrillation (V-Fib). Both rhythms can be life-threatening; therefore, a quick and accurate response is essential in both clinical practice and … Read more

Atrial Fibrillation Nursing: Risks, Medications, and Interventions

Atrial fibrillation nursing

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias, and it’s a critical concept for every nurse and registered nurse (RN nurse) to understand—especially when preparing for the NCLEX. As AFib directly affects cardiac output and increases the risk of life-threatening complications, nursing students must master its assessment, medications, and interventions. This guide … Read more