Sinus Rhythms

There are four sinus rhythms for your consideration. They include Normal Sinus Rhythm, Sinus Bradycardia, Sinus Tachycardia, and Sinus Arrhythmia. We start with these because they are normal and slight variations of normal. You will need to memorize not only the five rules for EKG recognition, but the characteristics associated with each arrhythmia. The five step method is to:

  • Determine Rhythm (Is it regular or irregular)
  • Determine Rate (count the complexes in 6 seconds)
  • Assess the P-Waves (upright, round, 1:1)
  • Measure PR Interval (less than 0.20 seconds)
  • Evaluate QRS width (between 0.08 and 0.12 seconds)