An employee brings a co-worker to the ED after the co-worker fainted.The co-worker is non-responsive to verbal commands; peripheral pulses are weak and thready; the skin is cool, clammy, and moist; respirations are shallow and tachypneic; BP is 80/40; and the cardiac monitor shows third-degree AV block.The nurse should anticipate which of the following first?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms and the cardiac monitor showing third-degree AV block indicate a severe disruption in the heart's electrical system, necessitating the insertion of a temporary pacemaker to maintain an adequate heart rate and cardiac output.

An Employee Brings a Co-Worker to the ED After the Co-Worker