Author Question: A 64-year-old patient is seen in the emergency department for palpitations and mild shortness of ... (Read 32 times)

lracut11 · **on:** Jul 22, 2018

A 64-year-old patient is seen in the emergency department for palpitations and mild shortness of breath. The electrocardiogram reveals a normal P wave, P-R interval, and QRS complex with a regular rhythm and a rate of 108 beats per minute.

The nurse should recognize this as which type of cardiac dysrhythmia? a. Sinus dysrhythmia
b. Sinus tachycardia
c. Supraventricular tachycardia
d. Ventricular tachycardia

Question 2

The patient expresses his attraction to the nurse who is caring for him. The patient asks the nurse for her phone number. How should the nurse first attempt to handle the situation?

a. Redefine the boundaries of professionalism.
b. Give the patient her number, but ask that he call after work hours.
c. Give the patient false information to appease him.
d. Ask a coworker to take over care for this patient.

josephsuarez · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

B

Feedback
A A sinus dysrhythmia has a rate of 60 to 100 beats per minute, slows during inspiration, and increases with expiration. This patient is not experiencing a sinus dysrhythmia.
B The patient is experiencing sinus tachycardia. The rhythm is regular with a normal P wave, normal QRS complex, and a rate of 100 to 180 beats per minute.
C With supraventricular tachycardia, the heart rate is 150 to 250 beats per minute, the P wave may be buried in the preceding T wave, and the PR interval is variable. This patient is not experiencing supraventricular tachycardia.
D With ventricular tachycardia, the rhythm is slightly irregular at a rate of 100 to 200 beats per minute, the P wave is absent, PR interval is absent, and the QRS complex is wide. This patient is not experiencing ventricular tachycardia.

Answer to Question 2

A
The first action the nurse should take is to redefine the boundaries of the nurse-patient relationship. If those attempts fail, the nurse may want to consider consulting her supervisor and discussing whether a different nurse should care for that patient. Giving out personal information or faulty information could be considered unethical.