Critical Care HESI Review: Key Concepts
and Interventions
SVT - ✔✔supraventricular tachycardia
Adenosine - ✔✔give 6mg, then 12mg, then another 12mg
Cardioversion - ✔✔if pt not tolerating rhythm
Atrial fibrillation - ✔✔Chaotic atrial activity
Controlled Atrial Fibrillation - ✔✔vent rate < 100
Uncontrolled Atrial Fibrillation - ✔✔vent rate > 100
P waves in Atrial Fibrillation - ✔✔are fibrillatory
High risk for clots in Atrial Fibrillation - ✔✔give anticoagulant
Holiday heart syndrome - ✔✔alcohol and emotional stress
Atrial flutter - ✔✔Ventricular rhythm stays regular
Asystole - ✔✔flat line
Patient in Asystole - ✔✔Give CPR and epi
, 3rd degree heart block - ✔✔Look at patient's blood pressure, bradycardia
Alcoholic EKG - ✔✔Wide QRS and flat T = life threatening
Flat T - ✔✔means hypokalemia
Peaked T waves - ✔✔are usually from hyperkalemia
STEMI - ✔✔ST elevation myocardial infarction
Thrombolytics for STEMI - ✔✔Give within 4 hours of onset
Classic symptoms of MI - ✔✔dull chest pain radiating down left arm
Symptoms of MI in Women/Elderly - ✔✔N/V, Belching, Indigestion, Diaphoresis
New nurse on cardiac unit - ✔✔Assign pt with sinus arrhythmia going for a stress test
Pulmonary artery catheter insertion - ✔✔Priority is monitoring the pressures
Cold hand and decreased capillary refill - ✔✔call physician because clot may be forming
Hemorrhagic stroke - ✔✔Do not give tPa!!!
Ischemic stroke - ✔✔Look at BP before giving alteplase
and Interventions
SVT - ✔✔supraventricular tachycardia
Adenosine - ✔✔give 6mg, then 12mg, then another 12mg
Cardioversion - ✔✔if pt not tolerating rhythm
Atrial fibrillation - ✔✔Chaotic atrial activity
Controlled Atrial Fibrillation - ✔✔vent rate < 100
Uncontrolled Atrial Fibrillation - ✔✔vent rate > 100
P waves in Atrial Fibrillation - ✔✔are fibrillatory
High risk for clots in Atrial Fibrillation - ✔✔give anticoagulant
Holiday heart syndrome - ✔✔alcohol and emotional stress
Atrial flutter - ✔✔Ventricular rhythm stays regular
Asystole - ✔✔flat line
Patient in Asystole - ✔✔Give CPR and epi
, 3rd degree heart block - ✔✔Look at patient's blood pressure, bradycardia
Alcoholic EKG - ✔✔Wide QRS and flat T = life threatening
Flat T - ✔✔means hypokalemia
Peaked T waves - ✔✔are usually from hyperkalemia
STEMI - ✔✔ST elevation myocardial infarction
Thrombolytics for STEMI - ✔✔Give within 4 hours of onset
Classic symptoms of MI - ✔✔dull chest pain radiating down left arm
Symptoms of MI in Women/Elderly - ✔✔N/V, Belching, Indigestion, Diaphoresis
New nurse on cardiac unit - ✔✔Assign pt with sinus arrhythmia going for a stress test
Pulmonary artery catheter insertion - ✔✔Priority is monitoring the pressures
Cold hand and decreased capillary refill - ✔✔call physician because clot may be forming
Hemorrhagic stroke - ✔✔Do not give tPa!!!
Ischemic stroke - ✔✔Look at BP before giving alteplase
