NUR 325

What is the first thing the nurse should do if they see a life threatening rhythm on a patient's EKG? - Assess the patient (Did a lead fall off? Does the patient show signs of decreased CO? Are they responsive? Pulses?) The patient is in V Tach but has a pulse, how can we treat this? - We give amiodarone and use cardioversion (because they have a pulse) The patient is in V Tach but does NOT have a pulse, how do we treat this? - CPR and Defibrillation The patient is in V Fib, what do we do? - CPR/ACLS, Defibrillate, Drug therapy What drugs can we give to a patient in V Fib? - Epinephrine, Amiodarone I can defibrillate the patient if they have what dysrhythmias? - Pulseless V Tach, and V Fib The patient is a candidate for Synchronized Cardioversion if they have what dysrhythmias? - V Tach (WITH A PULSE), SVT, A Fib, and A Flutter The patient is asystolic, what do you do? - CPR/ACLS, drug therapy, intubate What drugs do we give if the patient is in asystole? - Epinephrine and/or vasopressin The patient shows activity on their EKG but has no pulse, this is known as - Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA)