DYSRHYTHMIA NCLEX QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
YouA2areA2theA2nurseA2workingA2onA2theA2telemetryA2unitA2andA2youA2haveA2finallyA2gotten
A2toA2sitA2downA2toA2workA2onA2someA2charting.A2SuddenlyA2theA2heartA2monitorsA2atA2theA
2stationA2startA2beeping.A2PatientA2inA2roomA218A2isA2showingA2thisA2rhythmA2onA2theA2mo
nitor.A2TheA2medicalA2teamA2advancesA2togetherA2intoA2theA2roomA2andA2findsA2themA2un
conscious.A2WhatA2isA2priorityA2actionA2byA2theA2nurse?
A)A2PrepareA2toA2administerA2adenosineA2toA2theA2patient
B)A2BeginA2chestA2compressions
C)A2PrepareA2forA2defibrillation
D)A2CheckA2forA2aA2pulseA2-A2Ans--
Answer:A2D.A2AA2pulseA2wouldA2beA2assessedA2forA2first.A2ThenA2theA2patientA2willA2beA2de
fibrillizedA2andA2chestA2compressionsA2willA2beginA2immediately.
TheA2nurseA2seesA2theA2followingA2rhythmA2onA2theA2monitor.A2WhichA2ofA2theA2followingA2
labA2valuesA2doesA2theA2nurseA2identifyA2asA2beingA2mostA2likelyA2toA2haveA2causedA2thisA
2dysrhythmia?
a)A2KA23.0
b)A2CaA210.5
c)A2HgbA29
d)A2MagnesiumA22.1A2-A2Ans--
Answer:A2C.A2AnemiaA2canA2contributeA2toA2sinusA2tachycardia.
TheA2patientA2whoA2hasA2recentlyA2beenA2experiencingA2runsA2ofA2ventricularA2tachycardi
aA2suddenlyA2losesA2consciousness.A2TheA2patientA2isA2defibrillated,A2andA2theA2rateA2retu
rnsA2asA2theA2following.A2WhatA2shouldA2theA2nurseA2doA2first?
A)A2BeginA2compressions
B)A2ShockA2theA2clientA2againA2immediately
C)A2PrepareA2forA2intubation
D)A2AdministerA2adenosineA2-A2Ans--
Answer:A2A.A2FollowingA2defibrillation,A2CPRA2isA2immediatelyA2initiatedA2ifA2aA2perfusable
A2rhythmA2isA2notA2initiated.A2TheA2clientA2mayA2needA2toA2beA2shockedA2again,A2butA2ches
tA2compressionsA2mustA2beginA2first.
AA2patientA2withA2cardiomyopathyA2hasA2beenA2givenA2anA2ICD.A2WhichA2ofA2theA2followin
gA2medicationsA2wouldA2theA2nurseA2expectA2toA2seeA2inA2theA2MARA2forA2thisA2patient?
A)A2Warfarin
B)A2Cardizem
C)A2Nitroglycerin
D)A2DigoxinA2-A2Ans--
Answer:A2B.A2AntiarrhythmicA2medicationsA2areA2prescribedA2withA2theA2useA2ofA2anA2ICD
A2inA2orderA2toA2preventA2theA2tachycardicA2(orA2otherA2deadlyA2arrhythmia)A2fromA2occurri
,ngA2inA2theA2firstA2place.A2ThisA2makesA2sureA2thatA2theA2ICDA2isA2usedA2onlyA2whenA2abs
olutelyA2necessary.
TheA2patientA2withA2aA2historyA2ofA2hypertensionA2andA2diabetesA2hasA2theA2followingA2rhy
thmA2strip.A2TheA2patient'sA2vitalsA2areA2asA2follows:A2BPA2145/89,A2HRA290,A2SpO2A295%,
A2RRA219.A2WhichA2ofA2theA2followingA2doesA2theA2nurseA2expectA2toA2doA2atA2thisA2time?
a)A2PrepareA2theA2clientA2forA2cardioversionA2STAT
b)A2BeginA2administeringA2anticoagulants
c)A2GrabA2theA2crashA2cartA2forA2administrationA2ofA2adenosine
d)A2TeachA2theA2clientA2aboutA2possibilityA2ofA2pacemakerA2installationA2-A2Ans--
Answer:A2B.A2AtrialA2flutterA2placesA2theA2clientA2atA2highA2riskA2forA2developmentA2ofA2clot
A2formationA2inA2theA2atria.A2BecauseA2theA2clientA2isA2stableA2atA2thisA2time,A2cardioversio
nA2orA2adenosineA2wouldA2notA2beA2performedA2atA2thisA2time.A2BeforeA2cardioversionA2ca
nA2occurA2inA2aA2patient,A2anticoagulantA2therapyA2shouldA2beA2begunA2atA2leastA248A2hou
rsA2beforehandA2ifA2possible.
