A nurse determines that a patient has a heart rate of 42 beats/min. What might be a cause of this heart rate?
A) Sinoatrial (SA) node failure
B) Atrial bradycardia
C) A well-conditioned heart muscle
D) Left ventricular hypertrophy

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If the SA node is ineffective, the atrioventricular node may initiate contraction, but at a rate of 40 to 60 beats/min. The heart rate reflects the ventricular rate rather than the atrial rate. Although well-conditioned athletes may have slower heart rates, this rate is too slow for even an athlete. Left ventricular hypertrophy alters the strength of contraction rather than the heart rate.

A Nurse Determines That a Patient Has a Heart Rate