A 21-year-old student arrives at the student health center at the end of the quarter complaining that, "My heart is skipping beats." An electrocardiogram ( ECG ) shows occasional premature ventricular contractions ( 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. The patient is hemodynamically stable, so 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 Student Arrives at the Student Health Center at the End