EKG Prep-U Questions and Answers
Which PR interval presents a first-degree heart block?
a) 0.18 seconds
b) 0.14 seconds
c) 0.16 seconds
d) 0.24 seconds - <CORRECT ANSWER >>0.24 seconds
In adults, the normal range for the PR is 0.12 to 0.20 seconds. A PR internal of 0.24 seconds
would indicate a first-degree heart block.
The nurse is attempting to determine the ventricular rate and rhythm of a patient's telemetry
strip. What should the nurse examine to determine this part of the analysis?
a) RR interval
b) PP interval
c) TP interval
d) QT interval - <CORRECT ANSWER >>RR interval
The rhythm is often identified at the same time the rate is determined. The RR interval is used
to determine ventricular rhythm and the PP interval to determine atrial rhythm. If the intervals
are the same or if the difference between the intervals is less than 0.8 seconds throughout the
strip, the rhythm is called regular. If the intervals are different, the rhythm is called irregular.
Your patient is experiencing asymptomatic sinus tachycardia with a rate of 118. The nurse
understands that the treatment of this condition includes:
a) Administration of amiodarone
,b) Treating the underlying cause
c) Immediate defibrillation
d) Electrical cardioversion - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Treating the underlying cause
Sinus tachycardia occurs in response to an underlying condition and will usually resolve once
that condition is corrected.
A nursing student is caring for one of the nurse's assigned cardiac clients. The student asks,
"How can I tell the difference between sinus rhythm and sinus bradycardia when I look at the
EKG strip" The best reply by the nurse is which of the following?
a) "The only difference is the rate, which will be below 60 bpm in sinus bradycardia."
b) "The QRS complex will be smaller in sinus bradycardia."
c) "The P-R interval will be prolonged in sinus bradycardia, and you will have to measure
carefully to note the width."
d) "The P waves will be shaped differently." - <CORRECT ANSWER >>"The only difference is the
rate, which will be below 60 bpm in sinus bradycardia."
All characterestics of sinus bradycardia are the same as those of normal sinus rhythm, except
for the rate, which will be below 60 in sinus bradycardia.
A nurse is completing a shift assessment on a patient admitted to the telemetry unit with a
diagnosis of syncope. The patient's heart rate is 55 bpm with a blood pressure of 90/66 mm Hg.
The patient is also experiencing dizziness and shortness of breath. Which of the following
medications will the nurse anticipate administering to the patient based on these clinical
findings?
a) Atropine
b) Cardizem
c) Lidocaine
, d) Pronestyl - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Atropine
The patient is demonstrating signs and symptoms of symptomatic sinus bradycardia. Atropine is
the medication of choice in treating symptomatic sinus bradycardia.
Lidocaine treats ventricular dysrhythmias.
Pronestyl treats and prevents atrial and ventricular dysrhythmias.
Cardizem is a calcium channel blocker and treats atrial dysrhythmias.
A home care nurse is visiting a left-handed client who has an implantable cardioverter-
defibrillator (ICD) implanted in his left chest. The client tells the nurse how excited he is
because he's planning to go rifle hunting with his grandson. How should the nurse respond?
a) "You'll need to take an extra dose of your antiarrhythmic before you shoot."
b) "Enjoy your time with your grandson."
c) "You can't shoot a rifle left-handed because the rifle's recoil will traumatize the ICD site."
d) "Being that close to a rifle might make your ICD fire." - <CORRECT ANSWER >>"You can't
shoot a rifle left-handed because the rifle's recoil will traumatize the ICD site."
The recoil from the rifle can damage the ICD, so the client should be warned against shooting a
rifle with his left hand. Close proximity to a rifle won't cause the ICD to fire inadvertently. The
client shouldn't take an extra dose of his antiarrhythmic.
The nurse is caring for clients on a telemetry unit. Which nursing consideration best represents
concerns of altered rhythmic patterns of the heart?
a) Altered patterns frequently turn into life-threatening arrhythmias.
b) Altered patterns frequently affect the heart's ability to pump blood effectively.
c) Altered patterns frequently produce neurological deficits.
d) Altered patterns frequently cause a variety of home safety issues. - <CORRECT ANSWER
>>Altered patterns frequently affect the heart's ability to pump blood effectively.
