12 Lead ECG Placement Example - How to Perform a 12 Lead

In this video, I demonstrate electrode placement for recording 12 lead ECGs. I have a growing playlist of detailed tutorials for reading and interpreting 12 leads; check out the links below!

Quick note: It's important that the upper extremity electrodes are placed lower than you see me do in the video. They should be on the forearm just proximal to the wrist.

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Check out this huge ECG Interpretation Course:
Episode 4: What is an arrhythmia? - Coming soon!
Episode 5: Atrial Rhythms - Coming soon!
Episode 6: Junctional Rhythms - Coming soon!
Episode 7: Pre-Excitation Syndromes - Coming soon!
Episode 8: Ventricular Rhythms - Coming soon!
Episode 9: Escapes and Extrasystoles - Coming soon!
Episode 10: Conduction Defects - Coming soon!
Episode 11: Identifying Ischemia - Coming soon!
Episode 12: The QT Interval - Coming soon!
Episode 13: Determining the Axis - Coming soon!
Episode 14: Hypertrophy and Enlargement - Coming soon!
Episode 15: A Few Final Thoughts - Coming soon!
Episode 16: Comprehensive Interpretation - Coming soon!

Bonus Mini ECG Tutorial Segments:

A NOTE TO FELLOW EDUCATORS: Feel free and welcome to use my videos for your students. All I ask is that you provide your students the direct link to my videos on YouTube or embed my video into your LMS. Thanks!

PLEASE NOTE: All of the content in this video and all other videos on this channel are solely the opinion of the creator and should NOT be used as medical advice or medical care. If you believe you have a medical condition related to the heart, you are advised to seek immediate medical attention in a hospital or medical clinic.

[melanieruiz]

The absolute best EKG 12 Lead video that I have ever found! I especially appreciate the specific attention provided on the palpating technique on both the skeleton model and the human model.

[pipervibe]

Thank you for addressing how to find the second rib. It's something that has been overlooked in many demonstrations.

[ThatClinicalInstructor]

Perfect placement, great video! My nursing and allied health students are learning EKG via Distance Learning because of COVID, and this was such a helpful video for them. Kudos!

[Jade]

Thank for this, very helpful, I have my ecg exam tomorrow after watching this I feel more confident in passing my exam.

[bblastos]

good am starting my externship for my MA; needed a refresher! have seen it in our clinic a few times excellent review! I wanted to reestablish the landmarks for finding the intercostal spaces! excellent video! please keep them coming!! thank you!

[Scarlettbri_Mini]

I'm taking an EKG class now and I have my national exam next week. This was helpful. Thank you

[karinarahma]

Finally found a tutorial that matches the exact tool like the one my hospital uses.. the explanation is also great, thank you!!

[logangriffith]

for some reason we didn't go over this in emt school. interpreting is beyond our scope of practice, but setting this up for our medic partner really helps.

[marknorris]

The limb leads should be placed on the distal aspects of the limbs, i.e., proximal to the wrists and ankles, as per AHA guidelines. Placement on the upper aspects of the limb displaces the vectors of the augmented leads, which ultimately affects the QRS axis and frontal plane amplitudes. Otherwise, nice demo of the precordial leads

[nursekamilah]

Thank you for posting this video! I will definitely be a great resource as I navigate through my transition from Medical-Telemetry Nursing to Critical Care Nursing!

[attygarland]

Should include a follow-up so that you can tell if any of the chest leads are incorrectly placed by looking at the strip (if that is possible?). Too bad there isn't some kind of sensor gizmo you can use to quickly and easily detect the ribs (and intercostal spaces) that would help make sure placement is correct, btw, kinda analogous to those "stud finders" carpenters use to detect/locate the studs behind a wall.

[dawnr]

Thank you very much for this video. I haven't performed EKGs in a long time and changed job positions in which I am performing them ALOT more, this was a great refresher. If all of my patients had the anatomy of your test subject in the video, then EKGs would be simple every time. I find my greatest challenge are females with large breasts, and it would be great if this was addressed as well. In many of those cases I'm placing the precordial leads as close as possible to where they should be, but it's still a challenge. Again, thank you for this video!

[tnami]

Great video. I have to sign off some RN’s today on their ekg placement. This video is a great crash refresher prior to administering instruction.

[bbyeileengaray]

thank you this video helped alot ill be getting tested during my zoom meeting since ill be needing it so much

[georgeneilson]

Very intelligent man. Thanks for video.

[ANonyMouse]

Wow, I was never formally trained on this as a CNA and just realized I've been doing it wrong the whole time!

[attygarland]

Always wondered why it is called a "12-lead" EKG if there are only 10 leads attached to the body. ???

[TessHere]

Your explanation is very clear. thanks. Do you have a video that shows the whole process ? Eg. after all the leads are positioned, then enter patient info etc. (even though the machines may be different in different offices ). Its been a whle and I don't get to do it often or at all where i am now. thanks. Do you have any more tips on feeling for the ribs ? I find it hard to feel for the ribs after the 3rd rib, esp when someone is more fleshy,

[mattamon]

i have trouble finding the sternal angle

[vanessaphillips]

I was hoping to see him fix the peeling off electrode ; to demonstrate how to apply tape to help hold everything in place. Also, I was hoping to see him apply all LEADs. As a beginner, this would be helpful to see the setup of procedure done entirely.