Cardiac Rhythm Helper Sheet
Name
Rhythm
A Rate
NSR
SinusBrady
SinusTach
SArrhythmia
A-fib
A-flutter
SVT
JR
AJR
JT
IVR
AIVR
V Tach
**
V-fib
**
Torsades **
V-Standstill **
Asystole
**
2nd Type 1
reg
reg
reg
irreg w/ pattern
irreg-irreg
reg or irreg
reg
reg
reg
reg
reg
reg
reg
~
reg
~
~
irreg
60-100
< 60
> 100
varies
varies
varies
varies
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
any
~
60 - 100
2nd Type 2
reg or irreg
60 - 100
3rd Degree
Artifact
reg
60 - 100
PR i
QRS
Heart Rate Table
60-100
1:1, nl
< 60
1:1, nl
> 100
1:1, nl
varies
1:1, nl
varies
fib waves
varies
flutter waves
fast
can't see

< or = or >
40 - 60
 < or = or >
60 - 100
 < or = or >
> 100
< 40
~
40 - 100
~
> 100
~
~
~
> 100
~
~
only wave seen
~
~
less than A
> 1: 1
0.12-0.20
0.12-0.20
0.12-0.20
0.12-0.20
~
~
~
< 0.12 if seen
< 0.12 if seen
< 0.12 if seen
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
varies
0.04-0.10
0.04-0.10
0.04-0.10
0.04-0.10
0.04-0.10
0.04-0.10
0.04-0.10
0.04-0.10
0.04-0.10
0.04-0.10
> 0.10
> 0.10
> 0.10
~
> 0.10
~
~
0.04-0.10
#LB #SB BPM #LB #SB BPM #LB #SB BPM
less than A
constant when
present
0.04-0.10
varies
usually> 0.10
V Rate
slow
P Waves
> 1: 1
> 1: 1
A reading caused by patient movement, equipment interference, weak ECG signals, poor lead selection or lead
placement, or poor contact between the electrode and skin. Cannot be interpreted due to no consistent waveformmust troubleshoot first.
1
2
3
4
5
300
21
71
37
41
6
250
22
68
38
40
7
214
23
65
39
39
8
187
24
62
40
38
9
166
25
60
41
37
10
150
26
58
42
36
11
136
27
56
43
35
12
125
28
54
44
34
13
115
29
52
45
33
14
107
30
50
46
33
15
100
31
48
47
32
16
94
32
47
48
31
17
88
33
45
49
31
18
83
34
44
50
30
19
79
35
43
60
25
20
75
36
42
76
20
5
6
7
8
9
10
Controlled Response
ventricular rate <100 in
Atrial fib or flutter
Uncontrolled
Response
ventricular rate >100 in
Atrial fib or flutter
Additional Abnormalities
KEY
Name
Looks Like
Timing
1st AV Block
BBB (bundle branch block)
Conducted PAC
Nonconducted PAC
PJC
PVC-Unifocal
PVC-Multifocal
Sinus Pause
JEB
VEB
ST Changes
Prolonged QT
Abnormal T
PR is > 0.20 sec in a sinus rhythm
QRS is > 0.10 in a non-ventricular rhythm
early, normal P & QRS, just too early
early P wave with no QRS following
early, normal-looking QRS with  < or = or > P wave
early, wide QRS (same shaped QRS), no P wave
early, wide QRS (different shaped QRS), no P wave
delay in sinus activity, until picked up again
after pause, QRS = 0.04-0.10 with  < or = or > P wave
after pause, QRS > 0.10, no P wave
ST segment elevated or depressed by > 1 box
QT interval is > 0.44 sec (will need QTc if questionable)
inverted or peaked
normal
normal
early
early
early
early
early
gap
late
late
normal
normal
normal
 < or = or > means inverted P wave may
come before, during or after QRS
~ = not seen
** = lethal rhythm
# LB = # Large Boxes between waves
# SB = # Small Boxes between waves
BPM = Beats per minute
reviewed 12.9.22