Author Question: A patient has a normal cardiac rhythm and a heart rate of 72 beats/minute. The nurse determines that ... (Read 167 times)

WhattoUnderstand · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

A patient has a normal cardiac rhythm and a heart rate of 72 beats/minute. The nurse determines that the P-R interval is 0.24 seconds. The most appropriate intervention by the nurse would be to

a. notify the health care provider immediately.
b. give atropine per agency dysrhythmia protocol.
c. prepare the patient for temporary pacemaker insertion.
d. document the finding and continue to monitor the patient.

Question 2

The nurse notes that a patient's cardiac monitor shows that every other beat is earlier than expected, has no visible P wave, and has a QRS complex that is wide and bizarre in shape. How will the nurse document the rhythm?

a. Ventricular couplets
b. Ventricular bigeminy
c. Ventricular R-on-T phenomenon
d. Multifocal premature ventricular contractions

jaymee143 · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
First-degree atrioventricular (AV) block is asymptomatic and requires ongoing monitoring because it may progress to more serious forms of heart block. The rate is normal, so there is no indication that atropine is needed. Immediate notification of the health care provider about an asymptomatic rhythm is not necessary.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
Ventricular bigeminy describes a rhythm in which every other QRS complex is wide and bizarre looking. Pairs of wide QRS complexes are described as ventricular couplets. There is no indication that the premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are multifocal or that the R-on-T phenomenon is occurring.