The nurse obtains a rhythm strip on a patient who has had a myocardial infarction and makes the following analysis: no visible P waves,PR interval not measurable,ventricular rate of 162,R-R interval regular,and QRS complex wide and distorted,and QRS duration of 0.18 second. The nurse interprets the patient's cardiac rhythm as

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The absence of P waves,wide QRS,rate greater than 150 beats/min,and the regularity of the rhythm indicate ventricular tachycardia. Atrial flutter is usually regular,has a narrow QRS configuration,and has flutter waves present representing atrial activity. Sinus tachycardia has P waves. Ventricular fibrillation is irregular and does not have a consistent QRS duration.

The Nurse Obtains a Rhythm Strip on a Patient Who