Nokea
A nurse cares for a client with an intravenous temporary pacemaker for bradycardia. The nurse observes the presence of a pacing spike but no QRS complex on the clients electrocardiogram. Which action should the nurse take next?
- A. Administer intravenous diltiazem (Cardizem)
- B. Assess vital signs and level of consciousness
- C. Administer sublingual nitroglycerin
- D. Assess capillary refill and temperature
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In temporary pacing, the wires are threaded onto the epicardial surface of the heart and exit through the chest wall. The pacemaker spike should be followed immediately by a QRS complex. Pacing spikes seen without subsequent QRS complexes imply loss of capture. If there is no capture, then there is no ventricular depolarization and correction. The nurse should assess for cardiac output via vital signs and level of consciousness. The other interventions would not determine if the client is tolerating the loss of capture.
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A nurse assesses a clients electrocardiogram (ECG) and observes the reading shown below: How should the nurse document this clients ECG strip?
- A. Ventricular rhythm
- B. Ventricular fibrillation
- C. Sinus rhythm with premature atrial contractions (PACs)
- D. Sinus rhythm with premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Sinus rhythm with PVCs has an underlying regular sinus rhythm with ventricular depolarization that sometimes precedes atrial depolarization. Ventricular dysrhythmias and ventricular fibrillation would not have sinus beats present. Premature atrial contractions are atrial contractions initiated from another region of the atria before the sinus node initiates atrial depolarization.
A nurse assesses a client with atrial fibrillation. Which manifestation should alert the nurse to the possibility of a serious complication from this condition?
- A. Sinus tachycardia
- B. Speech alterations
- C. Fatigue
- D. Dyspnea with activity
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Clients with atrial fibrillation are at risk for embolic stroke. Evidence of embolic events includes changes in speech, sensory function, and motor function. Clients with atrial fibrillation often have a rapid ventricular response as a result. Fatigue is a nonspecific complaint. Clients with atrial fibrillation often have dyspnea as a result of the decreased cardiac output caused by the rhythm disturbance.
A telemetry nurse assesses a client with third-degree heart block who has wide QRS complexes and a heart rate of 35 beats/min on the cardiac monitor. Which assessment should the nurse complete next?
- A. Pulmonary auscultation
- B. Pulse strength and amplitude
- C. Level of consciousness
- D. Mobility and gait stability
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A heart rate of 40 beats/min or less with widened QRS complexes could have hemodynamic consequences. The client is at risk for inadequate cerebral perfusion. The nurse should assess for level of consciousness, lightheadedness, confusion, dyspnea, and seizure activity. Although the other assessments should be completed, the client's level of consciousness is the priority.
A nurse cares for a client who is on a cardiac monitor. The monitor displayed the rhythm shown below: Which action should the nurse take first?
- A. Assess airway, breathing, and level of consciousness
- B. Administer an amiodarone bolus followed by a drip
- C. Cardiovert the client with a biphasic defibrillator
- D. Begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Ventricular dysrhythmias and ventricular fibrillation require immediate assessment of the client's airway, breathing, and level of consciousness to determine if the client is alert and breathing. If the client is pulseless, the nurse should call a Code Blue and begin CPR. Defibrillation is the treatment of choice for pulseless ventricular fibrillation. Amiodarone is the antiarrhythmic of choice, but it is not the first action.
A nurse assesses a client with tachycardia. Which clinical manifestation requires immediate intervention by the nurse?
- A. Mid-sternal chest pain
- B. Increased urine output
- C. Mild orthostatic hypotension
- D. P wave touching the T wave
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Chest pain, possibly angina, indicates that tachycardia may be increasing the client's myocardial workload and oxygen demand to such an extent that normal oxygen delivery cannot keep pace. This results in myocardial hypoxia and pain. Increased urinary output and mild orthostatic hypotension are not life-threatening conditions and therefore do not require immediate intervention. The P wave touching the T wave indicates tachycardia and should be assessed to determine the underlying rhythm and cause, but this is not as critical as chest pain, which indicates cardiac cell death.