Dysrhythmia NCLEX Questions
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You are the nurse working on the telemetry unit and you have
finally gotten to sit down to work on some charting. Suddenly the
heart monitors at the station start beeping. Patient in room 18 is
showing this rhythm on the monitor. The medical team advances Answer: D. A pulse would be assessed for first. Then the patient
together into the room and finds them unconscious. What is pri- will be defibrillized and chest compressions will begin immediately.
ority action by the nurse?
A) Prepare to administer adenosine to the patient
B) Begin chest compressions
C) Prepare for defibrillation
D) Check for a pulse
The nurse sees the following rhythm on the monitor. Which of the
following lab values does the nurse identify as being most likely
Answer: C. Anemia can contribute to sinus tachycardia.
to have caused this dysrhythmia?
a) K 3.0
b) Ca 10.5
c) Hgb 9
d) Magnesium 2.1
The patient who has recently been experiencing runs of ven-
tricular tachycardia suddenly loses consciousness. The patient is
defibrillated, and the rate returns as the following. What should the
Answer: A. Following defibrillation, CPR is immediately initiated
nurse do first?
if a perfusable rhythm is not initiated. The client may need to be
A) Begin compressions
B) Shock the client again immediately shocked again, but chest compressions must begin first.
C) Prepare for intubation
D) Administer adenosine
A patient with cardiomyopathy has been given an ICD. Which of
the following medications would the nurse expect to see in the
Answer: B. Antiarrhythmic medications are prescribed with the use
MAR for this patient?
of an ICD in order to prevent the tachycardic (or other deadly
A) Warfarin
B) Cardizem arrhythmia) from occurring in the first place. This makes sure that
C) Nitroglycerin the ICD is used only when absolutely necessary.
D) Digoxin
The patient with a history of hypertension and diabetes has Answer: B. Atrial flutter places the client at high risk for develop-
the following rhythm strip. The patient's vitals are as follows: BP ment of clot formation in the atria. Because the client is stable
145/89, HR 90, SpO2 95%, RR 19. Which of the following does at this time, cardioversion or adenosine would not be performed
the nurse expect to do at this time? at this time. Before cardioversion can occur in a patient, antico-
a) Prepare the client for cardioversion STAT agulant therapy should be begun at least 48 hours beforehand if
b) Begin administering anticoagulants possible.
c) Grab the crash cart for administration of adenosine
d) Teach the client about possibility of pacemaker installation
The nurse is preparing to administer adenosine to the patient with
the following rhythm which is symptomatic. What should the nurse
plan on having in the patient room? Answer: A, B, and D. Adenosine is administered as a very quick
a) Physician IV push. The physician must be present in the room and the crash
b) Crash cart cart must be on hand. An ekg monitor should be in the room to
c) IV pump monitor the effectiveness of the medication.
d) EKG monitor
e) Lidocaine
Answer: B. This finding would be expected upon administration
of adenosine. The rhythm should then begin again in some other
The nurse has just administered adenosine via IV push and sees rhythm, hopefully normal sinus rhythm. It would be important to
the following rhythm on the monitor. What is the nurse's priority document the exact time of this change and continue to monitor
intervention? the change back to NSR. If this change does not occur, or if
a) Apply conductive gel and defibrillate the patient another rhythm is produced, appropriate action would then be
b) Document the findings and continue to monitor taken based on the result.
c) Administer another mg of the medication
d) Begin chest compressions
, Dysrhythmia NCLEX Questions
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_bbafqa
You, the nurse, note the following rhythm on the EKG monitor for
Answer: B. With SVT (Supraventricular tachycardia), the first thing
a patient named billy. What is the first thing the nurse should do?
a) Check for a pulse to do would be to instruct the pt. to perform the Valsalva maneuver
b) Tell Billy to try to poop by bearing down.
c) Prepare to defibrillate billy
d) Prepare to administer Amiodorone
A group of nursing students are discussing atrial flutter. These
students recognize that which of the following are seen with atrial Answer(s): 2, 3
flutter? Select all that apply:
1) Ventricular rate of 220-300 bpm. The ATRIAL rate is 220-300 bpm. Ventricular is about 75-150. The
2) Regular rhythm rhythm is regular, with the P wave appearing as little flutter or
3) Saw-tooth pattern a "saw tooth pattern". The PR interval is not measurable r/t this
4) Measurable PR interval saw-tooth P wave. The QRS is normal.
5) Long QRS interval
A nursing student is aware that which of the following is the Answer: 2)
treatment for unstable atrial flutter?
1) Adenosine (Adenocard) 6 mg rapid IVP. Cardioversion is used if the patient is unstable. Anticoagulants are
2) Cardioversion with adjacent Heparin therapy used if the arrhythmia has stuck around for 48 hr +. Adenosine
3) Defibrillation STAT followed by CPR. may be used with a narrow QRS and regular RR interval. I made
4) Altemose 3 mg IVP over 1-2 seconds. up Altemose.
A nurse working on a CVT unit receives report from day shift. After
receiving report, which patient should the nurse see first?
