The nurse is talking with the patient when the monitor alarms and shows a wavy baseline without a PQRST complex.The nurse should
A) defibrillate the patient immediately.
B) initiate basic life support.
C) initiate advanced life support.
D) assess the patient and the electrical leads.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ventricular fibrillation (VF)is a chaotic rhythm characterized by a quivering of the ventricles,which results in total loss of cardiac output and pulse.VF is a life-threatening emergency,and the more immediate the treatment is,the better the survival will be.VF produces a wavy baseline without a PQRST complex.Because a loose lead or electrical interference can produce a waveform similar to VF,it is always important to immediately assess the patient for pulse and consciousness.

The Nurse Is Talking with the Patient When the Monitor