Author Question: The nurse is assigned to watch the cardiac monitors in the constant care unit and notes four ... (Read 41 times)

Engineer · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

The nurse is assigned to watch the cardiac monitors in the constant care unit and notes four different patients displaying arrhythmias. Which arrhythmia is the nurse's highest immediate priority?

A) Sinus bradycardia at a rate of 54 beats/min
B) Atrial flutter
C) Sinus tachycardia at a rate of 108 beats/min
D) Ventricular fibrillation

Question 2

A patient has been newly diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. What important teaching will the nurse provide the family?

A) If one dose of medication is missed double the next dose
B) The warning signs of drug overdose
C) How to encourage activity when the patient is tired
D) Importance of monitoring level of consciousness

lkanara2 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

D
Feedback:
Ventricular fibrillation is seen as a bizarre, irregular, distorted wave. It is potentially fatal because it reflects a lack of any coordinated stimulation of the ventricles. The ventricles' inability to contract in a coordinated fashion results in no blood being pumped to the body or the brain. Thus, cardiac output is totally lost. Sinus bradycardia, sinus tachycardia, and atrial flutter may all require attention but are not as life threatening as ventricular fibrillation.

Answer to Question 2

B
Feedback:
The patient who is being treated for myasthenia gravis and his or her significant other should both receive instruction in drug administration, warning signs of drug overdose, and signs and symptoms to report immediately to enhance patient knowledge about drug therapy and to promote compliance. Missed doses should not be doubled with next dose because this will lead to overdosage. Patients with myasthenia gravis will experience muscle weakness and should not be pushed to do more than they can tolerate. Level of consciousness is not a concern in patients with myasthenia gravis.