I had learned a very "crash course" version of EKG's during my med/surg rotation in school, but it hadn't really stuck with me. I decided it would be good for me to learn them more in depth, outside of school.
The website with the class schedule is ekgusa.com. Location is at Wayland Baptist University in Mililani Mauka. There was always ample parking at Wayland, which I liked. The building itself is small, but nice, new, and air-conditioned. :) One weird thing about Wayland U., is that on the front door there is a sign that very clearly says, "No food/drinks inside the building". But inside the building there is a big table with snacks/beverages/a Keurig machine where you can pick out anything you want "by donation". A little confusing, but I really like the effort they put into the snack table. Also, free WIFI.
I had done a lot of research on different places offering EKG courses on Oahu, and the other places that offered EKG courses all never had a set schedule for the summer. EKG Skillbuilders was the only one that had a schedule up for the rest of the year. You can view the schedule online at http://www.ekgusa.com, and also register for the classes from that website. I really liked that you can reserve your spot online, but you don't have to pay until the first day of class. $190 for the 4 day EKG Basics course. Try to bring exact change if you pay in cash, since she doesn't seem to carry a change box.
The EKG Basics course that I took was over a course of 4 days scheduled from 8:30 AM-3:30 PM. I was hesitant to sign up at first, because 4 days of just EKGs sounded incredibly boring, especially for 7 hours each day. In actuality, the days went by really quickly, and every day we got out early (getting out early depends on how the class is absorbing the information). You also get a whole hour for lunch (every day at 11 AM), which is ample time to drive off campus and go to the Mililani Mauka Shopping Center or Mililani Town Center for lunch (so many good places to choose from nearby). I believe some of the other places that offer EKG courses have classes that are much shorter (as in one day), but I really do not see how you could cover the amount of material in the depth that we studied in just one day. I highly recommend spacing it out over 4 days, because it is a LOT of material to absorb. I also like that there is no mandatory assigned homework or graded quizzes/tests. All of the quizzes are done in class as a group, so you don't have to stress about not passing the course. You put what you get into the course though, so if you really want to understanding EKGs, you will need to spend time practicing on your own time.
For each of her EKG courses, you get a spiral bound book that the instructor (Sandy Gresham) wrote herself, using real EKG strips. By the end of the course, you get a TON of practice analyzing strips. The class is definitely interactive, and I like that you get to hear a lot of anecdotal, "real-life" stories that apply to what you are likely to see in an acute care setting. Pretty much all of the students in the class I took were working in an acute care setting.
Things I recommend to bring to class:
- jacket (it gets cold)
- home lunch if you want to save money (there's a microwave)
- cash/change for the snack bar
- pens (I recommend bringing colored pens)--the book is in black and white so being able to mark on the strips in the book with a colored pen is extremely helpful
- highlighters
There are other different courses she offers, including "Beyond Basics EKG" and "12-Lead EKG". I still need time to absorb everything I learned from the Basics EKG course, but I'm interested in taking the 12-Lead. You do get a signed certificate at the end of each course, which is great for your resume and proof that you took the course. I think my favorite thing about choosing EKG Skillbuilders was that you can retake the course any time if you feel you need to refresh. You would just bring back your book and sit in on another class.
Overall, I would highly recommend taking EKG classes here! read more