DYSRHYTHMIA BASIC A COMPETENCY EXAM
2026 MOCK TEST WITH DETAILED
EXPLANATIONS
◉ Premature Atrial Complexes. Answer: Rate: Depends on the
underlying rhythm
Regularity: depends on the number of PAC's present
P-waves: may be upright or inverted, will appear different than
those of the underlying rhythm
QRS complexes: Normal
PR interval: may be normal, shortened, or prolonged
◉ which ECG complexes P waves always looks different. Answer:
PACs
◉ Junctional Tachycardia. Answer: Rate: 100 to 180bpm
Regularity: regular
P-wave: inverted, absent, or occur after the QRS-complex
PR-interval: short or absent
◉ Ventricular Tachycardia. Answer:
,◉ premature ventricular contraction (PVC). Answer: Rhythm:
irregular
rate: WNL
P wave: absent or inverted
PRI: none
QRS: greater than 0.12 s. with t waves in opposite direction
◉ asystole. Answer: nonshockable. no rhythms or cardiac output.
there at be super tiny atrial beat.
◉ ventricular fibrillation. Answer: chaotic rhythm that begins in the
ventricle and has no organized ventricular depolarization. the waves
quiver and cannot contract so there is no pulse waves are not
normal.
◉ Torsades de pointes. Answer: PMVT that occurs in the presence of
prolonged QT interval (0.45 sec or more).
caused by hypomagnesium
treatment: magnesium
,◉ what are idioventricular rhythms. Answer: three or more
ventricular escape beats that occur in a row at 20-40 bpm (because
of the Purkinje fibers).
◉ agonal rhythm or a dying heart. Answer: ventricular rate less than
20 bpm.
◉ how to identify an idioventricular rhythm. Answer: no P wave,
wide QRS complex, and inverted t waves
◉ Premature Junctional Complex. Answer: Rhythm: irregular with
premature beats (the beat that is abnormal will cause irregularities)
Rate: The underlying rate
P Wave: Present before, during (hidden) or after QRS, if visible it is
*inverted*
PR Interval: Absent or short
QRS: Normal (0.06-0.10 sec)
◉ Inverted P wave. Answer: Junction rhythm - because the atrial
rhythm is retrograded
◉ atrioventricular node. Answer: a group of specialized cells that
conduct an electrical impulse through the heart; located in the floor
, of the R. atrium immediately behind the tricuspid valve and near the
coronary sinus opening
◉ occurs when an irritable site in the AV junction fires before the SA
node is ready. Answer: PJC
◉ what do you do about a PJC. Answer: usually asymptomatic
because the QRS waves are normal
◉ controlled a-fib vs uncontrolled a-fib. Answer:
◉ Junctional Escape beat. Answer: Rhythm irregular bc of late beat
Rate: WNL
P wave comes before, during or after the QRS and is inverted
If P wave comes before QRS, PR is short
QRS, QT normal
◉ protective mechanism for when the SA node doesn't fire like it is
supposed to.. Answer: junctional escape beat
◉ s/s of junctional escape beat. Answer: weakness, chest pain or
pressure, syncope, altered LOC, hypotension, dizzy
2026 MOCK TEST WITH DETAILED
EXPLANATIONS
◉ Premature Atrial Complexes. Answer: Rate: Depends on the
underlying rhythm
Regularity: depends on the number of PAC's present
P-waves: may be upright or inverted, will appear different than
those of the underlying rhythm
QRS complexes: Normal
PR interval: may be normal, shortened, or prolonged
◉ which ECG complexes P waves always looks different. Answer:
PACs
◉ Junctional Tachycardia. Answer: Rate: 100 to 180bpm
Regularity: regular
P-wave: inverted, absent, or occur after the QRS-complex
PR-interval: short or absent
◉ Ventricular Tachycardia. Answer:
,◉ premature ventricular contraction (PVC). Answer: Rhythm:
irregular
rate: WNL
P wave: absent or inverted
PRI: none
QRS: greater than 0.12 s. with t waves in opposite direction
◉ asystole. Answer: nonshockable. no rhythms or cardiac output.
there at be super tiny atrial beat.
◉ ventricular fibrillation. Answer: chaotic rhythm that begins in the
ventricle and has no organized ventricular depolarization. the waves
quiver and cannot contract so there is no pulse waves are not
normal.
◉ Torsades de pointes. Answer: PMVT that occurs in the presence of
prolonged QT interval (0.45 sec or more).
caused by hypomagnesium
treatment: magnesium
,◉ what are idioventricular rhythms. Answer: three or more
ventricular escape beats that occur in a row at 20-40 bpm (because
of the Purkinje fibers).
◉ agonal rhythm or a dying heart. Answer: ventricular rate less than
20 bpm.
◉ how to identify an idioventricular rhythm. Answer: no P wave,
wide QRS complex, and inverted t waves
◉ Premature Junctional Complex. Answer: Rhythm: irregular with
premature beats (the beat that is abnormal will cause irregularities)
Rate: The underlying rate
P Wave: Present before, during (hidden) or after QRS, if visible it is
*inverted*
PR Interval: Absent or short
QRS: Normal (0.06-0.10 sec)
◉ Inverted P wave. Answer: Junction rhythm - because the atrial
rhythm is retrograded
◉ atrioventricular node. Answer: a group of specialized cells that
conduct an electrical impulse through the heart; located in the floor
, of the R. atrium immediately behind the tricuspid valve and near the
coronary sinus opening
◉ occurs when an irritable site in the AV junction fires before the SA
node is ready. Answer: PJC
◉ what do you do about a PJC. Answer: usually asymptomatic
because the QRS waves are normal
◉ controlled a-fib vs uncontrolled a-fib. Answer:
◉ Junctional Escape beat. Answer: Rhythm irregular bc of late beat
Rate: WNL
P wave comes before, during or after the QRS and is inverted
If P wave comes before QRS, PR is short
QRS, QT normal
◉ protective mechanism for when the SA node doesn't fire like it is
supposed to.. Answer: junctional escape beat
◉ s/s of junctional escape beat. Answer: weakness, chest pain or
pressure, syncope, altered LOC, hypotension, dizzy
