Relias Basic Dysrhythmia Test 2026/2027 | Practice Questions, Verified Answers & Detailed Rationales | ECG Rhythm Interpretation Study Guide | Just Released This Year PDF | Updated This Year

Relias Basic Dysrhythmia Test 2026/2027 |
Practice Questions, Verified Answers &
Detailed Rationales | ECG Rhythm
Interpretation Study Guide | Just Released
This Year PDF | Updated This Year
RELIAS BASIC DYSRHYTHMIA TEST 2026/2027

Practice Questions with Verified Answers & Detailed Rationales



DOCUMENT OVERVIEW

• This comprehensive study guide contains verified practice questions designed to
prepare you for the Relias Basic Dysrhythmia certification exam with current
2026/2027 standards and updated ECG interpretation protocols.

• Master all dysrhythmia types, ECG recognition patterns, clinical significance, and
appropriate nursing interventions through detailed rationales and evidence-based
explanations for every question.




QUESTION 1

A patient on the cardiac monitor displays a regular rhythm with a rate of 72
bpm, with P waves present before each QRS complex and a normal PR
interval. What is the most appropriate interpretation of this rhythm?

A) Atrial fibrillation

B) Sinus tachycardia

C) Normal sinus rhythm

D) Sinus bradycardia

E) Junctional rhythm

CORRECT ANSWER: C) Normal sinus rhythm

,RATIONALE: Normal sinus rhythm is characterized by a regular rhythm, rate
between 60-100 bpm, P waves present before each QRS complex, normal PR
interval (0.12-0.20 seconds), and normal QRS duration (less than 0.12 seconds). This
patient meets all criteria for normal sinus rhythm, which is the baseline rhythm
originating from the SA node. All other options would show variations from this
normal pattern.




QUESTION 2

During morning rounds, you assess a patient whose cardiac monitor shows
irregular R-R intervals with chaotic baseline, no discernible P waves, and a
ventricular rate of approximately 120 bpm. What rhythm is this patient
experiencing?

A) Atrial flutter with rapid ventricular response

B) Atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response

C) Multifocal atrial tachycardia

D) Sinus tachycardia

E) Supraventricular tachycardia

CORRECT ANSWER: B) Atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response

RATIONALE: Atrial fibrillation is characterized by an irregular rhythm with chaotic
baseline (no clearly defined P waves), an irregular ventricular rate usually greater
than 100 bpm, and absent P waves. The term "rapid ventricular response" indicates
the ventricular rate exceeds 100 bpm. Atrial flutter would show characteristic
"sawtooth" pattern. Sinus tachycardia would maintain regular rhythm with visible P
waves.




QUESTION 3

,A 68-year-old male patient presents with palpitations and you note on the
monitor a regular rhythm of 160 bpm with P waves buried in the T waves.
Which dysrhythmia is most consistent with these findings?

A) Sinus tachycardia

B) Atrial flutter with 2:1 conduction

C) Atrial fibrillation

D) Ventricular tachycardia

E) Supraventricular tachycardia

CORRECT ANSWER: B) Atrial flutter with 2:1 conduction

RATIONALE: Atrial flutter with 2:1 conduction produces a regular atrial rate around
300 bpm and a ventricular rate of approximately 150 bpm (half the atrial rate). The
characteristic "sawtooth" pattern (flutter waves) may be buried in the T waves,
giving the appearance of P waves in the T wave area. The rhythm would be regular.
Sinus tachycardia would rarely exceed 150 bpm, and atrial fibrillation would be
irregular.




QUESTION 4

You are monitoring a patient who shows a rhythm strip with three
consecutive premature beats originating from the ventricles, each QRS
complex being abnormally wide (0.16 seconds) and bizarre in appearance. The
underlying rhythm is regular. What is this finding called?

A) Isolated premature ventricular contraction

B) Paired premature ventricular contractions

C) Ventricular tachycardia

D) Run of ventricular tachycardia

E) Ventricular couplet

, CORRECT ANSWER: D) Run of ventricular tachycardia

RATIONALE: A run of ventricular tachycardia is defined as three or more
consecutive premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) occurring at a rate faster
than the underlying rhythm. The QRS complexes would be wide (greater than 0.12
seconds) and bizarre. A single PVC is isolated, two PVCs together are called a
"couplet" or "pair," and three or more consecutive PVCs constitute a run of
ventricular tachycardia, which is a life-threatening dysrhythmia requiring immediate
intervention.




QUESTION 5

A patient has a regular bradycardic rhythm of 45 bpm with a PR interval of
0.24 seconds. The P waves and QRS complexes appear normal in morphology.
What is the diagnosis?

A) Sinus bradycardia with first-degree AV block

B) Second-degree AV block type I

C) Complete heart block

D) Junctional escape rhythm

E) Sinus bradycardia

CORRECT ANSWER: A) Sinus bradycardia with first-degree AV block

RATIONALE: First-degree AV block is characterized by a prolonged PR interval
(greater than 0.20 seconds) while maintaining a 1:1 conduction ratio between P
waves and QRS complexes. When this occurs alongside a rate less than 60 bpm, it is
described as sinus bradycardia with first-degree AV block. The patient has both the
slow rate (45 bpm) and the prolonged PR interval (0.24 seconds), meeting criteria
for both conditions concurrently.