Sep 24, 2025  
GRCC Curriculum Database (2025-2026 Academic Year) 
    
GRCC Curriculum Database (2025-2026 Academic Year)
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CVT 115 - Rhythm and ECG


Description
This course will teach students about the electrical conductivity of the heart and how to interpret and analyze ECG recordings. Students will learn about how ECGs are recorded and how to differentiate between various cardiac rhythms as it relates to the cardiac monitor role in a cardiac catheterization lab setting.
Credit Hours: 1
Contact Hours: 1
Prerequisites/Other Requirements: None
English Prerequisite(s): None
Math Prerequisite(s): None
Course Corequisite(s): None
Academic Program Prerequisite: Cardiovascular Technology Program
Consent to Enroll in Course: Department Consent Required
Dual Enrollment Allowed?: No
Course Fees: $157.00
Number of Times Course can be taken for credit: 1
Programs Where This Course is a Requirement:
Cardiovascular Technology, A.A.A.S., Cardiovascular Technology, Certificate
General Education Requirement:
None
General Education Learner Outcomes (GELO):
NA
Course Learning Outcomes:
  1. Describe normal cardiac anatomy and normal electrical conduction through the heart.
  2. Identify and relate ECG waveforms to the cardiac cycle.
  3. Characterize the different lead placements and the purpose of each lead placement.
  4. Utilize a systematic process when approaching the interpretation of the ECG.
  5. Differentiate normal and abnormal components on ECG.
  6. Recognize sinus, atrial, junctional, and ventricular dysrhythmia on ECG and relate cause, significance, and symptoms.
  7. Identify pacemaker malfunctions.

 
Course Outline:
 

Course Outline
Wk 1: Chapter 1: Electrocardiography
-History of ECG, uses , prep
-Infection control and vital signs
Chapter 2: The Cardiovascular System
-Circulation and the ECG
-Anatomy, principles of circulation, the cardac cycle
-Conduction system of the heart
-Electrical stimulation and the ECG waveform
Wk 2: Chapter 3: The Electrocardiograph
-Producing the ECG waveform
-ECG machines, EC controls
-Electrodes, ECG graph paper
-Calculating heart rate
Chapter 4: Performing an ECG
-Preparation for the ECG procedure
-Communicating with the patient
-Safety, applying electrodes and leads
-Operating the ECG machine, checking the tracing
-Reporting ECG results, equipment maintenance
-Pediatric ECG, cardiac monitoring
-Special patient considerations
-Handling emergencies
Wk 3: Chapter 5: Rhythm Strip Interpretation and
Sinus Rhythms
-Rhythm interpretation
-Identifying the components of teh rhythm
-Rhythms originating from the sinus node
-Sinus bradycardia, tachycardia, dysrhythmia, arrest, and exit block
Chapter 6: Atrial Dysrhymias
-Introduction to atrial dysrhythmias, PAC’s
-Wandering atrial pacemaker
-Multifocal atrial tachycardia, atrial flutter, and atrial fibrillation
Wk 4: Chapter 7: Junctional Dysrhythmias
-Introduction to Junctionla Dysrhythmias
-Premature Junctional Complex, junctional escape rhythm
-Accelerated junctional rhythm, junctional tachycardia
-Supraventricular Tachycardia
Chapter 8: Heart Block Dysrhythmias
-Introduction to heart block dysrhythmias

-First degree, second degree type I and II, and third degree AV block

Wk 5: Chapter 9: Ventricular Dysrhythmias
-Introduction to ventricular dysrhythmias
-PVCs, agonal rhythm, idioventricular rhythm
-Accelerated idioventricular rhythm, VT, Vfib, asystole
Chapter 10: Bundle Branch Block
-Intro to BBB dysrhythmias, LBBB vs. RBBB
Chapter 11: Pacemaker Rhythms
-Intro to pacemakers, evaluating pacemaker function
-Pacemaker complications relative to the ECG Tracing
Wk 6: Chapter 12: Cardiac Stress Testing
-Cardiac stress testing
-Why is exercise electrocardiography use?
-Other types of cardiac stress testing
-Preparing the patient for exercise electrocardiography
-Providing safety, performing exercise electrocardiography
-Common protocols, after exercise electrocardiography
Chapter 13: Ambulatory Monitoring
-Ambulatory monitoring

-How is ambulatory monitoring used, types of ambulatory monitoring

-Educating the patient, preparing the patient
-Applying an ambulatory monitor
-Removing an ambulatory monitor and reporting results
Wk 7: Chapter 14: Clinical Presentation and Managment of
the Cardiac Patient
-Coronary arteries, cardiac symptoms, atypical patient presentation
-Acute coronary syndrome, heart failure
-Cardiac patient assessment and immediate treatment
Chapter 15: Basic 12-:Lead ECG Interpretation
-The views of standard 12-lead ECG and major vessels
-Ischemia, injury, and infarction
-Electrical axis
-Left ventricular hypertrophy

Approved for Online and Hybrid Delivery?:
No
Instructional Strategies:
Lecture: 30-40%

Audio-Visual Content: 20-30%

Group work & Indiviudal Activities: 10-20%

Discussion/Participation: 10-20%
Mandatory Course Components:
None
Equivalent Courses:
NA


Name of Industry Recognize Credentials: None

Course-Specific Placement Test: NA
Course Aligned with ARW/IRW Pairing: NA
Mandatory Department Assessment Measures:
None
Course Type:
Program Requirement- Offering designed to meet the learning needs of students in a specific GRCC program.
Course Format:
Lecture - 1:1
Total Lecture Hours Per Week: 1
Total Fieldwork Hours Per Week: NA
People Soft Course ID Number: 105184
Course CIP Code: 51.9999
Maximum Course Enrollment:
School: School of Health & Exercise Science
Department: Allied Health
Discipline: CVT
First Term Valid: Winter 2023 (1/1/2023)
1st Catalog Year: 2022-2023
Name of Course Author:
Julie Lackscheide
Faculty Credential Requirements:
Certification/License Requirement (list below), Program Accreditation Requirement (list below), Other (list below)
Faculty Credential Requirement Details:
1) Bachelor’s degree
2) Hold a cardiovascular credential from at least one of the concentrations identified in these
Standards;
3) Have at least two years’ experience in cardiovascular health care;
Course Review & Revision Year: 2027-2028



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