- HCP: Hello, I’ve been asked to record an ECG from you
- Patient: What is an ECG?
- HCP: It’s a recording of your heart beat, is painless and only takes a few minutes. I need you to remove your clothes above the waist, once you are ready lie up on the couch. I will place some sticky pads on your wrists, ankles and chest and connect them to the machine. When you are set up, rest your arms at your side, breath normally and relax.
- Patient: Can I talk during it?
- HCP: Sorry no, talking will affect the quality of the tracing, we can chat after.
- Patient: What will the ECG show …. is it OK?
- HCP: It shows your heart rate and rhythm and may show changes in the heart function. I will take it to your doctor and he will be in touch with the report. After you are finished you can get dressed.
Pulse point
Good practice notes:
- The ECG machine should be charged and ready for use
- It should be stocked with sufficient paper for the recording – tissues, clinical wipes, alcohol wipes
- Female patients should remove tights and should be offered a cover for their chest once the electrodes and ECG leads are placed and connected
- Male patients with hairy chests may require to have the electrode areas shaved, with permission, to ensure good skin contact
- The skin should be cleaned and dried, according to local protocol, before placing the electrodes
- The patient should be supine on the couch. If this is not possible due to breathless or back problems, then the couch back may be raised and this noted on the ECG.
- After each recording the electrodes and ECG leads should be cleaned with clinical wipes.
- Limb electrodes must be placed on the limbs – not the trunk
- Ideally arm electrodes at the wrist and limb electrodes at the ankles
- In the case of an amputee place the electrode at the point furthest away but ensure that the electrodes on the other limb is positioned at the same level.
Page last reviewed: 21 May 2020
