RELIAS DYSRHYTHMIA BASIC TEST ANSWERS
2024 (A+ GRADED 100% VERIFIED BY EXPERT)
dysrhythmia aka arrhythmia - Correct answer - abnormal cardiac rhythms
which can cause disturbances of:
rate, rhythm, or both rate and rhythm
how are dysrhythmias identified? - Correct answer Electrographic Waveform Analysis
(ECG)
what controls the rate and rhythm of the heartbeat? - Correct answer the heart's
electrical system
explain the heart's electrical system - Correct answer Each electrical signal (impulse)
begins in a group of cells called the sinus node or sinoatrial (SA) node. The SA node is
located in the right atrium. In a healthy adult heart at rest, the SA node sends an
electrical signal to begin a new heartbeat 60 to 100 times a minute. (This rate may be
slower in very fit athletes.)
From the SA node, the electrical signal travels through the right and left atria. It causes
the atria to contract and pump blood into the ventricles.
The electrical signal then moves down to a group of cells called the atrioventricular (AV)
node, located between the atria and the ventricles. Here, the signal slows down slightly,
allowing the ventricles time to finish filling with blood.
The electrical signal then leaves the AV node and travels to the ventricles. It causes the
ventricles to contract and pump blood to the lungs and the rest of the body. The
ventricles then relax, and the heartbeat process starts all over again in the SA node.
normal sinus rhythm (characteristics) - Correct answer 1. Rate:60-100 beats/min
Rhythm: regular
2. P wave: upright .06-.12 sec
3. PR interval: .12-.20 sec
4. QRS complex: <.03 sec
Sinus Bradycardia - Correct answer in sinus bradycardia, the conduction pathway is the
same but the impulse generates in the SA node slower than usual causing a slowed
heart rate >60
-symptomatic sinus bradycardia refers to a HR >60 and is inadequate for the patients
condition causing symptoms
sinus bradycardia (ECG characteristics) - Correct answer 1. Rate: < 60 beats/min
[Date] 1
,RELIAS DYSRHYTHMIA BASIC TEST ANSWERS
2024 (A+ GRADED 100% VERIFIED BY EXPERT)
Rhythm: regular
2. P wave: Normal
3. PR interval: Normal
4. QRS complex: Normal
sinus bradycardia clinical associations - Correct answer 1. may be a normal in
ATHLETES and during SLEEP
2. occurs in response to:
carotid sinus massage
Valsalva maneuver
hypothermia
increased intraocular pressure
vagal stimulation
and certain drugs ( Bblockers, Ca channel blockers)
3. disease states associated with it:
hypothyroidism
increased intracranial pressure
hypoglycemia
inferior MI
Sinus Bradycardia: Clinical Significance - Correct answer clinical significance of sinus
bradycardia depends on how the pt tolerates it.
S&S of symptomatic sinus bradycardia include:
pale, cool skin
hypotension
weakness
angina
dizziness/syncope
confusion/disorientation
shortness of breath
treatment for symptomatic sinus bradycardia - Correct answer atropine (anticholinergic)
transcutaneous pacing
dopamine/epinephrine infusion
permanent pacemaker
[Date] 2
, RELIAS DYSRHYTHMIA BASIC TEST ANSWERS
2024 (A+ GRADED 100% VERIFIED BY EXPERT)
if due to drugs, drugs may be held
transcutaneous pacing - Correct answer aka external pacing. Temporary means of
pacing a patient's heart during a medical emergency, accomplished by delivering pulses
of electric current through the patient's chest, which stimulates the heart to contract. The
most common indication for transcutaneous pacing is an abnormally slow heart rate.
-pads are placed on the patient's chest. anterior/posterior position is preferred.
"Sandwiching" the heart between the two pads minimizes transthoracic electrical
impedance
Sinus Tachycardia - Correct answer rate is faster than usual but rhythm is normal.
impulse is generated quicker than normal in SA node
sinus tachycardia (characteristics) - Correct answer 1. Rate:101-200 beats/min
Rhythm: regular
2. P wave: Normal
3. PR interval: Normal
4. QRS complex: Normal
Sinus Tachycardia: Clinical Associations - Correct answer associated with physiologic
and psychologic stressors
or drugs
Sinus Tachycardia: Clinical Significance - Correct answer depends on pts tolerance of
the increased HR
- may have
dizziness, dyspnea, and hypotension because of decreased CO
Sinus Tachycardia: Treatment - Correct answer underlying cause of tachycardia guides
the treatment
-ex: if pt is experiencing tachycardia from pain, effective pain management is important
to treat tachycardia
- in clinically stable pts, vagal maneuvers can be attempted. In addition, IV Bblockers
can be given to decrease HR and decrease myocardial oxygen consumption
Premature Atrial Contraction (PAC) - Correct answer a PAC is a contraction starting at
an ectopic focus in the atrium and coming sooner than the next expected sinus beat
-P wave is abnormally shaped bc the impulse travels across the atria in an abnormal
pathway
[Date] 3
2024 (A+ GRADED 100% VERIFIED BY EXPERT)
dysrhythmia aka arrhythmia - Correct answer - abnormal cardiac rhythms
which can cause disturbances of:
rate, rhythm, or both rate and rhythm
how are dysrhythmias identified? - Correct answer Electrographic Waveform Analysis
(ECG)
what controls the rate and rhythm of the heartbeat? - Correct answer the heart's
electrical system
explain the heart's electrical system - Correct answer Each electrical signal (impulse)
begins in a group of cells called the sinus node or sinoatrial (SA) node. The SA node is
located in the right atrium. In a healthy adult heart at rest, the SA node sends an
electrical signal to begin a new heartbeat 60 to 100 times a minute. (This rate may be
slower in very fit athletes.)
