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TECH136-0811: ECG-Electrocardiography-Basic Interpretation, Module 1

INSTRUCTOR(S): Dianne Hudson, RVT, VTS (Anesthesia)

COURSE OPEN: August 2-September 2, 2011

REAL TIME SESSIONS (RTS): Tuesdays, August 9, 16, and 23, 2011; 9:00pm-10:30pm ET (USA)
Course RTS Times in Your Area: World Clock Converter
Practice Sessions: In order to prepare you for a successful experience in your CE course, we request you attend a practice session prior to the first Real Time Session. Times and dates will be listed in your course confirmation email. Expect to spend up to 1 hour at one of the 2-4 practice sessions held prior to the first Real Time Session.

Level and Prerequisites: This intermediate course is geared toward veterinary technicians and assistants and veterinary technician students. Module 1 and Module 2 should both be taken to insure a complete basic understanding of ECG interpretation in the anesthesia, emergency and critical care patient.
VSPN CE Course. This course has been submitted for RACE approval for veterinary technicians only.

Course Description:
This is module 1 of a two part course designed to cover the essentials of electrocardiograph (ECG) interpretation. Basic knowledge of the cardiovascular system and physiologic components is highly recommended as we will only cover basic anatomy and physiology briefly in this intermediate level course. Participants completing both modules of this course will be exposed to the basic elements of ECG interpretation (Lead II) including a review of the conduction system of the heart, the ECG/EKG waveform, normal rhythms, cardiac arrhythmias, and nursing care of abnormal cardiac events.

Module 1 consists of three (3) real time interactive sessions of ninety (90) minutes each covering discussion of potential case scenarios, online quizzes reinforcing the handouts and Real Time Sessions, interactive message boards to discuss the course materials and content, and a mandatory end-of-course test. Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of course test is required to be considered for a course certificate of completion.

Upon completion of this course, the participant should be able to

Course Materials: Course materials will be available in the course library prior to each Real Time Session.

Required Texbook(s): There is no required textbook for this course.
Recommended Textbooks:

About the Instructor: Dianne Hudson has worked at the Oklahoma State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital since 1984. She has had a diverse career working in multiple departments including Small Animal Medicine, Equine Medicine and Surgery, Small Animal ICU as the Staff Supervisor in addition to her role as an anesthesia for the past 20 years. Dianne has had the pleasure of teaching ECG interpretation in a small group setting of a private practice, as a guest lecturer for Tulsa Community College, Murray State College and OSU-OKC veterinary technician programs as well as lecturing as far away as Germany for the European Based Army Veterinary Technicians as well on VSPN CE.

Course Outline:
Week 1 (Real Time Session August 9): Circulation and the Conduction System
Content: We will start this module with coverage of the anatomy of the heart, movement of blood, and the conduction system including the properties of the cardiac muscle. We will also begin discussion of the electrocardiogram (ECG) and its significance in veterinary medicine.

Week 2 (Real Time Session August 16): Recording ECG
Content: This week we cover ECG lead placement, patient handling, and how to minimize artifacts. We will look at ECG paper and standardization (What do all those boxes mean?) and learn how to calculate the heart rate as well as amplitude significance on the wave forms.

Week 3 (Real Time Session August 23): What is normal for our canine and feline patients?
Content: We will start applying what we have learned about the ECG by looking at normal ECG recordings (especially heart rates and waveforms) for canine and feline patients and begin to compare them to abnormal recordings. Specifically, we will review normal sinus rhythms and normal variations such as sinus arrhythmia and sinus tachycardia.

CE HOURS: 4.5

Tuition: $90 ($81 early bird special if enrolled by July 19, 2011).
*Enroll in both Modules before August 9, 2011 and receive a 15% discount off the regular course price.
*Students currently enrolled in and taking at least 2 classes or 5 units at an AVMA accredited or CAAHT approved Veterinary Technician Program may be eligible to receive a 50% discount off the regular rate for this course (upon verification of student status).
** To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close when the maximum number of participants is reached or at 5pm ET the day of the first Real Time Session unless otherwise noted. If the first Real Time Session is on a weekend, course will close on the Friday before the first Real Time Session.

**For more on how online CE works see the Participant Resource Center

  1. Enrollment qualifications: VIN CE courses are open to VIN member and non-member veterinarians. Veterinarians enrolling in a VSPN CE course must be a VIN member. Veterinary support staff must be a VSPN member to enroll in a VSPN CE or a VIN CE course open to VSPN member enrollment.
  2. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. Email is our major form of communication with participants; personal emails are highly recommended rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
  3. Each person is individually responsible for his/her own registration. To ensure that all information received is secure and correct, please do not enroll for a course on behalf of another individual.
  4. For further assistance call 1-800-700-INFO (4636) or email (VIN CE) CEonVIN@vin.com or (VSPN CE) VSPNCE@vspn.org). Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.
Note: "This course has been submitted for approval for 4.5 continuing education credits in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB RACE approval; however participants should be aware that some boards have limitations on the number of hours accepted in certain categories and/or restrictions on certain methods of delivery of continuing education." Call VSPN CE at 1-800-700-4636 for further information. (Attendees are encouraged to check with their licensing jurisdiction(s) for information regarding recognition by their board).
Course withdrawal and refund policy: A complete refund of the paid course price will be issued when your withdrawal request is received prior to the listed start date of the course. If you wish to withdraw after the start date please contact the VIN/VSPN office 1-800-700-INFO (4636) to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.
**Note: To ensure rapid handling of your request for withdrawal, we recommend that you call the VIN/VSPN office at 1-800-700-INFO (4636).
** For More Information on VSPN's upcoming CE Courses, check out https://www.vin.com/CE/VSPN/VSPN_M02231.htm

Nanette R. Walker Smith, M.Ed., RVT, CVT, LVT
VSPN Content Director & VSPN CE Director

VSPN CE Services: VSPNCE@vspn.org
1-800-846-0028 or 1-530-756-4881 or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01452226154
Charlotte Waack (Charlotte@vspn.org), ext 193
Chris Upchurch (Chris@vspn.org); ext 197
Darci Palmer (Darci@vspn.org); ext 179
Debbie Bess (DBess@vspn.org); ext 178
Jennifer Withrow (Jennifer@vspn.org); ext 159
Nanette Walker Smith (Nanette@vspn.org); ext 187

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