RELIAS DYSRHYTHMIA BASIC TEST 2026
MASTER STUDY EXAM
◉ The nurse sees the following rhythm on the monitor. Which of the
following lab values does the nurse identify as being most likely to
have caused this dysrhythmia?
a) K 3.0
b) Ca 10.5
c) Hgb 9
d) Magnesium 2.1. Answer: Answer: C. Anemia can contribute to
sinus tachycardia.
◉ The patient who has recently been experiencing runs of
ventricular tachycardia suddenly loses consciousness. The patient is
defibrillated, and the rate returns as the following. What should the
nurse do first?
A) Begin compressions
B) Shock the client again immediately
C) Prepare for intubation
D) Administer adenosine. Answer: Answer: A. Following
defibrillation, CPR is immediately initiated if a perfusable rhythm is
not initiated. The client may need to be shocked again, but chest
compressions must begin first.
,◉ A patient with cardiomyopathy has been given an ICD. Which of
the following medications would the nurse expect to see in the MAR
for this patient?
A) Warfarin
B) Cardizem
C) Nitroglycerin
D) Digoxin. Answer: Answer: B. Antiarrhythmic medications are
prescribed with the use of an ICD in order to prevent the tachycardic
(or other deadly arrhythmia) from occurring in the first place. This
makes sure that the ICD is used only when absolutely necessary.
◉ The patient with a history of hypertension and diabetes has the
following rhythm strip. The patient's vitals are as follows: BP
145/89, HR 90, SpO2 95%, RR 19. Which of the following does the
nurse expect to do at this time?
a) Prepare the client for cardioversion STAT
b) Begin administering anticoagulants
c) Grab the crash cart for administration of adenosine
d) Teach the client about possibility of pacemaker installation.
Answer: Answer: B. Atrial flutter places the client at high risk for
development of clot formation in the atria. Because the client is
stable at this time, cardioversion or adenosine would not be
performed at this time. Before cardioversion can occur in a patient,
anticoagulant therapy should be begun at least 48 hours beforehand
if possible.
,◉ 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?
a) Physician
b) Crash cart
c) IV pump
d) EKG monitor
e) Lidocaine. Answer: Answer: A, B, and D. Adenosine is
administered as a very quick IV push. The physician must be present
in the room and the crash cart must be on hand. An ekg monitor
should be in the room to monitor the effectiveness of the
medication.
◉ The nurse has just administered adenosine via IV push and sees
the following rhythm on the monitor. What is the nurse's priority
intervention?
a) Apply conductive gel and defibrillate the patient
b) Document the findings and continue to monitor
c) Administer another mg of the medication
d) Begin chest compressions. Answer: Answer: B. This finding would
be expected upon administration of adenosine. The rhythm should
then begin again in some other rhythm, hopefully normal sinus
rhythm. It would be important to document the exact time of this
change and continue to monitor the change back to NSR. If this
, change does not occur, or if another rhythm is produced,
appropriate action would then be taken based on the result.
◉ You, the nurse, note the following rhythm on the EKG monitor for
a patient named billy. What is the first thing the nurse should do?
a) Check for a pulse
b) Tell Billy to try to poop
c) Prepare to defibrillate billy
d) Prepare to administer Amiodorone. Answer: Answer: B. With SVT
(Supraventricular tachycardia), the first thing to do would be to
instruct the pt. to perform the Valsalva maneuver by bearing down.
◉ A group of nursing students are discussing atrial flutter. These
students recognize that which of the following are seen with atrial
flutter? Select all that apply:
1) Ventricular rate of 220-300 bpm.
2) Regular rhythm
3) Saw-tooth pattern
4) Measurable PR interval
5) Long QRS interval. Answer: Answer(s): 2, 3
The ATRIAL rate is 220-300 bpm. Ventricular is about 75-150. The
rhythm is regular, with the P wave appearing as little flutter or a
MASTER STUDY EXAM
◉ The nurse sees the following rhythm on the monitor. Which of the
following lab values does the nurse identify as being most likely to
have caused this dysrhythmia?
a) K 3.0
b) Ca 10.5
c) Hgb 9
d) Magnesium 2.1. Answer: Answer: C. Anemia can contribute to
sinus tachycardia.
◉ The patient who has recently been experiencing runs of
ventricular tachycardia suddenly loses consciousness. The patient is
defibrillated, and the rate returns as the following. What should the
nurse do first?
A) Begin compressions
B) Shock the client again immediately
C) Prepare for intubation
D) Administer adenosine. Answer: Answer: A. Following
defibrillation, CPR is immediately initiated if a perfusable rhythm is
not initiated. The client may need to be shocked again, but chest
compressions must begin first.
,◉ A patient with cardiomyopathy has been given an ICD. Which of
the following medications would the nurse expect to see in the MAR
for this patient?
A) Warfarin
B) Cardizem
C) Nitroglycerin
D) Digoxin. Answer: Answer: B. Antiarrhythmic medications are
prescribed with the use of an ICD in order to prevent the tachycardic
(or other deadly arrhythmia) from occurring in the first place. This
makes sure that the ICD is used only when absolutely necessary.
◉ The patient with a history of hypertension and diabetes has the
following rhythm strip. The patient's vitals are as follows: BP
145/89, HR 90, SpO2 95%, RR 19. Which of the following does the
nurse expect to do at this time?
a) Prepare the client for cardioversion STAT
b) Begin administering anticoagulants
c) Grab the crash cart for administration of adenosine
d) Teach the client about possibility of pacemaker installation.
Answer: Answer: B. Atrial flutter places the client at high risk for
development of clot formation in the atria. Because the client is
stable at this time, cardioversion or adenosine would not be
performed at this time. Before cardioversion can occur in a patient,
anticoagulant therapy should be begun at least 48 hours beforehand
if possible.
,◉ 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?
a) Physician
b) Crash cart
c) IV pump
d) EKG monitor
e) Lidocaine. Answer: Answer: A, B, and D. Adenosine is
administered as a very quick IV push. The physician must be present
in the room and the crash cart must be on hand. An ekg monitor
should be in the room to monitor the effectiveness of the
medication.
◉ The nurse has just administered adenosine via IV push and sees
the following rhythm on the monitor. What is the nurse's priority
intervention?
a) Apply conductive gel and defibrillate the patient
b) Document the findings and continue to monitor
c) Administer another mg of the medication
d) Begin chest compressions. Answer: Answer: B. This finding would
be expected upon administration of adenosine. The rhythm should
then begin again in some other rhythm, hopefully normal sinus
rhythm. It would be important to document the exact time of this
change and continue to monitor the change back to NSR. If this
, change does not occur, or if another rhythm is produced,
appropriate action would then be taken based on the result.
◉ You, the nurse, note the following rhythm on the EKG monitor for
a patient named billy. What is the first thing the nurse should do?
a) Check for a pulse
b) Tell Billy to try to poop
c) Prepare to defibrillate billy
d) Prepare to administer Amiodorone. Answer: Answer: B. With SVT
(Supraventricular tachycardia), the first thing to do would be to
instruct the pt. to perform the Valsalva maneuver by bearing down.
◉ A group of nursing students are discussing atrial flutter. These
students recognize that which of the following are seen with atrial
flutter? Select all that apply:
1) Ventricular rate of 220-300 bpm.
2) Regular rhythm
3) Saw-tooth pattern
4) Measurable PR interval
5) Long QRS interval. Answer: Answer(s): 2, 3
The ATRIAL rate is 220-300 bpm. Ventricular is about 75-150. The
rhythm is regular, with the P wave appearing as little flutter or a
