How does the nurse interpret the patient's cardiac rhythm?
The nurse knows to assess for the drugs' effectiveness, which can be evidenced by which of the following? ... A pacemaker is the treatment of choice for what cardiac dysrhythmia? Supraventricular tachycardia Atrial flutter Ventricular fibrillation Complete heart block. Complete heart block Explanation: Pacemaker insertion is the treatment for ...
What does the client ask the nurse after receiving a pacemaker?
Ventricular tachycardia is a life-threatening dysrhythmia that results from an irritable ectopic focus that takes over as the pacemaker for the heart. The low cardiac output that results can lead quickly to cerebral and myocardial ischemia. Client's …
Which is the best representation of a nursing concern related to cardiac arrhythmia?
A pacemaker is the treatment of choice for what cardiac dysrhythmia? Complete heart block The nurse is assisting with the monitoring of a client with a dysrhythmia that shows the pattern in the accompanying image.
Why is a nurse most concerned with dysrhythmia?
A transvenous pacemaker is used to manage transient bradydysrhythmias like those that occur during acute MIs The nurse is working on a telemetry unit. When the nurse is interpreting a client's heart rhythm, the nurse counts each large block on graph paper as how many seconds? 0.2
Which type of dysrhythmia is treated with a pacemaker?
Pacemakers are mostly used to prevent your heart from beating too slowly. An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is a sophisticated device used primarily to treat ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, two life-threatening heart rhythms. The ICD constantly monitors the heart rhythm.
What is the treatment of choice for ventricular fibrillation?
External electrical defibrillation remains the most successful treatment for ventricular fibrillation (VF). A shock is delivered to the heart to uniformly and simultaneously depolarize a critical mass of the excitable myocardium.
Which cardiac problem is an indication for placement of a permanent pacemaker?
The most common indications for permanent pacemaker implantation are sinus node dysfunction and high-grade atrioventricular block.
Which dysrhythmia is common in older client?
Explanation: Sinus bradycardia is a common dysrhythmia in older clients.
What is the treatment for asystole?
Asystole is treated by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) combined with an intravenous vasopressor such as epinephrine (a.k.a. adrenaline). Sometimes an underlying reversible cause can be detected and treated (the so-called "Hs and Ts", an example of which is hypokalaemia).
What is treatment during asystole?
Standard drug therapy for asystole during cardiac arrest includes epinephrine, atropine, and calcium chloride (CaCl). Recent studies have shown that ventricular fibrillation (VF) can appear to be asystole when recorded from the chest surface.
What rhythms require pacemaker?
Pacemakers are used to treat heart rhythm disorders and related conditions such as:Slow heart rhythm (bradycardia)Fainting spells (syncope)Heart failure.Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
What is the indication for a pacemaker?
The decision to implant a pacemaker usually is based on symptoms of a bradyarrhythmia or tachyarrhythmia in the setting of heart disease. Symptomatic bradycardia is the most common indication.
What is a heart pacemaker used for?
A pacemaker signals the heart to beat when the heartbeat is too slow or irregular. A pulse generator is a small metal case that contains electronic circuitry with a small computer and a battery that regulate the impulses sent to the heart.
Is tachycardia a dysrhythmia?
What is Dysrhythmia? Cardiac dysrhythmias are a problem with the rate or rhythm of your heartbeat caused by changes in your heart's normal sequence of electrical impulses. Your heart may beat too quickly, called tachycardia; too slowly, bradycardia; or with an irregular pattern.
What is the most common treatment for atrial fibrillation?
Heart rate medicines: The most common way to treat atrial fibrillation is with drugs that control your heartbeat....Potassium channel blockers, which slow the electrical signals that cause AFib:Amiodarone (Cordarone, Nexterone Pacerone),Dofetilide (Tikosyn)Sotalol (Betapace, Sorine, Sotylize)
What is SVT in the heart?
Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is as an irregularly fast or erratic heartbeat (arrhythmia) that affects the heart's upper chambers. SVT is also called paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. The typical heart beats about 60 to 100 times a minute.
How to tell if a patient has a permanent pacemaker?
Confirmation that the client has a permanent pacemaker is the characteristic "spike" identified by a thin, straight stroke on the rhythm strip. The scar on the chest is suggestive of pacer implantation but not definitive. There should be no change in pulse quality, and no vibration under the skin.
What is the rhythm of the heart?
Cardiac rhythm refers to the pattern (or pace) of the heartbeat. The conduction system of the heart and the inherent rhythmicity of cardiac muscle produce a rhythm pattern, which greatly influences the heart's ability to pump blood effectively.
How fast does sinus tachycardia go?
Sinus tachycardia is a dysrhythmia that proceeds normally through the conduction pathway but at a faster than usual rate (100 to 150 beats/minute).
What is electrical cardioversion?
Elective electrical cardioversion is a nonemergency procedure done by a physician to stop rapid, but not necessarily life-threatening, atrial dysrhythmias. Chemical cardioversion is not a procedure; it is drug therapy. A Mace procedure is a distractor for this question. Defibrillation is not an elective procedure.
How long should you withhold digitalis before cardioversion?
