The nurse is caring for a client with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). The client goes into ventricular tachycardia and is pulseless. The ICD has fired twice. What action should the nurse take?

Question

The nurse is caring for a client with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).  The client goes into ventricular tachycardia and is pulseless.  The ICD has fired twice.  What action should the nurse take?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

11ecbb05_cafb_c243_b433_333ebea01aee_MD0009_00 The client with an ICD that is firing is receiving electrical shocks from the internal defibrillator to interrupt the dysrhythmia. It is still imperative that the client receive chest compressions in the form of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to provide circulation of blood to the vital organs. The nurse should implement the pulseless arrest algorithm, allowing 30-60 seconds for the ICD to complete its therapy cycle before applying external defibrillation pads/paddles. (Option A) Epinephrine should be administered after CPR and defibrillation. (Option B) The ICD is firing as it was programmed to do. It should not be deactivated. (Option D) The nurse should let the ICD work but needs to implement CPR in addition. Educational objective: The ICD is designed to defibrillate potentially life-threatening dysrhythmias. Although the device is able to sense electrical activity of the heart and respond, it is unable to sense or treat pulselessness. CPR should be initiated in the pulseless client with an ICD.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Client with an Implantable