Relias Dysrhythmia Exam A and B exam
2026 Relias Dysrhythmia Exam A and B
Combined Practice Exam Questions and
Answers with Rationales
The first 25 questions provide a solid foundation in ECG interpretation, rhythm recognition, conduction
abnormalities, electrolyte effects, and initial management principles commonly emphasized in
dysrhythmia education programs.
1. Which ECG component represents ventricular depolarization?
A. P wave
B. PR interval
C. ✅✅ QRS complex
D. T wave
Answer: ✅✅ C
Rationale: The QRS complex represents ventricular depolarization. A normal QRS duration is
typically less than 0.12 second.
2. The P wave represents:
A. Ventricular repolarization
B. ✅✅ Atrial depolarization
C. Ventricular depolarization
D. AV node conduction
Answer: ✅✅ B
Rationale: The P wave reflects electrical activation of the atria before atrial contraction.
3. What is the normal resting adult heart rate?
A. 40–60 bpm
B. ✅✅ 60–100 bpm
C. 100–140 bpm
D. 120–160 bpm
, Relias Dysrhythmia Exam A and B exam
Answer: ✅✅ B
Rationale: A normal sinus rhythm generally has a rate between 60 and 100 beats per minute in
adults.
4. Which dysrhythmia is characterized by an irregularly irregular rhythm with
no distinct P waves?
A. Atrial flutter
B. ✅✅ Atrial fibrillation
C. Sinus tachycardia
D. Junctional rhythm
Answer: ✅✅ B
Rationale: Atrial fibrillation produces chaotic atrial activity, absent organized P waves, and an
irregularly irregular ventricular response.
5. Which rhythm is most commonly associated with a "sawtooth" pattern?
A. Ventricular tachycardia
B. ✅✅ Atrial flutter
C. Sinus bradycardia
D. First-degree AV block
Answer: ✅✅ B
Rationale: Atrial flutter produces characteristic flutter (F) waves with a sawtooth appearance.
6. Which electrolyte abnormality is commonly associated with peaked T waves?
A. Hypokalemia
B. ✅✅ Hyperkalemia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hyponatremia
Answer: ✅✅ B
, Relias Dysrhythmia Exam A and B exam
Rationale: Hyperkalemia classically causes tall, peaked T waves and may progress to widened
QRS complexes and life-threatening arrhythmias.
7. A PR interval consistently greater than 0.20 second indicates:
A. Second-degree AV block Type II
B. ✅✅ First-degree AV block
C. Complete heart block
D. Junctional tachycardia
Answer: ✅✅ B
Rationale: First-degree AV block is characterized by a prolonged but constant PR interval.
8. Which rhythm requires immediate defibrillation if the patient is pulseless?
A. Sinus bradycardia
B. Atrial fibrillation
C. ✅✅ Ventricular fibrillation
D. First-degree AV block
Answer: ✅✅ C
Rationale: Pulseless ventricular fibrillation is a shockable rhythm requiring immediate
defibrillation and high-quality CPR.
9. Which ECG interval reflects conduction from the atria through the AV node?
A. QT interval
B. ✅✅ PR interval
C. ST segment
D. RR interval
Answer: ✅✅ B
Rationale: The PR interval measures conduction from the onset of atrial depolarization to the
onset of ventricular depolarization.
, Relias Dysrhythmia Exam A and B exam
10. Which rhythm originates from the sinoatrial (SA) node?
A. Ventricular tachycardia
B. ✅✅ Normal sinus rhythm
C. Junctional rhythm
D. Idioventricular rhythm
Answer: ✅✅ B
Rationale: Normal sinus rhythm originates in the SA node, the heart's natural pacemaker.
11. A heart rate below 60 beats/minute is termed:
A. Tachycardia
B. ✅✅ Bradycardia
C. Fibrillation
D. Flutter
Answer: ✅✅ B
Rationale: Bradycardia is defined as a heart rate below 60 bpm in adults, though clinical
significance depends on symptoms and context.
12. Which dysrhythmia commonly results from enhanced automaticity during
stress or exercise?
A. Complete heart block
B. ✅✅ Sinus tachycardia
C. Ventricular fibrillation
D. Asystole
Answer: ✅✅ B
Rationale: Sinus tachycardia is often a physiologic response to exercise, fever, pain, anxiety, or
hypovolemia.
13. Which rhythm is characterized by premature, wide QRS complexes without
preceding P waves?