The nurse should instruct the client to restrict food and oral intake before the cardioversion procedure. Digitalis and diuretics are withheld for 24 to 72 hours before cardioversion. The presence of digitalis and diuretics in myocardial cells decreases the ability to restore normal conduction and increases the chances of a fatal dysrhythmia developing after cardioversion. When the client is in cardiopulmonary arrest, the nurse should facilitate CPR until the client is prepared for defibrillation and not for cardioversion. Monitoring blood pressure every 4 hours is not required to prepare a client with cardiac dysrhythmia.
What are the symptoms of premature ventricular contractions?
Premature ventricular contractions usually cause a flip-flop sensation in the chest, sometimes described as "fluttering." Associated signs and symptoms include pallor , nervousness, sweating, and faintness. Symptoms of premature ventricular contractions are not nausea, hypotension, and fever.
What is an AICD?
The automatic implanted cardioverter defibrillator (AICD) is an internal electrical device used for selected clients with recurrent life-threatening tachydysrhythmias. Therefore, options A, B, and C are incorrect.
When to administer anticoagulant therapy?
Administer anticoagulant therapy as prescribed prior to the procedure
How long before cardioversion?
In contrast, in emergent situations, the client may not be premedicated. Digoxin is usually withheld for 48 hours before cardioversion to ensure the resumption of sinus rhythm with normal conduction. If the cardioversion is elective and the dysrhythmia has lasted longer than 48 hours , anticoagulation performed for a few weeks before cardioversion may be indicated. The client is instructed not to eat or drink for at least 4 hours before the procedure.
Does the complex follow the pacing spike?
The complex does not follow the pacing spike.
Is ventricular asystole the same as pulseless electrical activity?
Ventricular asystole is treated the same as pulseless electrical activity (PEA), focusing on high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with minimal interruptions and identifying underlying and contributing factors. The key to successful treatment is a rapid assessment to identify a possible cause, which is known as the "Hs and Ts": hypoxia, hypovolemia, hydrogen ion (acid/base imbalance), hypo- or hyperglycemia, hypo- or hyperkalemia, hyperthermia, trauma, toxins, tamponade (cardiac), tension pneumothorax, or thrombus (coronary or pulmonary).
What is the treatment of choice for cardiac dysrhythmia?
The nurse knows that a pacemaker is the treatment of choice for what cardiac dysrhythmia?
What is a ventricular syringe used for?
It is used to eliminate ventricular dysrhythmias.
What is the role of a nurse in telemetry?
The nurse is assigned to care for several clients admitted to a telemetry unit. Which clients should the nurse assess first?
What is the ventricular rate of atrial fibrillation?
The atrial rate is 300 to 600, and the ventricular rate is usually 120 to 200 in untreated atrial fibrillation. There are no discernible P waves. Ventricular fibrillation is a rapid, disorganized ventricular rhythm that causes ineffective quivering of the ventricles.
What is the nurse's job to assess a client's pulse?
The nurse needs to assess the client to determine stability before proceeding with further interventions. If the client has a pulse and is relatively stable, elective cardioversion or antidysrhythmic medications may be prescribed.
What is the cause of bradycardia?
Inferior wall MI is a cause of bradycardia and heart blocks. Calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem may cause bradycardia.
Is Defibrillating prioritized before resuscitative measures?
Defibrillating is of priority before any other resuscitative measures according to Advanced Cardiac Life Support protocols.
Can a patient with asymptomatic dysrhythmia be treated?
This client has a stable, asymptomatic dysrhythmia, which usually requires no treatment; this client can be managed by a nurse with less cardiac dysrhythmia training.
Is atropine used for bradycardia?
The client is displaying sinus rhythm with first-degree atrioventicular heart block; this is usually asymptomatic and does not require treatment. Atropine is used in emergency treatment of symptomatic bradycardia. This client has normal vital signs. Digoxin is used in the treatment of atrial fibrillation, which is, by definition, an irregular rhythm. Clonidine is used in the treatment of hypertension; a side effect is bradycardia.
Does amiodarone cause heart rate to increase?
Amiodarone causes prolongation of the QT interval, which can precipitate dysrhythmia. Antidysrhythmic medications cause changes in cardiac rhythm and rate; therefore monitoring of heart rate and rhythm is needed.Electrolyte depletion, specifically potassium and magnesium, may predispose to further dysrhythmia. Although it is always important to monitor vital signs and urine output, these assessments are not specific to amiodarone.
Can a ventricular fibrillation develop at any time?
D) It can develop into ventricular fibrillation at any time.
What does an ICU nurse hear?
The nurse in the intensive care unit (ICU) hears an alarm sound in the patient's room. Arriving in the room, the patient is unresponsive, without a pulse, and a flat line on the monitor. What is the first action by the nurse?
Which node initiates the impulse?
The sinoatrial (SA) node initiates the impulse.
What is the name of the bundle of His, right and left bundle branches?
Sinoatrial (SA) no de, atrioventricular (AV) node, bundle of His, right and left bundle branches, and the Purkinje fibers
What is considered an uncontrolled A-fib with rapid ventricular rhythm?
Atrial fibrillation with a HR > 100 is considered an uncontrolled A-fib with rapid ventricular rhythm (RVR).
What is the treatment for a flutter?
The treatment for Atrial Flutter is the same as for A Fib except the physician can do a carotid massage to slow the HR down.
Is cardiac dysrhythmia a life threatening condition?
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.
Can potassium channel blockers prolong PR interval?
Potassium channel blockers may prolong the PR interval and you may have to lower the dose.