A 21-year-old college student arrives at the student health center at the end of the quarter complaining, "My heart is skipping beats." The nurse obtains an ECG and notes the presence of occasional PVCs. What action should the nurse take first?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In a patient with a normal heart, occasional PVCs are a benign finding. The timing of the PVCs suggests stress or caffeine as possible etiologic factors. It is unlikely that the patient has coronary artery disease, and this should not be the first question the nurse asks. There is no indication that the patient needs to be seen in the ED or that oxygen needs to be administered.

A 21-Year-Old College Student Arrives at the Student Health Center