Answer: 2)
1) A 23-year-old professional tennis player with a HR of 47 bpm.
2) A 69-year-old male with atrial fibrillation who has new onset
Patients with a-fib are at risk for pulmonary and systemic emboli,
confusion.
and new onset of confusion may indicate a stroke in this patient.
3) A 72-year-old female with atrial flutter who reports feeling
Patients with atrial flutter may feel more tired some days than
unusually tired today and yesterday.
others.
4) A 33-year-old female with sinus tachycardia who is asking for
her at-home Metoprolol.
Answer: 1)
A nurse on a CVT unit views the monitor and sees the patient in
room 452 has just begun having occasional PVCs. Which action
Although electrolytes are likely the culprit, the nurse first needs to
should the nurse take first?
first assess the patient. Then, the nurse should look in the patient's
1) Check on the patient
chart and evaluate or request an order for electrolyte levels. This
2) Check last magnesium and potassium levels
may eventually need to be documented, but the nurse can be held
3) Document the occurrence and watch for further PVCs
liable for neglect if he/she does not assess the patient first. The
4) Contact the physician
physician may or may not need to be contacted.
Which of the following does the nursing student realize is the
treatment for a stable patient presenting with QRS intervals above Answer: 3)
0.12 seconds with a regular rhythm and a rate of 100-250 bpm?
1) Atropine This is describing ventricular tachycardia (QRS is a giveaway),
2) Defibrillation and the treatment for a stable patient is Amiodarone or cardiover-
3) Amiodarone sion. If the patient were unstable, we'd go ahead and defibrillate.
4) Adenosine
The nurse in the intensive care unit (ICU) hears an alarm sound in
the patient's room. Arriving in the room, the patient is unrespon-
sive, without a pulse, and a flat line on the monitor. What is the
first action by the nurse? Answer: d)
a) Administer atropine 0.5 mg We cannot defibrillate asystole. A
b) Administer epinephrine
c) Defibrillate with 360 joules
d) Begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
A group of nursing students are studying AV blocks and ask
their instructor, "what causes a first-degree block?" The nurs- Answer(s): 2, 3, 4, 5
ing instructor responds that which of the following can cause a Diarrhea will not stimulate a vagal response, but vomiting can.
first-degree block: Select all that apply Chronic constipation will cause a consistent vagal response.
1) Diarrhea Digoxin, beta blockers, and calcium channel blockers can all con-
2) Chronic constipation tribute to first degree blocks. Relate this to bradycardia.
3) Diltiazem
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_bbafqa
You are the nurse working on the telemetry unit and you have
finally gotten to sit down to work on some charting. Suddenly the
heart monitors at the station start beeping. Patient in room 18 is
showing this rhythm on the monitor. The medical team advances Answer: D. A pulse would be assessed for first. Then the patient
together into the room and finds them unconscious. What is pri- will be defibrillized and chest compressions will begin immediately.
ority action by the nurse?
A) Prepare to administer adenosine to the patient
B) Begin chest compressions
C) Prepare for defibrillation
D) Check for a pulse
The nurse sees the following rhythm on the monitor. Which of the
following lab values does the nurse identify as being most likely
Answer: C. Anemia can contribute to sinus tachycardia.
to have caused this dysrhythmia?
a) K 3.0
b) Ca 10.5
c) Hgb 9
d) Magnesium 2.1
The patient who has recently been experiencing runs of ven-
tricular tachycardia suddenly loses consciousness. The patient is
defibrillated, and the rate returns as the following. What should the
Answer: A. Following defibrillation, CPR is immediately initiated
nurse do first?
if a perfusable rhythm is not initiated. The client may need to be
A) Begin compressions
B) Shock the client again immediately shocked again, but chest compressions must begin first.
C) Prepare for intubation
D) Administer adenosine
A patient with cardiomyopathy has been given an ICD. Which of
the following medications would the nurse expect to see in the
Answer: B. Antiarrhythmic medications are prescribed with the use
MAR for this patient?
of an ICD in order to prevent the tachycardic (or other deadly
A) Warfarin
B) Cardizem arrhythmia) from occurring in the first place. This makes sure that
C) Nitroglycerin the ICD is used only when absolutely necessary.
D) Digoxin
The patient with a history of hypertension and diabetes has Answer: B. Atrial flutter places the client at high risk for develop-
the following rhythm strip. The patient's vitals are as follows: BP ment of clot formation in the atria. Because the client is stable
145/89, HR 90, SpO2 95%, RR 19. Which of the following does at this time, cardioversion or adenosine would not be performed
the nurse expect to do at this time? at this time. Before cardioversion can occur in a patient, antico-
a) Prepare the client for cardioversion STAT agulant therapy should be begun at least 48 hours beforehand if
b) Begin administering anticoagulants possible.