TheA2nurseA2isA2preparingA2toA2administerA2adenosineA2toA2theA2patientA2withA2theA2followi
ngA2rhythmA2whichA2isA2symptomatic.A2WhatA2shouldA2theA2nurseA2planA2onA2havingA2inA2t
heA2patientA2room?
a)A2Physician
b)A2CrashA2cart
c)A2IVA2pump
d)A2EKGA2monitor
e)A2LidocaineA2-A2Ans--
Answer:A2A,A2B,A2andA2D.A2AdenosineA2isA2administeredA2asA2aA2veryA2quickA2IVA2push.A2
TheA2physicianA2mustA2beA2presentA2inA2theA2roomA2andA2theA2crashA2cartA2mustA2beA2onA
2hand.A2AnA2ekgA2monitorA2shouldA2beA2inA2theA2roomA2toA2monitorA2theA2effectivenessA2o
fA2theA2medication.
TheA2nurseA2hasA2justA2administeredA2adenosineA2viaA2IVA2pushA2andA2seesA2theA2followi
ngA2rhythmA2onA2theA2monitor.A2WhatA2isA2theA2nurse'sA2priorityA2intervention?
a)A2ApplyA2conductiveA2gelA2andA2defibrillateA2theA2patient
b)A2DocumentA2theA2findingsA2andA2continueA2toA2monitor
c)A2AdministerA2anotherA2mgA2ofA2theA2medication
d)A2BeginA2chestA2compressionsA2-A2Ans--
Answer:A2B.A2ThisA2findingA2wouldA2beA2expectedA2uponA2administrationA2ofA2adenosine.A
2TheA2rhythmA2shouldA2thenA2beginA2againA2inA2someA2otherA2rhythm,A2hopefullyA2normal
A2sinusA2rhythm.A2ItA2wouldA2beA2importantA2toA2documentA2theA2exactA2timeA2ofA2thisA2cha
ngeA2andA2continueA2toA2monitorA2theA2changeA2backA2toA2NSR.A2IfA2thisA2changeA2doesA2
notA2occur,A2orA2ifA2anotherA2rhythmA2isA2produced,A2appropriateA2actionA2wouldA2thenA2b
eA2takenA2basedA2onA2theA2result.
You,A2theA2nurse,A2noteA2theA2followingA2rhythmA2onA2theA2EKGA2monitorA2forA2aA2patientA
2namedA2billy.A2WhatA2isA2theA2firstA2thingA2theA2nurseA2shouldA2do?
a)A2CheckA2forA2aA2pulse
b)A2TellA2BillyA2toA2tryA2toA2poop
, c)A2PrepareA2toA2defibrillateA2billy
d)A2PrepareA2toA2administerA2AmiodoroneA2-A2Ans--
Answer:A2B.A2WithA2SVTA2(SupraventricularA2tachycardia),A2theA2firstA2thingA2toA2doA2woul
dA2beA2toA2instructA2theA2pt.A2toA2performA2theA2ValsalvaA2maneuverA2byA2bearingA2down.
AA2groupA2ofA2nursingA2studentsA2areA2discussingA2atrialA2flutter.A2TheseA2studentsA2reco
gnizeA2thatA2whichA2ofA2theA2followingA2areA2seenA2withA2atrialA2flutter?
A2SelectA2allA2thatA2apply:
1)A2VentricularA2rateA2ofA2220-300A2bpm.
2)A2RegularA2rhythm
3)A2Saw-toothA2pattern
4)A2MeasurableA2PRA2intervalA2
5)A2LongA2QRSA2intervalA2-A2Ans--Answer(s):A22,A23
TheA2ATRIALA2rateA2isA2220-300A2bpm.A2VentricularA2isA2aboutA275-
150.A2TheA2rhythmA2isA2regular,A2withA2theA2PA2waveA2appearingA2asA2littleA2flutterA2orA2aA2
"sawA2toothA2pattern".A2TheA2PRA2intervalA2isA2notA2measurableA2r/tA2thisA2saw-
toothA2PA2wave.A2TheA2QRSA2isA2normal.
