Deck 30: Car-Ing for the Patient With Dysrhythmias

Question 1

A patient is in the critical care area with ventricular tachycardia. The nurse realizes that the patient will require which action?.Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

A) Immediate assessment and probable emergency intervention
B) Cardioversion, if the ventricular tachycardia is sustained and symptomatic
C) Probable drug intervention
D) Close observation for 1 hour prior to calling the physician
E) Defibrillation to convert the rhythm in the awake patient

Answer 1

Immediate assessment and probable emergency intervention
Cardioversion, if the ventricular tachycardia is sustained and symptomatic
Probable drug intervention

Question 2

Which statement would the nurse use to describe the Q wave of an electrocardiogram tracing?

A) Rounded and upright and follows the QRS complex
B) Rounded and upright and precedes the QRS complex
C) Negative deflection following the R wave
D) First negative deflection after the P wave

Answer 2

First negative deflection after the P wave

Question 3

If the PR interval is abnormal, the nurse would assess for conditions affecting the timing of impulse transmission from which parts of the cardiac conduction system?

A) SA node to the ventricles
B) Bundle of His to the ventricles
C) AV node to the ventricles
D) Purkinje fibers to the ventricles

Answer 3

SA node to the ventricles

Question 4

The nurse is caring for a patient who develops atrial fibrillation with a heart rate above 100 beats per minute. Place the nursing actions in sequence from the highest priority to the lowest priority.
Standard Text: Click and drag the options below to move them up or down.

A) Assess the patient for comfort level and vital signs.
B) Check the patency of an intermittent IV.
C) Check the patient's chart for lab results from today's tests.
D) Call the physician to report the dysrhythmia.

Question 5

The nurse observes sinus bradycardia on a patient's cardiac monitor. Which data set indicates the patient is in need of treatment for this rhythm?

A) The patient is light-headed and complaining of chest discomfort.
B) The patient's respiratory rate is 16, blood pressure is 114/70, and the patient is pain-free.
C) The patient is alert, oriented X3, and blood pressure is 120/60, with no other complaints.
D) The patient's heart rate is 50 and blood pressure is 110/62, with no other complaints.

Question 6

A patient's electrocardiogram reveals occasional premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). The nurse manager evaluates that the newly licensed nurse understands the implications of this finding when the nurse makes which statement?

A) "PVCs are insignificant in people with no history of heart disease."
B) "PVCs typically have no pattern."
C) "The frequency of PVCs is not associated with specific events."
D) "The incidence of PVCs has no relevance to the patient having had a myocardial infarction."

Question 7

While admitting a patient to the emergency department, the nurse observes the cardiac monitor and identifies the following rhythm: one inverted P wave for every QRS complex and a regular heart rate of 46 beats per minute. How would the nurse interpret this rhythm?

A) Junctional escape rhythm
B) Mobitz II heart block
C) Normal sinus rhythm
D) Complete heart block

Question 8

The nurse is caring for a patient whose atria do not contract correctly. The nurse would expect this dysfunction to be apparent in which part of the ECG complex?

A) The P wave
B) The U wave
C) The QRS
D) The T wave

Question 9

The patient is experiencing frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). The nurse plans this patient's care based on which understanding of the clinical significance of PVCs?.Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

A) PVCs show that the rhythm is regular.
B) PVCs can be a life-threatening cardiac rhythm.
C) PVCs could become the dominant pacemaker.
D) PVCs are neither significant nor dangerous.
E) PVCs can indicate myocardial ischemia and injury.

Question 10

The nurse admits a patient into the emergency department who complains of light-headedness and nausea. During the assessment, the nurse determines that the radial pulse is 42 and regular, the QRS complex is within normal limits, and there is no measurable PR interval because there is no consistent relationship between the P waves and the QRS complexes. How would the nurse interpret this dysrhythmia?

A) Third-degree AV heart block
B) Sinus bradycardia
C) Supraventricular tachycardia
D) Sinus arrest

Question 11

Which is the priority nursing intervention for a patient with a junctional escape rhythm?

A) Assess the patient for symptoms associated with this rhythm.
B) Contact the physician immediately for emergency orders.
C) Eliminate caffeine from the diet.
D) Prepare for a pacemaker insertion.

Question 12

The nurse obtains an ECG monitor strip and makes the following analysis: no apparent P waves, ventricular rate 152 beats per minute and regular, and narrow QRS complex (
0.08). How would the nurse interpret this rhythm?

A) Ventricular fibrillation
B) Sinus tachycardia
C) Atrial fibrillation
D) Supraventricular tachycardia

Question 13

The nurse is performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a patient who is in cardiac arrest. An automatic external defibrillator (AED) is available. Which activity will allow the nurse to assess the patient's cardiac rhythm?