Which PR interval presents a first-degree heart block?
a) 0.18 seconds
b) 0.14 seconds
c) 0.16 seconds
d) 0.24 seconds - <CORRECT ANSWER >>0.24 seconds
In adults, the normal range for the PR is 0.12 to 0.20 seconds. A PR internal of 0.24 seconds
would indicate a first-degree heart block.
The nurse is attempting to determine the ventricular rate and rhythm of a patient's telemetry
strip. What should the nurse examine to determine this part of the analysis?
a) RR interval
b) PP interval
c) TP interval
d) QT interval - <CORRECT ANSWER >>RR interval
The rhythm is often identified at the same time the rate is determined. The RR interval is used
to determine ventricular rhythm and the PP interval to determine atrial rhythm. If the intervals
are the same or if the difference between the intervals is less than 0.8 seconds throughout the
strip, the rhythm is called regular. If the intervals are different, the rhythm is called irregular.
Your patient is experiencing asymptomatic sinus tachycardia with a rate of 118. The nurse
understands that the treatment of this condition includes:
a) Administration of amiodarone
,b) Treating the underlying cause
c) Immediate defibrillation
d) Electrical cardioversion - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Treating the underlying cause
Sinus tachycardia occurs in response to an underlying condition and will usually resolve once
that condition is corrected.
A nursing student is caring for one of the nurse's assigned cardiac clients. The student asks,
"How can I tell the difference between sinus rhythm and sinus bradycardia when I look at the
EKG strip" The best reply by the nurse is which of the following?
a) "The only difference is the rate, which will be below 60 bpm in sinus bradycardia."
b) "The QRS complex will be smaller in sinus bradycardia."
c) "The P-R interval will be prolonged in sinus bradycardia, and you will have to measure
carefully to note the width."
d) "The P waves will be shaped differently." - <CORRECT ANSWER >>"The only difference is the
rate, which will be below 60 bpm in sinus bradycardia."
All characterestics of sinus bradycardia are the same as those of normal sinus rhythm, except
for the rate, which will be below 60 in sinus bradycardia.
A nurse is completing a shift assessment on a patient admitted to the telemetry unit with a
diagnosis of syncope. The patient's heart rate is 55 bpm with a blood pressure of 90/66 mm Hg.
The patient is also experiencing dizziness and shortness of breath. Which of the following
medications will the nurse anticipate administering to the patient based on these clinical
findings?
a) Atropine
b) Cardizem
c) Lidocaine
, d) Pronestyl - <CORRECT ANSWER >>Atropine
The patient is demonstrating signs and symptoms of symptomatic sinus bradycardia. Atropine is
the medication of choice in treating symptomatic sinus bradycardia.
Lidocaine treats ventricular dysrhythmias.
Pronestyl treats and prevents atrial and ventricular dysrhythmias.
Cardizem is a calcium channel blocker and treats atrial dysrhythmias.
A home care nurse is visiting a left-handed client who has an implantable cardioverter-
defibrillator (ICD) implanted in his left chest. The client tells the nurse how excited he is
because he's planning to go rifle hunting with his grandson. How should the nurse respond?
a) "You'll need to take an extra dose of your antiarrhythmic before you shoot."
b) "Enjoy your time with your grandson."
c) "You can't shoot a rifle left-handed because the rifle's recoil will traumatize the ICD site."
d) "Being that close to a rifle might make your ICD fire." - <CORRECT ANSWER >>"You can't
shoot a rifle left-handed because the rifle's recoil will traumatize the ICD site."
The recoil from the rifle can damage the ICD, so the client should be warned against shooting a
rifle with his left hand. Close proximity to a rifle won't cause the ICD to fire inadvertently. The
client shouldn't take an extra dose of his antiarrhythmic.
The nurse is caring for clients on a telemetry unit. Which nursing consideration best represents
concerns of altered rhythmic patterns of the heart?
a) Altered patterns frequently turn into life-threatening arrhythmias.
b) Altered patterns frequently affect the heart's ability to pump blood effectively.
c) Altered patterns frequently produce neurological deficits.
d) Altered patterns frequently cause a variety of home safety issues. - <CORRECT ANSWER
>>Altered patterns frequently affect the heart's ability to pump blood effectively.
