Know EKG for USMLE step I?

[qweewq11]

So I understand the electrophysiology behind EKG, and can do some very basic interpretation, but I am definitely not at the point where I can look at an EKG and figure out what condition a patient has.

How well do we need to know EKG for step I of the boards?

Thanks!

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[KyGrlDr2B]

Moving to usmle forum.

 

[NewGuyBob]

I think the EKG has always been a characteristically low yield topic in Step 1. I would learn about the correlation between the extent of myocardial injury and wave shape, plus how electrolyte disturbances show on the EKG (at least Ca, and K). Good Luck!

 

[kcrd]

Originally posted by qweewq11
So I understand the electrophysiology behind EKG, and can do some very basic interpretation, but I am definitely not at the point where I can look at an EKG and figure out what condition a patient has.

How well do we need to know EKG for step I of the boards?

Thanks!

I didn't have a single EKG question on my test. I think the most you would be expected to know would be what part of the cardiac cycle correlates with which wave on a basic EKG waveform.

 

[MedGeek42]

careful now...I had a question on my Step 1 where I had to figure out the direction of an impulse from the three leads I, II, and III.