Chapter 26, Caring for Clients With Cardiac Dysrhythmias.

1.You are caring for a client who has premature ventricular contractions. What sign or symptom is observed in this client? A) Fluttering B) Nausea C) Hypotension D) Fever Ans: A Feedback: Premature ventricular contractions usually cause a flip-flop sensation in the chest, sometimes described as “fluttering.” Associated signs and symptoms include pallor, nervousness, sweating, and faintness. Symptoms of premature ventricular contractions are not nausea, hypotension, and fever. 2.A pacemaker is the treatment of choice for what cardiac dysrhythmia? A) Supraventricular tachycardia B) Atrial flutter C) Ventricular fibrillation D) Complete heart block Ans: D Feedback: Pacemaker insertion is the treatment for complete heart block. Treatments for supraventricular tachycardia include Valsalva maneuver, unilateral carotid massage, immersion of face in ice water, administration of IV adenosine, cardioversion, and radiofrequency ablation. Cardioversion and drug therapy are used for the treatment of atrial flutter. Treatment for ventricular fibrillation is defibrillation preceded by or followed with epinephrine. 3.The staff educator is teaching a class in dysrhythmias. What statement is correct for defibrillation? A) It is a scheduled procedure 1 to 10 days in advance. B) The client is sedated before the procedure. C) It is used to eliminate ventricular dysrhythmias. D) It uses less electrical energy than cardioversion. Ans: C Feedback: The only treatment for a life-threatening ventricular dysrhythmia is immediate defibrillation, which has the same effect as cardioversion, except that defibrillation is used when there is no functional ventricular contraction. It is an emergency procedure performed during resuscitation. The client is not sedated but is unresponsive. Defibrillation uses more electrical energy (200 to 360 joules) than cardioversion. 4.Your client has just been diagnosed with a dysrhythmia. The client asks you to explain normal sinus rhyth