c) Grab the crash cart for administration of adenosine
d) Teach the client about possibility of pacemaker installation
The nurse is preparing to administer adenosine to the patient with
the following rhythm which is symptomatic. What should the nurse
plan on having in the patient room? Answer: A, B, and D. Adenosine is administered as a very quick
a) Physician IV push. The physician must be present in the room and the crash
b) Crash cart cart must be on hand. An ekg monitor should be in the room to
c) IV pump monitor the effectiveness of the medication.
d) EKG monitor
e) Lidocaine
Answer: B. This finding would be expected upon administration
of adenosine. The rhythm should then begin again in some other
The nurse has just administered adenosine via IV push and sees rhythm, hopefully normal sinus rhythm. It would be important to
the following rhythm on the monitor. What is the nurse's priority document the exact time of this change and continue to monitor
intervention? the change back to NSR. If this change does not occur, or if
a) Apply conductive gel and defibrillate the patient another rhythm is produced, appropriate action would then be
b) Document the findings and continue to monitor taken based on the result.
c) Administer another mg of the medication
d) Begin chest compressions
, Dysrhythmia NCLEX Questions
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_bbafqa
You, the nurse, note the following rhythm on the EKG monitor for
Answer: B. With SVT (Supraventricular tachycardia), the first thing
a patient named billy. What is the first thing the nurse should do?
a) Check for a pulse to do would be to instruct the pt. to perform the Valsalva maneuver
b) Tell Billy to try to poop by bearing down.
c) Prepare to defibrillate billy
d) Prepare to administer Amiodorone
A group of nursing students are discussing atrial flutter. These
students recognize that which of the following are seen with atrial Answer(s): 2, 3
flutter? Select all that apply:
1) Ventricular rate of 220-300 bpm. The ATRIAL rate is 220-300 bpm. Ventricular is about 75-150. The
2) Regular rhythm rhythm is regular, with the P wave appearing as little flutter or
3) Saw-tooth pattern a "saw tooth pattern". The PR interval is not measurable r/t this
4) Measurable PR interval saw-tooth P wave. The QRS is normal.
5) Long QRS interval
A nursing student is aware that which of the following is the Answer: 2)
treatment for unstable atrial flutter?
1) Adenosine (Adenocard) 6 mg rapid IVP. Cardioversion is used if the patient is unstable. Anticoagulants are
2) Cardioversion with adjacent Heparin therapy used if the arrhythmia has stuck around for 48 hr +. Adenosine
3) Defibrillation STAT followed by CPR. may be used with a narrow QRS and regular RR interval. I made
4) Altemose 3 mg IVP over 1-2 seconds. up Altemose.
A nurse working on a CVT unit receives report from day shift. After
receiving report, which patient should the nurse see first?
Answer: 2)
1) A 23-year-old professional tennis player with a HR of 47 bpm.
2) A 69-year-old male with atrial fibrillation who has new onset
Patients with a-fib are at risk for pulmonary and systemic emboli,
confusion.
and new onset of confusion may indicate a stroke in this patient.
3) A 72-year-old female with atrial flutter who reports feeling
Patients with atrial flutter may feel more tired some days than
unusually tired today and yesterday.
others.
4) A 33-year-old female with sinus tachycardia who is asking for
her at-home Metoprolol.
Answer: 1)
A nurse on a CVT unit views the monitor and sees the patient in
room 452 has just begun having occasional PVCs. Which action
Although electrolytes are likely the culprit, the nurse first needs to
should the nurse take first?
first assess the patient. Then, the nurse should look in the patient's
1) Check on the patient
chart and evaluate or request an order for electrolyte levels. This
2) Check last magnesium and potassium levels
may eventually need to be documented, but the nurse can be held
3) Document the occurrence and watch for further PVCs
liable for neglect if he/she does not assess the patient first. The
4) Contact the physician
physician may or may not need to be contacted.
Which of the following does the nursing student realize is the
treatment for a stable patient presenting with QRS intervals above Answer: 3)
0.12 seconds with a regular rhythm and a rate of 100-250 bpm?
1) Atropine This is describing ventricular tachycardia (QRS is a giveaway),
2) Defibrillation and the treatment for a stable patient is Amiodarone or cardiover-
3) Amiodarone sion. If the patient were unstable, we'd go ahead and defibrillate.
4) Adenosine
The nurse in the intensive care unit (ICU) hears an alarm sound in
the patient's room. Arriving in the room, the patient is unrespon-
sive, without a pulse, and a flat line on the monitor. What is the
first action by the nurse? Answer: d)
a) Administer atropine 0.5 mg We cannot defibrillate asystole. A
b) Administer epinephrine
c) Defibrillate with 360 joules
d) Begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
A group of nursing students are studying AV blocks and ask
their instructor, "what causes a first-degree block?" The nurs- Answer(s): 2, 3, 4, 5
ing instructor responds that which of the following can cause a Diarrhea will not stimulate a vagal response, but vomiting can.
first-degree block: Select all that apply Chronic constipation will cause a consistent vagal response.
1) Diarrhea Digoxin, beta blockers, and calcium channel blockers can all con-
2) Chronic constipation tribute to first degree blocks. Relate this to bradycardia.
3) Diltiazem