AA2nursingA2studentA2isA2awareA2thatA2whichA2ofA2theA2followingA2isA2theA2treatmentA2forA2
unstableA2atrialA2flutter?
1)A2AdenosineA2(Adenocard)A26A2mgA2rapidA2IVP.
2)A2CardioversionA2withA2adjacentA2HeparinA2therapy
3)A2DefibrillationA2STATA2followedA2byA2CPR.
4)A2AltemoseA23A2mgA2IVPA2overA21-2A2seconds.A2-A2Ans--Answer:A22)A2
CardioversionA2isA2usedA2ifA2theA2patientA2isA2unstable.A2AnticoagulantsA2areA2usedA2ifA2th
eA2arrhythmiaA2hasA2stuckA2aroundA2forA248A2hrA2+.A2AdenosineA2mayA2beA2usedA2withA2aA
2narrowA2QRSA2andA2regularA2RRA2interval.A2IA2madeA2upA2Altemose.
AA2nurseA2workingA2onA2aA2CVTA2unitA2receivesA2reportA2fromA2dayA2shift.A2AfterA2receivin
gA2report,A2whichA2patientA2shouldA2theA2nurseA2seeA2first?
1)A2AA223-year-oldA2professionalA2tennisA2playerA2withA2aA2HRA2ofA247A2bpm.
2)A2AA269-year-oldA2maleA2withA2atrialA2fibrillationA2whoA2hasA2newA2onsetA2confusion.
3)A2AA272-year-
oldA2femaleA2withA2atrialA2flutterA2whoA2reportsA2feelingA2unusuallyA2tiredA2todayA2andA2ye
sterday.
4)A2AA233-year-oldA2femaleA2withA2sinusA2tachycardiaA2whoA2isA2askingA2forA2herA2at-
homeA2Metoprolol.A2-A2Ans--Answer:A22)
PatientsA2withA2a-
fibA2areA2atA2riskA2forA2pulmonaryA2andA2systemicA2emboli,A2andA2newA2onsetA2ofA2confusi
onA2mayA2indicateA2aA2strokeA2inA2thisA2patient.A2PatientsA2withA2atrialA2flutterA2mayA2feelA2
moreA2tiredA2someA2daysA2thanA2others.
CORRECT ANSWERS
YouA2areA2theA2nurseA2workingA2onA2theA2telemetryA2unitA2andA2youA2haveA2finallyA2gotten
A2toA2sitA2downA2toA2workA2onA2someA2charting.A2SuddenlyA2theA2heartA2monitorsA2atA2theA
2stationA2startA2beeping.A2PatientA2inA2roomA218A2isA2showingA2thisA2rhythmA2onA2theA2mo
nitor.A2TheA2medicalA2teamA2advancesA2togetherA2intoA2theA2roomA2andA2findsA2themA2un
conscious.A2WhatA2isA2priorityA2actionA2byA2theA2nurse?
A)A2PrepareA2toA2administerA2adenosineA2toA2theA2patient
B)A2BeginA2chestA2compressions
C)A2PrepareA2forA2defibrillation
D)A2CheckA2forA2aA2pulseA2-A2Ans--
Answer:A2D.A2AA2pulseA2wouldA2beA2assessedA2forA2first.A2ThenA2theA2patientA2willA2beA2de
fibrillizedA2andA2chestA2compressionsA2willA2beginA2immediately.
TheA2nurseA2seesA2theA2followingA2rhythmA2onA2theA2monitor.A2WhichA2ofA2theA2followingA2
labA2valuesA2doesA2theA2nurseA2identifyA2asA2beingA2mostA2likelyA2toA2haveA2causedA2thisA
2dysrhythmia?
a)A2KA23.0
b)A2CaA210.5
c)A2HgbA29
d)A2MagnesiumA22.1A2-A2Ans--
Answer:A2C.A2AnemiaA2canA2contributeA2toA2sinusA2tachycardia.
TheA2patientA2whoA2hasA2recentlyA2beenA2experiencingA2runsA2ofA2ventricularA2tachycardi
aA2suddenlyA2losesA2consciousness.A2TheA2patientA2isA2defibrillated,A2andA2theA2rateA2retu
rnsA2asA2theA2following.A2WhatA2shouldA2theA2nurseA2doA2first?
