NURS 495 Exam 1 questions with verified answers
A 19-year-old student comes to the student health center at the end of
the semester stating, "My heart is skipping beats." An
electrocardiogram (ECG) shows occasional unifocal premature
ventricular contractions (PVCs). What action should the nurse take
next?
a. Insert an IV catheter for emergency use.
b. Start supplemental O2 at 2 to 3 L/min via nasal cannula.
c. Ask the patient about current stress level and caffeine use.
d. Have the patient taken to the nearest emergency department (ED).
Ans✓✓✓ c. Ask the patient about current stress level and caffeine use.
A nurse finds that a patient has an atrial rate of 450 beats per minute
and a ventricular rate of 150 beats per minute. What condition is the
patient likely experiencing?
1. Atrial flutter
2. Atrial fibrillation
3. Ventricular fibrillation
4. Premature ventricular contractions Ans✓✓✓ 2. Atrial fibrillation
,A nurse is teaching about the conduction system of the heart to a group
of nursing students. Arrange the order in which the electrical impulses
travel through the parts of the conduction system.
1. Sinoatrial node
2. Internodal pathways
3. Atrioventricular node
4. Bundle of His
5. Purkinje fibers Ans✓✓✓ 1. Sinoatrial node
2. Internodal pathways
3. Atrioventricular node
4. Bundle of His
5. Purkinje fibers
A patient develops sinus bradycardia at a rate of 32 beats/min, has a
blood pressure (BP) of 80/42 mm Hg, and reports feeling faint. Which
action should the nurse take?
a. Reposition the patient on the left side.
b. Have the patient perform the Valsalva maneuver.
c. Give the scheduled dose of diltiazem (Cardizem).
, d. Apply the transcutaneous pacemaker (TCP) pads. Ans✓✓✓ d. Apply
the transcutaneous pacemaker (TCP) pads.
The patient is experiencing symptomatic bradycardia and treatment
with TCP is appropriate.
A patient has a junctional escape rhythm on the monitor. What heart
rate should the nurse expect the patient to have?
a. 15 to 20
b. 20 to 40
c. 40 to 60
d. 60 to 100 Ans✓✓✓ c. 40 to 60
If the sinoatrial (SA) node does not discharge, the atrioventricular (AV)
node will automatically discharge at the normal rate of 40 to 60
beats/min.
A patient has a sinus rhythm and a heart rate of 72 beats/min. The
nurse determines that the PR interval is 0.24 seconds. What action
should the nurse take?
a. Notify the health care provider immediately.
b. Document the finding and monitor the patient.
A 19-year-old student comes to the student health center at the end of
the semester stating, "My heart is skipping beats." An
electrocardiogram (ECG) shows occasional unifocal premature
ventricular contractions (PVCs). What action should the nurse take
next?
a. Insert an IV catheter for emergency use.
b. Start supplemental O2 at 2 to 3 L/min via nasal cannula.
c. Ask the patient about current stress level and caffeine use.
d. Have the patient taken to the nearest emergency department (ED).
Ans✓✓✓ c. Ask the patient about current stress level and caffeine use.
A nurse finds that a patient has an atrial rate of 450 beats per minute
and a ventricular rate of 150 beats per minute. What condition is the
patient likely experiencing?
1. Atrial flutter
2. Atrial fibrillation
3. Ventricular fibrillation
4. Premature ventricular contractions Ans✓✓✓ 2. Atrial fibrillation
,A nurse is teaching about the conduction system of the heart to a group
of nursing students. Arrange the order in which the electrical impulses
travel through the parts of the conduction system.
1. Sinoatrial node
2. Internodal pathways
3. Atrioventricular node
4. Bundle of His
5. Purkinje fibers Ans✓✓✓ 1. Sinoatrial node
2. Internodal pathways
3. Atrioventricular node
4. Bundle of His
5. Purkinje fibers
A patient develops sinus bradycardia at a rate of 32 beats/min, has a
blood pressure (BP) of 80/42 mm Hg, and reports feeling faint. Which
action should the nurse take?
a. Reposition the patient on the left side.
b. Have the patient perform the Valsalva maneuver.
c. Give the scheduled dose of diltiazem (Cardizem).
, d. Apply the transcutaneous pacemaker (TCP) pads. Ans✓✓✓ d. Apply
the transcutaneous pacemaker (TCP) pads.
The patient is experiencing symptomatic bradycardia and treatment
with TCP is appropriate.
A patient has a junctional escape rhythm on the monitor. What heart
rate should the nurse expect the patient to have?
a. 15 to 20
b. 20 to 40
c. 40 to 60
d. 60 to 100 Ans✓✓✓ c. 40 to 60
If the sinoatrial (SA) node does not discharge, the atrioventricular (AV)
node will automatically discharge at the normal rate of 40 to 60
beats/min.
A patient has a sinus rhythm and a heart rate of 72 beats/min. The
nurse determines that the PR interval is 0.24 seconds. What action
should the nurse take?
a. Notify the health care provider immediately.
b. Document the finding and monitor the patient.
