Cardiac Rhythm Project

Cardiac Rhythm Interpretation Education Poster Project 

For this project, you will create a professional, patient-safety-focused educational poster on a selected cardiac rhythm or cardiac emergency. The poster must demonstrate your understanding of cardiac electrophysiology, rhythm interpretation, and priority nursing actions. 

 

Step 1: Choose ONE Topic 

Select one of the following cardiac rhythms or conditions: 

Rhythm Options 

· Atrial Fibrillation (A-fib) 

· Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) 

· Ventricular Tachycardia (VT – with/without pulse) 

· Ventricular Fibrillation (VF) 

· 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Degree AV Block 

· Bundle Branch Blocks (LBBB or RBBB) 

Cardiac Emergency Option 

STEMI vs NSTEMI (side-by-side comparison) 

 

Step 2: Poster Requirements 

Your poster must include  all of the following sections clearly labeled:

1. Pathophysiology (What’s happening electrically?)

Explain: 

· The electrical conduction issue causing the rhythm 

· What is happening in the atria, AV node, or ventricles 

· Impact on cardiac output and perfusion 

· What makes this dangerous for the patient 

Use visuals or simplified drawings when possible.

2. Rhythm Strip Example

Include: 

· At least  one high-quality, labeled ECG strip 

· Labels for  P-wave, PR interval, QRS, QT, R-R pattern, etc. as relevant 

· Brief interpretation notes (rate, regular/irregular, waveform findings)

3. ECG Findings/Key Characteristics

List  diagnostic identifiers, such as: 

· Atrial/ventricular rate 

· Regularity 

· P-wave presence/absence 

· PR interval abnormalities 

· QRS width 

· Hallmark features (e.g., sawtooth waves, chaotic baseline, wide complex) 

This is the “how to recognize it in real time” section.

4. Labs (if applicable)

Only include labs if your rhythm/condition uses them: 

Troponins (STEMI/NSTEMI) 

· Electrolytes (esp. K+, Mg+) 

· TSH (for Afib if thyroid-related) 

· ABGs (if related to hypoxia-induced arrhythmias)

5. Priority Interventions

Include nurse-driven and provider-driven interventions, such as: 

· What to assess first (LOC, perfusion, BP, symptoms) 

· What equipment to prepare (pads, suction, crash cart) 

· Medication management (amiodarone, adenosine, beta blockers, etc.) 

· Emergency actions (cardioversion, defibrillation, CPR) 

· When to call a rapid response or code 

This section must emphasize safe practice and rapid recognition. 

6. Reperfusion Goals (if applicable)

For STEMI vs NSTEMI ONLY: 

· Time-to-ECG (≤10 minutes) 

· Door-to-balloon (≤90 minutes) 

· Door-to-needle (≤30 minutes for thrombolytics) 

· Troponin trends 

· PCI vs medical management   

Poster Format Requirements 

Your poster must be: 

· 1 page (PowerPoint slide, Canva poster, or PDF) 

· Professional, visually appealing, readable at a distance 

· Use of color-coding, icons, charts, or visuals encouraged 

· Minimum 18-point font 

· Limited text—use bullet points 

· Organized in logical sections 

 

Source Requirements 

· Minimum 2 scholarly sources (within 5–7 years) 

· APA 7th edition reference list in small text at the bottom 

· Sources may include:  ✓ Cardiac texts  ✓ ACLS guidelines  ✓ UpToDate  ✓ AHA resources 

Submission 

Submit the following: 

· Final poster (PDF or PPT) 

· Reference list (APA) if not included on poster 

Cardiac Rhythm Poster Project

Cardiac Rhythm Poster Project
Criteria	Ratings	Points
Pathophysiology Explanation	Exemplary Clear, accurate description of electrical conduction issue; strong linkage to cardiac output/perfusion. 10 pts Proficient Adequate explanation with some missing detail or unclear connections. 7 pts Developing Minimal, vague, or inaccurate pathophysiology. 4 pts	/10 pts
ECG Strip Example & Interpretation	Exemplary High-quality, labeled strip with accurate interpretation of key waveform features. 10 pts Proficient Strip included and mostly accurate; labeling or interpretation incomplete. 7 pts Developing Strip missing, poorly labeled, or inaccurate. 4 pts	/10 pts
ECG Findings & Key Characteristics	Exemplary All hallmark rhythm features clearly listed (rate, regularity, P-waves, PR/QRS changes). 10 pts Proficient Most features included; some missing information. 7 pts Developing Incomplete or inaccurate rhythm characteristics. 4 pts	/10 pts
Priority Interventions & Reperfusion Goals	Exemplary Accurate, high-priority nursing interventions; includes reperfusion targets when required. 10 pts Proficient Interventions generally correct but lacking detail or missing reperfusion details. 7 pts Developing Incorrect, incomplete, or unclear interventions. 4 pts	/10 pts
Poster Quality, Organization & Sources	Exemplary Visually professional, well-organized, readable at a distance; 2+ scholarly sources in APA format. 10 pts Proficient Mostly clear and organized; minor formatting or APA errors; readability issues. 7 pts Developing Cluttered, disorganized, or missing/incorrect sources. 4 pts