ECG Essentials for Perioperative Staff

ECG Essentials for Perioperative Staff

From first principles to confident escalation

Build your confidence in ECG interpretation with this practical, 29-page educational guide designed specifically for perioperative professionals. Whether you work in theatres, anaesthetics or recovery, this resource takes you from the basics of ECG monitoring through to recognising common and potentially life-threatening cardiac rhythms.

Inside, you'll find clear explanations, visual rhythm examples, practical clinical tips and realistic perioperative scenarios to help you understand what you're seeing on the monitor, recognise potential problems and know when and how to escalate concerns.

What you'll gain:

• Understand the heart's electrical activity and the basics of ECG interpretation.
• Learn how to set up ECG monitoring correctly and recognise artefact.
• Use a simple, repeatable six-step method to assess rhythms.
• Recognise common arrhythmias, heart blocks and potentially dangerous ECG changes.
• Understand perioperative causes of rhythm disturbances and common clinical pitfalls.
• Develop confidence in escalating concerns using structured SBAR communication.
• Consolidate your learning with clinical scenarios, worked answers and a handy quick-reference guide.

Ideal for ODPs, theatre nurses, anaesthetic assistants, recovery staff, healthcare assistants, students and newly qualified practitioners, this guide is designed to support learning, revision and professional development.

Practical, perioperative-specific learning you can refer back to whenever you need it.



Educational resource only. This guide does not replace formal training, clinical judgement, local policies or current national guidelines.