CARDIAC DYSRHYTHMIAS/ BASIC ECG
INTERPRETATIONS QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
WhichA2dysrhythmiaA2isA2causedA2byA2atrialA2irritability?A2-A2Ans--
PrematureA2atrialA2complexes
WhichA2statementA2correctlyA2differentiatesA2cardioversionA2fromA2defibrillation?A2-A2Ans--
CardioversionA2deliversA2aA2synchronizedA2shockA2forA2ventricularA2tachycardiaA2orA2supr
aventricularA2tachycardia.
CardioversionA2involvesA2theA2deliveryA2ofA2aA2synchronizedA2electricA2shockA2toA2termina
teA2unstableA2ventricularA2orA2supraventricularA2rhythms.A2ItA2isA2notA2usefulA2inA2ventricul
arA2fibrillationA2becauseA2allA2electricalA2activityA2isA2disorganizedA2withA2noA2abilityA2toA2s
ynchronize.A2DefibrillationA2deliversA2anA2asynchronousA2countershock,A2depolarizingA2aA
2criticalA2massA2ofA2theA2myocardiumA2toA2stopA2theA2re-
entryA2circuitA2inA2ventricularA2fibrillationA2orA2pulselessA2ventricularA2tachycardia,A2allowin
gA2theA2sinusA2nodeA2toA2regainA2controlA2ofA2theA2heart.
WhenA2caringA2forA2aA2patientA2withA2prematureA2ventricularA2contractionsA2(PVCs),A2whi
chA2electrolyteA2imbalancesA2willA2contributeA2toA2thisA2dysrhythmiaA2andA2shouldA2theref
oreA2beA2monitored?A2-A2Ans--hypokalemia
hypomagnesiaA2
LowA2serumA2levelsA2ofA2potassiumA2andA2magnesiumA2predisposeA2theA2patientA2toA2PV
Cs.A2TheA2otherA2electrolyteA2imbalancesA2mayA2causeA2ECGA2changesA2butA2doA2notA2in
creaseA2theA2riskA2forA2PVCs.
InA2caringA2forA2aA2patientA2followingA2anA2acuteA2myocardialA2infarction,A2whatA2isA2theA2g
reatestA2priorityA2whenA2planningA2care?A2-A2Ans--
MonitorA2forA2increasedA2frequencyA2ofA2prematureA2ventricularA2contractions
ToA2preventA2vagalA2stimulationA2inA2aA2patientA2withA2heartA2disease,A2whatA2mustA2beA2
avoided?A2-A2Ans--Constipation
OropharyngealA2suctioning
InsertionA2ofA2aA2nasogastricA2tube
WhenA2caringA2forA2aA2patientA2whoA2hasA2beenA2admittedA2withA2tachydysrhythmia,A2whi
chA2assessmentA2findingA2wouldA2theA2nurseA2expect?A2-A2Ans--fainting
AA2collegeA2studentA2presentsA2toA2theA2campusA2clinicA2reportingA2palpitations.A2Freque
ntA2prematureA2atrialA2contractionsA2areA2identifiedA2onA2theA2electrocardiogramA2(ECG).A
2WhatA2doesA2theA2nurseA2includeA2inA2teachingA2thisA2patient?A2-A2Ans--
smokingA2cessation
INTERPRETATIONS QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
WhichA2dysrhythmiaA2isA2causedA2byA2atrialA2irritability?A2-A2Ans--
PrematureA2atrialA2complexes
WhichA2statementA2correctlyA2differentiatesA2cardioversionA2fromA2defibrillation?A2-A2Ans--
CardioversionA2deliversA2aA2synchronizedA2shockA2forA2ventricularA2tachycardiaA2orA2supr
aventricularA2tachycardia.
CardioversionA2involvesA2theA2deliveryA2ofA2aA2synchronizedA2electricA2shockA2toA2termina
teA2unstableA2ventricularA2orA2supraventricularA2rhythms.A2ItA2isA2notA2usefulA2inA2ventricul
arA2fibrillationA2becauseA2allA2electricalA2activityA2isA2disorganizedA2withA2noA2abilityA2toA2s
ynchronize.A2DefibrillationA2deliversA2anA2asynchronousA2countershock,A2depolarizingA2aA
2criticalA2massA2ofA2theA2myocardiumA2toA2stopA2theA2re-
entryA2circuitA2inA2ventricularA2fibrillationA2orA2pulselessA2ventricularA2tachycardia,A2allowin
gA2theA2sinusA2nodeA2toA2regainA2controlA2ofA2theA2heart.
WhenA2caringA2forA2aA2patientA2withA2prematureA2ventricularA2contractionsA2(PVCs),A2whi
chA2electrolyteA2imbalancesA2willA2contributeA2toA2thisA2dysrhythmiaA2andA2shouldA2theref
oreA2beA2monitored?A2-A2Ans--hypokalemia
hypomagnesiaA2
LowA2serumA2levelsA2ofA2potassiumA2andA2magnesiumA2predisposeA2theA2patientA2toA2PV
Cs.A2TheA2otherA2electrolyteA2imbalancesA2mayA2causeA2ECGA2changesA2butA2doA2notA2in
creaseA2theA2riskA2forA2PVCs.
InA2caringA2forA2aA2patientA2followingA2anA2acuteA2myocardialA2infarction,A2whatA2isA2theA2g
reatestA2priorityA2whenA2planningA2care?A2-A2Ans--
MonitorA2forA2increasedA2frequencyA2ofA2prematureA2ventricularA2contractions
ToA2preventA2vagalA2stimulationA2inA2aA2patientA2withA2heartA2disease,A2whatA2mustA2beA2
avoided?A2-A2Ans--Constipation
OropharyngealA2suctioning
InsertionA2ofA2aA2nasogastricA2tube
WhenA2caringA2forA2aA2patientA2whoA2hasA2beenA2admittedA2withA2tachydysrhythmia,A2whi
chA2assessmentA2findingA2wouldA2theA2nurseA2expect?A2-A2Ans--fainting
AA2collegeA2studentA2presentsA2toA2theA2campusA2clinicA2reportingA2palpitations.A2Freque
ntA2prematureA2atrialA2contractionsA2areA2identifiedA2onA2theA2electrocardiogramA2(ECG).A
2WhatA2doesA2theA2nurseA2includeA2inA2teachingA2thisA2patient?A2-A2Ans--
smokingA2cessation