A) Apply adhesive patch electrodes to the chest and move away from the patient.
B) Apply standard electrocardiograph monitoring leads to the patient and observe the rhythm.
C) Hold the defibrillator paddles directly against the patient's chest.
D) Connect electrocardiograph electrodes to a telephone monitoring device and wait until the rhythm is analyzed.

Question 14

After a myocardial infarction, a patient has slowing of atrial contraction. The nurse would anticipate seeing the most evidence of this dysfunction in which part of the electrocardiogram tracing?

A) T wave configuration
B) QRS complex
C) QT interval
D) PR interval

Question 15

The nurse is notified by the cardiac monitoring technician that a patient on continuous cardiac monitoring is having frequent alarms. When the nurse enters the patient's room, the patient is in no apparent distress, sitting in the chair and eating. Which are appropriate nursing interventions?.Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

A) Confirm that lead wires are properly connected.
B) Assess the placement of electrodes.
C) Remove and reapply new electrodes if nonadherent.
D) Assess skin sites and move an electrode if the skin appears irritated.
E) Call for assistance.

Question 16

A patient is having elective synchronized cardioversion. Place the steps of the procedure in the correct order.
Standard Text: Click and drag the options below to move them up or down.

A) Verify patency of IV access.
B) Administer sedative per physician prescription.
C) Set cardioverter to "synchronize" mode.
D) Charge the cardioverter to the selected energy level.
E) Ensure that personnel are not in physical contact with the bed or patient.

Question 17

The nurse reviews an ECG tracing and determines that it is not a high-quality tracing. Which factors can negatively influence an ECG tracing?.Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

A) Patient movement during recording
B) Dense chest hair
C) Incorrect positioning of leads
D) Presence of an IV infusion pump
E) Electrodes in firm contact with the skin

Question 18

A patient received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). The nurse would include which instruction during discharge teaching for this patient?

A) "If a family member is in direct contact with you when the ICD discharges, he or she may experience a shock or tingling sensation."
B) "You can activate the ICD whenever you feel a change in your heart rhythm."
C) "The batteries of the ICD won't need to be replaced if the ICD never shocks the heart."
D) "There should be no discomfort if the ICD discharges. You probably won't notice it."

Question 19

Sinus bradycardia (rate 56 beats per minute) is identified in a sleeping patient on telemetry. Which is the priority nursing action?

A) Assess the patient's tolerance of the rhythm.
B) Call the physician and report this dysrhythmia.
C) Check the medication administration record and see if there is a PRN medication that will improve this rhythm.
D) Call for an immediate 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG).

Question 20

Loss of capture has occurred in a patient with a temporary pacemaker. Which nursing actions are required?.Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

A) Prepare for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).
B) Assess the patient to determine response to the pacemaker loss of capture.
C) Document the event by printing the ECG strip and placing it on the patient's record.
D) Ask the patient to ambulate to increase cardiac output.
E) Administer nitroglycerin sublingual one dose stat according to physician prescription.

Question 21

A patient is having occasional premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). Which finding would require immediate nursing action?

A) There are no P waves in the PVCs.
B) The heart rate is irregular.
C) A PVC occurs at the top of the T wave.
D) Two PVCs occur in one minute.

Question 22

The nurse count
3.5 large squares between two R waves on the patient's cardiac monitor tracing. The nurse calculates the patient's heart rate as _______ beats per minute. (Round to the nearest whole beat.)

Question 23

How would the nurse differentiate between the two types of second-degree heart block?

A) Assess the QT interval.
B) Assess the ventricular rate.
C) Assess PR intervals.
D) Assess the configuration of the P wave.

Question 24

A nurse analyzing a patient's cardiac monitor tracing counts 12 large squares between two events. The nurse calculates the time interval between these events at _______ second(s).

Question 25

The nurse is analyzing a cardiac monitor tracing. To accurately figure interval times, the nurse counts the smallest squares and multiplies by ________ second(s).

Question 26

The telemetry technician reports that a patient is having occasional premature atrial contractions (PACs). Which characteristics would the nurse expect when reviewing the patient's rhythm strip?.Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

A) Retrograde P waves
B) P wave early in the rhythm
C) Irregularity in the rhythm
D) Insignificant change in heart rate
E) A compensatory pause

Question 27

How would the nurse differentiate between premature atrial contractions (PACs) and premature junctional contractions (PJCs) on the patient's cardiac monitor tracing?

A) The beat in question is early in the rhythm.
B) A PJC has an inverted P wave.
C) The QRS looks essentially normal.
D) The heart rate is
60.