From the SA node, the electrical signal travels through the right and left atria. It causes
the atria to contract and pump blood into the ventricles.
The electrical signal then moves down to a group of cells called the atrioventricular (AV)
node, located between the atria and the ventricles. Here, the signal slows down slightly,
allowing the ventricles time to finish filling with blood.
The electrical signal then leaves the AV node and travels to the ventricles. It causes the
ventricles to contract and pump blood to the lungs and the rest of the body. The
ventricles then relax, and the heartbeat process starts all over again in the SA node.
normal sinus rhythm (characteristics) - Correct answer 1. Rate:60-100 beats/min
Rhythm: regular
2. P wave: upright .06-.12 sec
3. PR interval: .12-.20 sec
4. QRS complex: <.03 sec
Sinus Bradycardia - Correct answer in sinus bradycardia, the conduction pathway is the
same but the impulse generates in the SA node slower than usual causing a slowed
heart rate >60
-symptomatic sinus bradycardia refers to a HR >60 and is inadequate for the patients
condition causing symptoms
sinus bradycardia (ECG characteristics) - Correct answer 1. Rate: < 60 beats/min
[Date] 1
,RELIAS DYSRHYTHMIA BASIC TEST ANSWERS
2024 (A+ GRADED 100% VERIFIED BY EXPERT)
Rhythm: regular
2. P wave: Normal
3. PR interval: Normal
4. QRS complex: Normal
sinus bradycardia clinical associations - Correct answer 1. may be a normal in
ATHLETES and during SLEEP
2. occurs in response to:
carotid sinus massage
Valsalva maneuver
hypothermia
increased intraocular pressure
vagal stimulation
and certain drugs ( Bblockers, Ca channel blockers)
3. disease states associated with it:
hypothyroidism
increased intracranial pressure
hypoglycemia
inferior MI
Sinus Bradycardia: Clinical Significance - Correct answer clinical significance of sinus
bradycardia depends on how the pt tolerates it.
S&S of symptomatic sinus bradycardia include:
pale, cool skin
hypotension
weakness
angina
dizziness/syncope
confusion/disorientation
shortness of breath
treatment for symptomatic sinus bradycardia - Correct answer atropine (anticholinergic)
transcutaneous pacing
dopamine/epinephrine infusion
permanent pacemaker
[Date] 2
, RELIAS DYSRHYTHMIA BASIC TEST ANSWERS
2024 (A+ GRADED 100% VERIFIED BY EXPERT)
if due to drugs, drugs may be held
transcutaneous pacing - Correct answer aka external pacing. Temporary means of
pacing a patient's heart during a medical emergency, accomplished by delivering pulses
of electric current through the patient's chest, which stimulates the heart to contract. The
most common indication for transcutaneous pacing is an abnormally slow heart rate.
-pads are placed on the patient's chest. anterior/posterior position is preferred.
"Sandwiching" the heart between the two pads minimizes transthoracic electrical
impedance
Sinus Tachycardia - Correct answer rate is faster than usual but rhythm is normal.
impulse is generated quicker than normal in SA node
sinus tachycardia (characteristics) - Correct answer 1. Rate:101-200 beats/min
Rhythm: regular
2. P wave: Normal
3. PR interval: Normal
4. QRS complex: Normal
Sinus Tachycardia: Clinical Associations - Correct answer associated with physiologic
and psychologic stressors
or drugs
Sinus Tachycardia: Clinical Significance - Correct answer depends on pts tolerance of
the increased HR
- may have
dizziness, dyspnea, and hypotension because of decreased CO
Sinus Tachycardia: Treatment - Correct answer underlying cause of tachycardia guides
the treatment
-ex: if pt is experiencing tachycardia from pain, effective pain management is important
to treat tachycardia
- in clinically stable pts, vagal maneuvers can be attempted. In addition, IV Bblockers
can be given to decrease HR and decrease myocardial oxygen consumption
Premature Atrial Contraction (PAC) - Correct answer a PAC is a contraction starting at
an ectopic focus in the atrium and coming sooner than the next expected sinus beat
-P wave is abnormally shaped bc the impulse travels across the atria in an abnormal
pathway
[Date] 3