A)A2BeginA2compressions
B)A2ShockA2theA2clientA2againA2immediately
C)A2PrepareA2forA2intubation
D)A2AdministerA2adenosineA2-A2Ans--
Answer:A2A.A2FollowingA2defibrillation,A2CPRA2isA2immediatelyA2initiatedA2ifA2aA2perfusable
A2rhythmA2isA2notA2initiated.A2TheA2clientA2mayA2needA2toA2beA2shockedA2again,A2butA2ches
tA2compressionsA2mustA2beginA2first.
AA2patientA2withA2cardiomyopathyA2hasA2beenA2givenA2anA2ICD.A2WhichA2ofA2theA2followin
gA2medicationsA2wouldA2theA2nurseA2expectA2toA2seeA2inA2theA2MARA2forA2thisA2patient?
A)A2Warfarin
B)A2Cardizem
C)A2Nitroglycerin
D)A2DigoxinA2-A2Ans--
Answer:A2B.A2AntiarrhythmicA2medicationsA2areA2prescribedA2withA2theA2useA2ofA2anA2ICD
A2inA2orderA2toA2preventA2theA2tachycardicA2(orA2otherA2deadlyA2arrhythmia)A2fromA2occurri
,ngA2inA2theA2firstA2place.A2ThisA2makesA2sureA2thatA2theA2ICDA2isA2usedA2onlyA2whenA2abs
olutelyA2necessary.
TheA2patientA2withA2aA2historyA2ofA2hypertensionA2andA2diabetesA2hasA2theA2followingA2rhy
thmA2strip.A2TheA2patient'sA2vitalsA2areA2asA2follows:A2BPA2145/89,A2HRA290,A2SpO2A295%,
A2RRA219.A2WhichA2ofA2theA2followingA2doesA2theA2nurseA2expectA2toA2doA2atA2thisA2time?
a)A2PrepareA2theA2clientA2forA2cardioversionA2STAT
b)A2BeginA2administeringA2anticoagulants
c)A2GrabA2theA2crashA2cartA2forA2administrationA2ofA2adenosine
d)A2TeachA2theA2clientA2aboutA2possibilityA2ofA2pacemakerA2installationA2-A2Ans--
Answer:A2B.A2AtrialA2flutterA2placesA2theA2clientA2atA2highA2riskA2forA2developmentA2ofA2clot
A2formationA2inA2theA2atria.A2BecauseA2theA2clientA2isA2stableA2atA2thisA2time,A2cardioversio
nA2orA2adenosineA2wouldA2notA2beA2performedA2atA2thisA2time.A2BeforeA2cardioversionA2ca
nA2occurA2inA2aA2patient,A2anticoagulantA2therapyA2shouldA2beA2begunA2atA2leastA248A2hou
rsA2beforehandA2ifA2possible.
TheA2nurseA2isA2preparingA2toA2administerA2adenosineA2toA2theA2patientA2withA2theA2followi
ngA2rhythmA2whichA2isA2symptomatic.A2WhatA2shouldA2theA2nurseA2planA2onA2havingA2inA2t
heA2patientA2room?
a)A2Physician
b)A2CrashA2cart
c)A2IVA2pump
d)A2EKGA2monitor
e)A2LidocaineA2-A2Ans--
Answer:A2A,A2B,A2andA2D.A2AdenosineA2isA2administeredA2asA2aA2veryA2quickA2IVA2push.A2
TheA2physicianA2mustA2beA2presentA2inA2theA2roomA2andA2theA2crashA2cartA2mustA2beA2onA
2hand.A2AnA2ekgA2monitorA2shouldA2beA2inA2theA2roomA2toA2monitorA2theA2effectivenessA2o
fA2theA2medication.
TheA2nurseA2hasA2justA2administeredA2adenosineA2viaA2IVA2pushA2andA2seesA2theA2followi
ngA2rhythmA2onA2theA2monitor.A2WhatA2isA2theA2nurse'sA2priorityA2intervention?
a)A2ApplyA2conductiveA2gelA2andA2defibrillateA2theA2patient
b)A2DocumentA2theA2findingsA2andA2continueA2toA2monitor
c)A2AdministerA2anotherA2mgA2ofA2theA2medication
d)A2BeginA2chestA2compressionsA2-A2Ans--
Answer:A2B.A2ThisA2findingA2wouldA2beA2expectedA2uponA2administrationA2ofA2adenosine.A
2TheA2rhythmA2shouldA2thenA2beginA2againA2inA2someA2otherA2rhythm,A2hopefullyA2normal
A2sinusA2rhythm.A2ItA2wouldA2beA2importantA2toA2documentA2theA2exactA2timeA2ofA2thisA2cha
ngeA2andA2continueA2toA2monitorA2theA2changeA2backA2toA2NSR.A2IfA2thisA2changeA2doesA2
notA2occur,A2orA2ifA2anotherA2rhythmA2isA2produced,A2appropriateA2actionA2wouldA2thenA2b
eA2takenA2basedA2onA2theA2result.
