RELIAS DYSRHYTHMIA BASIC TEST 2026
PRACTICE QUESTION SET ONE
◉ A nurse is teaching the client about the causes of fast heart rates.
What client statement indicates the client requires more teaching?
A. "I will cut back on my smoking and drinking alcohol."
B. "If I take my metoprolol daily, I will be able to control my heart
rate."
C. "I will drink coffee with only two of my meals."
D. "I will take my levothyroxine daily." Answer: C. "I will drink coffee
with only two of my meals."
Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system with caffeinated
beverages, smoking, and drinking alcohol increases heart rate.The
client is still drinking caffeine with two meals, increasing the risk for
a fast heart rate. Taking medications such as metoprolol and
levothyroxine will help the client maintain a normal heart rate by
decreasing stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system.
,◉ The nurse is proving discharge instructions for a client with a new
arrhythmia. Which statement should the nurse include?
A. It is not necessary to learn how to take your own pulse.
B. If you miss a dose of your antiarrhythmia medication, double up
on the next dose.
C. Your family and friends may want to take a CPR class.
D. Do not be concerned if you experience symptoms of
lightheadedness and dizziness. Answer: C. Your family and friends
may want to take a CPR class.
Having friends and family learn to perform CPR will help the client
manage the arrhythmia. Monitoring pulse rate at home also helps
the client manage the condition. Antiarrhythmic medication should
be taken on time. Lightheadedness and dizziness should be reported
to the provider.
◉ A client reports light-headedness, chest pain, and shortness of
breath. They physician orders tests to ascertain what is causing the
client's problems. Which test is used to identify cardiac rhythms?
,A. electrocautery
B. electrocardiogram
C. echocardiogram
D. electroencephalogram Answer: B. electrocardiogram
An electrocardiogram is used to identify normal and abnormal
cardiac rhythms.
◉ The nurse is caring for a client with second-degree
atrioventricular block, Type I with symptomatic bradycardia. What
is the most likely medication the nurse will administer?
A. diltazem
B. atropine sulfate
C. atenolol
D. nadolol Answer: B. atropine sulfate
, Atropine blocks acetylcholine at parasympathetic neuroeffector sites
and blocks vagal stimulation. The client will be treated with an
anticholinergic that blocks the effects of the vagal nerve. Atenolol
and nadolol are beta blockers that are used for chest pain,
myocardial infarction, and hypertension. Diltazem is a calcium
channel blocker used to treat angina or slow the heart rate.
◉ To evaluate a client's atrial depolarization, the nurse observes
which part of the electrocardiogram waveform?
A. T wave
B. QRS complex
C. P wave
D. PR interval Answer: C. P wave
The P wave depicts atrial depolarization, or spread of the electrical
impulse from the sinoatrial node through the atria. The PR interval
represents spread of the impulse through the interatrial and
internodal fibers, atrioventricular node, bundle of His, and Purkinje
fibers. The QRS complex represents ventricular depolarization. The
PRACTICE QUESTION SET ONE
◉ A nurse is teaching the client about the causes of fast heart rates.
What client statement indicates the client requires more teaching?
A. "I will cut back on my smoking and drinking alcohol."
B. "If I take my metoprolol daily, I will be able to control my heart
rate."
C. "I will drink coffee with only two of my meals."
D. "I will take my levothyroxine daily." Answer: C. "I will drink coffee
with only two of my meals."
Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system with caffeinated
beverages, smoking, and drinking alcohol increases heart rate.The
client is still drinking caffeine with two meals, increasing the risk for
a fast heart rate. Taking medications such as metoprolol and
levothyroxine will help the client maintain a normal heart rate by
decreasing stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system.
,◉ The nurse is proving discharge instructions for a client with a new
arrhythmia. Which statement should the nurse include?
A. It is not necessary to learn how to take your own pulse.
B. If you miss a dose of your antiarrhythmia medication, double up
on the next dose.
C. Your family and friends may want to take a CPR class.
D. Do not be concerned if you experience symptoms of
lightheadedness and dizziness. Answer: C. Your family and friends
may want to take a CPR class.
Having friends and family learn to perform CPR will help the client
manage the arrhythmia. Monitoring pulse rate at home also helps
the client manage the condition. Antiarrhythmic medication should
be taken on time. Lightheadedness and dizziness should be reported
to the provider.
◉ A client reports light-headedness, chest pain, and shortness of
breath. They physician orders tests to ascertain what is causing the
client's problems. Which test is used to identify cardiac rhythms?
,A. electrocautery
B. electrocardiogram
C. echocardiogram
D. electroencephalogram Answer: B. electrocardiogram
An electrocardiogram is used to identify normal and abnormal
cardiac rhythms.
◉ The nurse is caring for a client with second-degree
atrioventricular block, Type I with symptomatic bradycardia. What
is the most likely medication the nurse will administer?
A. diltazem
B. atropine sulfate
C. atenolol
D. nadolol Answer: B. atropine sulfate
, Atropine blocks acetylcholine at parasympathetic neuroeffector sites
and blocks vagal stimulation. The client will be treated with an
anticholinergic that blocks the effects of the vagal nerve. Atenolol
and nadolol are beta blockers that are used for chest pain,
myocardial infarction, and hypertension. Diltazem is a calcium
channel blocker used to treat angina or slow the heart rate.
◉ To evaluate a client's atrial depolarization, the nurse observes
which part of the electrocardiogram waveform?
A. T wave
B. QRS complex
C. P wave
D. PR interval Answer: C. P wave
The P wave depicts atrial depolarization, or spread of the electrical
impulse from the sinoatrial node through the atria. The PR interval
represents spread of the impulse through the interatrial and
internodal fibers, atrioventricular node, bundle of His, and Purkinje
fibers. The QRS complex represents ventricular depolarization. The