2026 Relias Dysrhythmia Exam A and B
Combined Practice Exam Questions and
Answers with Rationales
The first 25 questions provide a solid foundation in ECG interpretation, rhythm recognition, conduction
abnormalities, electrolyte effects, and initial management principles commonly emphasized in
dysrhythmia education programs.
1. Which ECG component represents ventricular depolarization?
A. P wave
B. PR interval
C. ✅✅ QRS complex
D. T wave
Answer: ✅✅ C
Rationale: The QRS complex represents ventricular depolarization. A normal QRS duration is
typically less than 0.12 second.
2. The P wave represents:
A. Ventricular repolarization
B. ✅✅ Atrial depolarization
C. Ventricular depolarization
D. AV node conduction
Answer: ✅✅ B
Rationale: The P wave reflects electrical activation of the atria before atrial contraction.
3. What is the normal resting adult heart rate?
A. 40–60 bpm
B. ✅✅ 60–100 bpm
C. 100–140 bpm
D. 120–160 bpm
, Relias Dysrhythmia Exam A and B exam
Answer: ✅✅ B
Rationale: A normal sinus rhythm generally has a rate between 60 and 100 beats per minute in
adults.
4. Which dysrhythmia is characterized by an irregularly irregular rhythm with
no distinct P waves?
A. Atrial flutter
B. ✅✅ Atrial fibrillation
C. Sinus tachycardia
D. Junctional rhythm
Answer: ✅✅ B
Rationale: Atrial fibrillation produces chaotic atrial activity, absent organized P waves, and an
irregularly irregular ventricular response.
5. Which rhythm is most commonly associated with a "sawtooth" pattern?
A. Ventricular tachycardia
B. ✅✅ Atrial flutter
C. Sinus bradycardia
D. First-degree AV block
Answer: ✅✅ B
Rationale: Atrial flutter produces characteristic flutter (F) waves with a sawtooth appearance.
6. Which electrolyte abnormality is commonly associated with peaked T waves?
A. Hypokalemia
B. ✅✅ Hyperkalemia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hyponatremia
Answer: ✅✅ B
, Relias Dysrhythmia Exam A and B exam
Rationale: Hyperkalemia classically causes tall, peaked T waves and may progress to widened
QRS complexes and life-threatening arrhythmias.
7. A PR interval consistently greater than 0.20 second indicates:
A. Second-degree AV block Type II
B. ✅✅ First-degree AV block
C. Complete heart block
D. Junctional tachycardia
Answer: ✅✅ B
Rationale: First-degree AV block is characterized by a prolonged but constant PR interval.
8. Which rhythm requires immediate defibrillation if the patient is pulseless?
A. Sinus bradycardia
B. Atrial fibrillation
C. ✅✅ Ventricular fibrillation
D. First-degree AV block
Answer: ✅✅ C
Rationale: Pulseless ventricular fibrillation is a shockable rhythm requiring immediate
defibrillation and high-quality CPR.
9. Which ECG interval reflects conduction from the atria through the AV node?
A. QT interval
B. ✅✅ PR interval
C. ST segment
D. RR interval
Answer: ✅✅ B
Rationale: The PR interval measures conduction from the onset of atrial depolarization to the
onset of ventricular depolarization.
, Relias Dysrhythmia Exam A and B exam
10. Which rhythm originates from the sinoatrial (SA) node?
A. Ventricular tachycardia
B. ✅✅ Normal sinus rhythm
C. Junctional rhythm
D. Idioventricular rhythm
Answer: ✅✅ B
Rationale: Normal sinus rhythm originates in the SA node, the heart's natural pacemaker.
11. A heart rate below 60 beats/minute is termed:
A. Tachycardia
B. ✅✅ Bradycardia
C. Fibrillation
D. Flutter
Answer: ✅✅ B
Rationale: Bradycardia is defined as a heart rate below 60 bpm in adults, though clinical
significance depends on symptoms and context.
12. Which dysrhythmia commonly results from enhanced automaticity during
stress or exercise?
A. Complete heart block
B. ✅✅ Sinus tachycardia
C. Ventricular fibrillation
D. Asystole
Answer: ✅✅ B
Rationale: Sinus tachycardia is often a physiologic response to exercise, fever, pain, anxiety, or
hypovolemia.
13. Which rhythm is characterized by premature, wide QRS complexes without
preceding P waves?