You,A2theA2nurse,A2noteA2theA2followingA2rhythmA2onA2theA2EKGA2monitorA2forA2aA2patientA
2namedA2billy.A2WhatA2isA2theA2firstA2thingA2theA2nurseA2shouldA2do?
a)A2CheckA2forA2aA2pulse
b)A2TellA2BillyA2toA2tryA2toA2poop
, c)A2PrepareA2toA2defibrillateA2billy
d)A2PrepareA2toA2administerA2AmiodoroneA2-A2Ans--
Answer:A2B.A2WithA2SVTA2(SupraventricularA2tachycardia),A2theA2firstA2thingA2toA2doA2woul
dA2beA2toA2instructA2theA2pt.A2toA2performA2theA2ValsalvaA2maneuverA2byA2bearingA2down.
AA2groupA2ofA2nursingA2studentsA2areA2discussingA2atrialA2flutter.A2TheseA2studentsA2reco
gnizeA2thatA2whichA2ofA2theA2followingA2areA2seenA2withA2atrialA2flutter?
A2SelectA2allA2thatA2apply:
1)A2VentricularA2rateA2ofA2220-300A2bpm.
2)A2RegularA2rhythm
3)A2Saw-toothA2pattern
4)A2MeasurableA2PRA2intervalA2
5)A2LongA2QRSA2intervalA2-A2Ans--Answer(s):A22,A23
TheA2ATRIALA2rateA2isA2220-300A2bpm.A2VentricularA2isA2aboutA275-
150.A2TheA2rhythmA2isA2regular,A2withA2theA2PA2waveA2appearingA2asA2littleA2flutterA2orA2aA2
"sawA2toothA2pattern".A2TheA2PRA2intervalA2isA2notA2measurableA2r/tA2thisA2saw-
toothA2PA2wave.A2TheA2QRSA2isA2normal.
AA2nursingA2studentA2isA2awareA2thatA2whichA2ofA2theA2followingA2isA2theA2treatmentA2forA2
unstableA2atrialA2flutter?
1)A2AdenosineA2(Adenocard)A26A2mgA2rapidA2IVP.
2)A2CardioversionA2withA2adjacentA2HeparinA2therapy
3)A2DefibrillationA2STATA2followedA2byA2CPR.
4)A2AltemoseA23A2mgA2IVPA2overA21-2A2seconds.A2-A2Ans--Answer:A22)A2
CardioversionA2isA2usedA2ifA2theA2patientA2isA2unstable.A2AnticoagulantsA2areA2usedA2ifA2th
eA2arrhythmiaA2hasA2stuckA2aroundA2forA248A2hrA2+.A2AdenosineA2mayA2beA2usedA2withA2aA
2narrowA2QRSA2andA2regularA2RRA2interval.A2IA2madeA2upA2Altemose.
AA2nurseA2workingA2onA2aA2CVTA2unitA2receivesA2reportA2fromA2dayA2shift.A2AfterA2receivin
gA2report,A2whichA2patientA2shouldA2theA2nurseA2seeA2first?
1)A2AA223-year-oldA2professionalA2tennisA2playerA2withA2aA2HRA2ofA247A2bpm.
2)A2AA269-year-oldA2maleA2withA2atrialA2fibrillationA2whoA2hasA2newA2onsetA2confusion.
3)A2AA272-year-
oldA2femaleA2withA2atrialA2flutterA2whoA2reportsA2feelingA2unusuallyA2tiredA2todayA2andA2ye
sterday.
4)A2AA233-year-oldA2femaleA2withA2sinusA2tachycardiaA2whoA2isA2askingA2forA2herA2at-
homeA2Metoprolol.A2-A2Ans--Answer:A22)
PatientsA2withA2a-
fibA2areA2atA2riskA2forA2pulmonaryA2andA2systemicA2emboli,A2andA2newA2onsetA2ofA2confusi
onA2mayA2indicateA2aA2strokeA2inA2thisA2patient.A2PatientsA2withA2atrialA2flutterA2mayA2feelA2
moreA2tiredA2someA2daysA2thanA2others.
