NUR 438 Exam One- STUDY GUIDE
2026/2027 COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS || 100%
GUARANTEED PASS NEWEST VERSION
Basic heart anatomy
Blood flow through the heart
Electrical Conduction of the heart
Coronary arteries
Electrocardiogram
record of the electrical activity of the heart
P wave
atrial depolarization; firing of the SA
PR interval
delay of AV node to allow filling of ventricles; travel from SA to AV
normal: 0.12-0.20
QRS wave
ventricular depolarization (contraction)
normal is 0.08-0.12
ST segment elevation vs depression
elevation means infarction
depression means ischemia
T wave
ventricular repolarization; "resting phase"
Measure of regular rhythm on EKG
,consistency in R to R intervals; variation by more than 0.12 means irregular rhythm
SA node beats
60-100 bpm
"the natural pacemaker"
AV node beats
40-60 bpm
"the gatekeeper" (for when SA fails)
Bundle of His beats
20-40 bpm
when SA and AV node fail
Repolarization vs Depolariztion
repo pulls sodium into the cell while depo removes sodium; repo is relaxation and depo is
contraction
EKG timing of squares
small squares 0.04
large squares 0.20
EKG reading steps
Determine rhythm: Measure R to R
Determine Rate: 60-100?
Evaluate P-wave: Normal shape and present with each QRS? Measure PR interval: Is it between
0.12-0.20 seconds? Determine QRS interval: Is it less than 0.12 seconds
Calculating heart rate
The Six-Second Method: (# of QRS's on 6 second strip) multiplied by 10
1500 Method: 1500 divided by (# of little boxes in R to R interval)
S/S of dysrhythmias
chest pain, palpitations, SOB, high or low BP, dizziness, LOC changes, weak/absent pulse,
paleness, cool-clammy skin, diaphoresis, feeling of impending doom.
Normal sinus rhythm
Sinus bradycardia
, impulse from SA is slow
TX: fluids, lift HOB, and give O2
Sinus tachycardia
impulse from SA is fast
TX: identify and correct cause, give O2 as needed
Sinus Arrhythmia
only rhythm is irregular
NSR with pause
SA missed an impulse; measure pause from R to R; common with sleep apne
Sick Sinus Syndrome
arrhythmia in which bradycardia alternates with tachycardia; needs pacemaker
Junctional Rhythm
impulse comes from AV (junction) and can go both directions; called "accelerated" when HR
above 60
Premature Junctional Contraction
early in rhythm, sent from junction, and p wave altered
Premature Atrial Contraction
p wave looks different, p wave is early, QRS may or may not happen
Supraventricular (Atrial) Tachycardia
p wave not visible
Atrial flutter
atrial rate exceeds ventricular rate
Atrial fibrillation
no p waves, irregular rhythm, and ventricular rate is less than 100
risks: clots, strokes, and PE
TX with anticoagulant, amiodarone (150mg over 15m), or cardiazem
First Degree AV Block
2026/2027 COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS || 100%
GUARANTEED PASS NEWEST VERSION
Basic heart anatomy
Blood flow through the heart
Electrical Conduction of the heart
Coronary arteries
Electrocardiogram
record of the electrical activity of the heart
P wave
atrial depolarization; firing of the SA
PR interval
delay of AV node to allow filling of ventricles; travel from SA to AV
normal: 0.12-0.20
QRS wave
ventricular depolarization (contraction)
normal is 0.08-0.12
ST segment elevation vs depression
elevation means infarction
depression means ischemia
T wave
ventricular repolarization; "resting phase"
Measure of regular rhythm on EKG
,consistency in R to R intervals; variation by more than 0.12 means irregular rhythm
SA node beats
60-100 bpm
"the natural pacemaker"
AV node beats
40-60 bpm
"the gatekeeper" (for when SA fails)
Bundle of His beats
20-40 bpm
when SA and AV node fail
Repolarization vs Depolariztion
repo pulls sodium into the cell while depo removes sodium; repo is relaxation and depo is
contraction
EKG timing of squares
small squares 0.04
large squares 0.20
EKG reading steps
Determine rhythm: Measure R to R
Determine Rate: 60-100?
Evaluate P-wave: Normal shape and present with each QRS? Measure PR interval: Is it between
0.12-0.20 seconds? Determine QRS interval: Is it less than 0.12 seconds
Calculating heart rate
The Six-Second Method: (# of QRS's on 6 second strip) multiplied by 10
1500 Method: 1500 divided by (# of little boxes in R to R interval)
S/S of dysrhythmias
chest pain, palpitations, SOB, high or low BP, dizziness, LOC changes, weak/absent pulse,
paleness, cool-clammy skin, diaphoresis, feeling of impending doom.
Normal sinus rhythm
Sinus bradycardia
, impulse from SA is slow
TX: fluids, lift HOB, and give O2
Sinus tachycardia
impulse from SA is fast
TX: identify and correct cause, give O2 as needed
Sinus Arrhythmia
only rhythm is irregular
NSR with pause
SA missed an impulse; measure pause from R to R; common with sleep apne
Sick Sinus Syndrome
arrhythmia in which bradycardia alternates with tachycardia; needs pacemaker
Junctional Rhythm
impulse comes from AV (junction) and can go both directions; called "accelerated" when HR
above 60
Premature Junctional Contraction
early in rhythm, sent from junction, and p wave altered
Premature Atrial Contraction
p wave looks different, p wave is early, QRS may or may not happen
Supraventricular (Atrial) Tachycardia
p wave not visible
Atrial flutter
atrial rate exceeds ventricular rate
Atrial fibrillation
no p waves, irregular rhythm, and ventricular rate is less than 100
risks: clots, strokes, and PE
TX with anticoagulant, amiodarone (150mg over 15m), or cardiazem
First Degree AV Block
