A 21-year-old college student arrives at the student health centre 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

PVCs (premature ventricular contractions) are a type of arrhythmia that can be triggered by factors such as stress and caffeine. Therefore, the nurse should first assess the patient's current stress level and caffeine use to determine if these may be contributing to the PVCs. Asking about a history of coronary artery disease and administering oxygen would not be the first priority in this situation, and transporting the patient to the hospital ED may not be necessary unless the PVCs are frequent or prolonged.

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