
Are you looking to strengthen your understanding of ECG interpretation and emergency pharmacology before taking your certification training? Our ECG and Pharmacology Online Course is expertly designed to give Canadian healthcare professionals a strong foundation in cardiac rhythm recognition and emergency drug administration.
These are critical, life-saving skills required before attending Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) or Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) courses.
Because ECG interpretation and pharmacology are no longer covered in detailed depth during standard ACLS and PALS certification courses, many providers find themselves needing a refresher. This comprehensive online preparatory course ensures you are fully prepared, confident, and ready to respond to cardiac emergencies without second-guessing your fundamental knowledge.
Whether you are a new healthcare graduate stepping into the emergency room or an experienced medical provider looking to refresh your clinical skills, this course will improve your readiness in high-stakes cardiac situations.
Our curriculum is split into two distinct, easy-to-digest modules to ensure you master both rhythms and emergency medications.
Understanding the heart’s electrical system is the first step in responding to a cardiac emergency. In this module, we cover:
Anatomy of the Heart: A deep dive into the cardiac conduction system.
Electrophysiology Basics: Understanding the cellular mechanisms of heartbeats.
Measuring & Interpreting: Step-by-step guides on how to measure and interpret a standard ECG.
Basic Arrhythmias: Rapid identification of life-threatening and benign basic arrhythmias.
Administering the right drug, at the right dose, at the right time saves lives. In this module, you will learn:
Core ACLS Drugs: An overview of essential emergency medications and their clinical uses.
Dosages & Administration: Proper drug dosages and delivery routes during cardiac arrest and other emergencies.
Algorithm Integration: How to seamlessly integrate pharmacology into standard ACLS treatment algorithms.
This training is ideal for Canadian nurses, paramedics, respiratory therapists, physicians, and medical students who are preparing for their ACLS or PALS certifications and want to build a rock-solid foundation first.
Please note: This program is intended solely as a preparatory course for ACLS and PALS training. It is not an official Heart & Stroke Foundation course, but rather an independent educational tool designed to guarantee your success and confidence in your upcoming official certification.
the training will allow you to read and understand basic ECG
Anatomy of the Heart” takes you on an illustrated journey through the structure and function of the human heart. With clear visuals and concise explanations, the video shows how blood flows through the atria and ventricles, how the valves keep everything moving in the right direction, and how the heart supports our entire circulatory system. A strong primer for anyone seeking to understand how this vital organ works — from its major chambers to its everyday role in keeping us alive.
The video provides a concise description of the adult human heart's size and anatomical location:
Size: The heart of an adult is described as being "not much larger than a fist".
Location: It lies in the center of the chest.
It is positioned behind the breast bone, known as the sternum.
It is in front of the backbone, specifically the thoracic spine.
It is situated above the diaphragm.
Surroundings: Except for the area against the spine and a small strip down the center of the front, the heart is completely surrounded by the lungs.
The heart's independent blood supply system
The heart is as a hollow organ divided into four sections or chambers
The video focuses on the initial components and pathways involved in the heart's electrical conduction system:
This video details the structure and function of the Atrioventricular (AV) node and its connection to the rest of the heart's electrical system.
This video details the structure and paths of the heart's bundle branches.
This video describes the path and speed of the electrical impulse as it travels through the heart's lower chambers, the ventricles.
This video defines the major waves and intervals found on an Electrocardiogram (ECG)
Electrical Events and ECG Components
the major electrical events occurring in the heart with their corresponding segments and waves on an ECG:
The standard speed and time measurements associated with ECG paper:
Details the measurements on an ECG grid and the normal durations for key ECG intervals:
ECG Grid Axes:
The horizontal axis measures time.
The vertical axis measures voltage or amplitude.
1 millivolt (mV) is equal to two large boxes high.
Normal ECG Interval Measurements:
clarifies the difference between monitoring leads (like standard monitoring in Lead II) and a 12-lead diagnostic ECG:
This standard, consistent, and routine approach to rhythm analysis is key to success. It presents four basic questions that lead to the correct analysis and diagnosis of most rhythm abnormalities:
This is list of key characteristics used to identify Normal Sinus Rhythm on an ECG:
This is key characteristics used to identify Sinus Bradycardia on an ECG:
The key characteristics used to identify a Premature Atrial Contraction (PAC) complex on an ECG:
This is the key characteristics used to identify Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) on an ECG:
The lists the key characteristics used to identify a Premature Ventricular Contraction (PVC) complex on an ECG:
key characteristics used to identify Monomorphic Ventricular Tachycardia on an ECG:
The key characteristics used to identify Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia on an ECG:
There is a very concise description of the ECG characteristics of Ventricular Fibrillation:
Key Finding: When analyzing Ventricular Fibrillation, the video states that everything is absent. This refers to the absence of discernible P waves, QRS complexes, T waves, and a measurable rhythm or rate.
Asystole on an ECG.
Asystole is characterized by an absence of any electrical activity, often referred to as a "flatline," meaning there are no discernible P waves, QRS complexes, or T waves.
This video explains the defining feature and variable ECG characteristics of Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA):
This video lists the key characteristics used to identify a First Degree Atrioventricular (AV) Block on an ECG:
This is the key characteristics used to identify a Second Degree Atrioventricular (AV) Block Type I (also known as Mobitz I or Wenckebach) on an ECG:
the key characteristics used to identify a Second Degree Atrioventricular (AV) Block Type II (also known as Mobitz II) on an ECG:
This is lists the key characteristics used to identify a Third Degree Atrioventricular (AV) Block, also known as Complete Heart Block, on an ECG:
This video serves as a brief introduction to the use of pharmacological tools within an Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) context:
The video discusses the common drugs used in ACLS and directs the viewer to Table 1 in their corresponding ACLS manual for detailed information, including doses, routes, and uses.
Important Disclaimer: The video emphasizes that the use of any ACLS medication must be done within the provider's scope of practice and only after a thorough study of the drugs' actions and side effects.
Table 1 is intended only as a brief reminder for those who are already knowledgeable about these medications.
It specifically contains only adult doses, indications, and routes of administration for the most common ACLS drugs.
⚠️ Please note: This is not a Heart & Stroke Foundation course. It is intended as a preparatory course for ACLS and PALS training. Updated on Jan 2025
Looking to strengthen your understanding of ECG interpretation and emergency pharmacology before taking ACLS or PALS training? Our ECG and Pharmacology Online Course is designed to give healthcare professionals a strong foundation in cardiac rhythm recognition and drug administration—key skills required before attending Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) or Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) courses.
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