The nurse is caring for a client with dilated cardiomyopathy who has an atrial fibrillation that has been unresponsive to drug therapy for several days. Which of the following actions should the nurse anticipate?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Atrial fibrillation therapy that has persisted for more than 48 hours requires anticoagulant treatment for 3 weeks before attempting cardioversion; this is done to prevent embolization of clots from the atria. Adenosine is not used to treat atrial fibrillation.
Cardioversion may be done after several weeks of Coumadin therapy. ICDs are used for clients with recurrent ventricular fibrillation.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Client with Dilated Cardiomyopathy