Questions and Answers | RELIAS Medical-Surgical Telemetry Exam Prep, Comprehensive
Study Guide, Practice Exam, Test Bank, ECG Rhythm Interpretation, Cardiac Monitoring,
Dysrhythmias, Acute Coronary Syndrome, Heart Failure, Hemodynamic Monitoring,
Medical-Surgical Nursing, Clinical Judgment, Prioritization, Patient Safety, NCLEX-RN
Review, Detailed Rationales and Complete Revision Material
Question 1: What does the P wave on a normal electrocardiogram (ECG) represent?
A. Ventricular depolarization B. Atrial depolarization C. Ventricular repolarization D. Atrial
repolarization
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Atrial depolarization
Rationale: The P wave represents atrial depolarization, which is the electrical impulse spreading
through the atria and triggering atrial contraction.
Question 2: Which wave on the ECG represents ventricular repolarization?
A. P wave B. Q wave C. R wave D. T wave
CORRECT ANSWER: D. T wave
Rationale: The T wave represents ventricular repolarization, the period during which the
ventricles recover electrically in preparation for the next heartbeat.
Question 3: What is the normal duration of the PR interval in an adult?
A. 0.04 to 0.10 seconds B. 0.12 to 0.20 seconds C. 0.20 to 0.24 seconds D. 0.24 to 0.30 seconds
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 0.12 to 0.20 seconds
Rationale: The normal PR interval measures the time from the onset of atrial depolarization to
the onset of ventricular depolarization and should be between 0.12 and 0.20 seconds.
Question 4: What does the QRS complex represent?
A. Atrial depolarization B. Atrial repolarization C. Ventricular depolarization D. Ventricular
repolarization
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Ventricular depolarization
Rationale: The QRS complex represents ventricular depolarization, which triggers ventricular
contraction. Atrial repolarization also occurs during this time but is masked by the larger QRS
complex.
Question 5: What is the maximum normal duration for the QRS complex?
A. 0.04 seconds B. 0.08 seconds C. 0.12 seconds D. 0.20 seconds
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 0.12 seconds
Rationale: The normal QRS duration should be less than 0.12 seconds. A duration greater than
0.12 seconds indicates a delay in ventricular conduction, such as a bundle branch block.
Question 6: The QT interval measures the total time for which cardiac event?
A. Atrial depolarization and repolarization B. Ventricular depolarization and repolarization C. AV
node conduction D. SA node firing
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Ventricular depolarization and repolarization
, Fall Semester 2026–2027 RELIAS Medical-Surgical Telemetry Updated 2026 | 190+
Questions and Answers | RELIAS Medical-Surgical Telemetry Exam Prep, Comprehensive
Study Guide, Practice Exam, Test Bank, ECG Rhythm Interpretation, Cardiac Monitoring,
Dysrhythmias, Acute Coronary Syndrome, Heart Failure, Hemodynamic Monitoring,
Medical-Surgical Nursing, Clinical Judgment, Prioritization, Patient Safety, NCLEX-RN
Review, Detailed Rationales and Complete Revision Material
Rationale: The QT interval spans from the beginning of the QRS complex to the end of the T
wave, representing the total time for ventricular depolarization and repolarization.
Question 7: What is the normal intrinsic firing rate of the sinoatrial (SA) node?
A. 20 to 40 beats per minute B. 40 to 60 beats per minute C. 60 to 100 beats per minute D. 100 to
150 beats per minute
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 60 to 100 beats per minute
Rationale: The SA node is the primary pacemaker of the heart and has an intrinsic firing rate of
60 to 100 beats per minute under normal resting conditions.
Question 8: What is the normal intrinsic firing rate of the atrioventricular (AV) node?
A. 20 to 40 beats per minute B. 40 to 60 beats per minute C. 60 to 100 beats per minute D. 100 to
120 beats per minute
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 40 to 60 beats per minute
Rationale: If the SA node fails, the AV node can act as a secondary pacemaker, firing at its
intrinsic rate of 40 to 60 beats per minute.
Question 9: What is the normal intrinsic firing rate of the ventricular myocardium?
A. 20 to 40 beats per minute B. 40 to 60 beats per minute C. 60 to 100 beats per minute D. 100 to
150 beats per minute
CORRECT ANSWER: A. 20 to 40 beats per minute
Rationale: The ventricular Purkinje fibers and myocardium have the lowest intrinsic firing rate,
typically 20 to 40 beats per minute, serving as the heart's last resort pacemaker.
Question 10: On standard ECG paper, what duration does one small horizontal square
represent?
A. 0.04 seconds B. 0.10 seconds C. 0.20 seconds D. 1.00 seconds
CORRECT ANSWER: A. 0.04 seconds
Rationale: Standard ECG paper runs at 25 mm/sec. Each small 1 mm square represents 0.04
seconds horizontally and 0.1 mV vertically.
Question 11: On standard ECG paper, what duration does one large horizontal square
represent?
A. 0.04 seconds B. 0.10 seconds C. 0.20 seconds D. 1.00 seconds
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 0.20 seconds
Rationale: A large square consists of five small squares. Since each small square is 0.04
seconds, a large square represents 0.20 seconds (5 x 0.04).