A cardiac dysrhythmia is an abnormal heartbeat: the rhythm may be irregular in it’s pacing or the heart rate may be low or high. Some dysrhythmias are potentially life threatening while other dysrhythmias are normal. Take the cardiac dysrhythmias nursing interventions on stroke quiz and get to refresh your memory before the nursing exam.
Diaphoresis
Chest pain
Unaware it is happening
None of the above
Slow the heart rate down; call the doctor right away, there is nothing a nurse can do to help the patient.
Relax the patient; encourage him/her to lay down, give medications to promote sleep
Slow the heart rate; encourage the patient to rest, give ordered medications for heart rate and pain, and provide O2 if indicated
A patient who just walked up 4 flights of stairs and has a HR of 190
A sleeping patient with a HR of 55
A sleeping patient with a HR of 190
No changes because the patient is lying in bed. He is probably just relaxing.
Go in and take his pulse by hand to be sure it is not just equipment/positioning issue, then call the doctor with the results and ask for atropine to raise the heart rate
Go in and take his pulse by hand, then monitor the rhythm, and check his vitals every 15 minutes for the next hour, then call the doctor and request a lower dose of the Beta blocker. Encourage the patient to stay in bed.
True
False
Print off a strip and put it in the chart with a note for the doctor.
Note the underlying rhythm
Note whether the PACs are frequent, rare, or occasional.
All of the above
True
False
SA node; AV node
Ventricles; SA node
AV node; SA node
Nothing unless the patient is not tolerating it; if not tolerating, go with option B or C.
Chemical cardioversion with digoxen, Ca channel blockers, or diltiazem
Electrocardioversion with a defibrillator set on synchronise
Both b and c
All of the above
Given long-term treatment with medications like digoxen, Beta blockers, and Cumadin
Sent straight to long-term care because they are too much at risk to be at home
Cured after one defibrillation and sent home with no meds
True
False
Tolerate it; need a pacemaker
Need a pacemaker; tolerate it
Respond well to meds; need electrocardioconversion
30 seconds and multiply it by two
1 minute
2 minutes and divide it by two
Potassium channel blockers may prolong the PR interval and you may have to lower the dose.
Digoxen and Calcium channel blockers may prolong the PR interval and you may have to lower the dose.
Potassium and Calcium channel blockers may shorten the PR interval and you may have to increase the dose.
Tolerate it; need a pacemaker
Need a pacemaker; tolerate it
Respond well to meds; need electrocardioconversion
Decreased BP, SOB, decreased O2, decreased HR, mentation changes
Diaphoresis, angina, SOB, "crackles" in lungs, dizziness
Orthostatic hypotension, increased HR, increased temp, and SOB
Pacemaker
Cardioconversion
All of the above
True
False
Put a strip in his chart and make a note for the doctor to look at it.
Call the physician right away and notify him.
Do nothing if patient is tolerating it except monitor for a decline in condition.
Call the doctor right away and have him come see the patient.
Monitor the patient's condition for 5 minutes, if his condition does not improve, then call the doctor.
Call a code; the patient needs to be cardioconverted right away.
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