The patient's heart rate is 70 beats per minute,but the P waves come after the QRS complex.The nurse correctly determines that the patient's heart rhythm is
A) a normal junctional rhythm.
B) an accelerated junctional rhythm.
C) a junctional tachycardia.
D) atrial fibrillation.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The normal intrinsic rate for the AV node and junctional tissue is 40 to 60 beats per minute,but rates can accelerate.An accelerated junctional rhythm has a rate between 60 and 100 beats per minute,and the rate for junctional tachycardia is greater than 100 beats per minute.If P wave precedes QRS,it is inverted or upside down; the P wave may not be visible,or it may follow the QRS.If a P wave is present before the QRS,the PR interval is shortened less than 0.12 milliseconds.Atrial fibrillation arises from multiple ectopic foci in the atria,causing chaotic quivering of the atria and ineffectual atrial contraction.The AV node is bombarded with hundreds of atrial impulses and conducts these impulses in an unpredictable manner to the ventricles.

The Patient's Heart Rate Is 70 Beats Per Minute,but the P