NUR 398 DYSRHYTHMIAS QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS
A college student presents to the campus clinic reporting palpitations. Frequent
premature atrial contractions are identified on the electrocardiogram (ECG). What does
the nurse include in teaching this patient? Select all that apply.
1
Smoking cessation
2
Limited physical exertion
3
Decreased consumption of caffeinated beverages
4
Improvement of hydration with increased water intake
5
Referral to the counseling center for stress management - Answers - 1,3,5
Stress is a cause of atrial irritability leading to premature atrial contractions. More
effective ways of stress management may be explored at the counseling center.
Nicotine and caffeine also increase the incidence of premature atrial contractions and
should be avoided or reduced. Increasing water intake will not alleviate the problem.
Limiting physical exertion is not indicated.
Which complications are associated with carotid sinus massage therapy? Select all that
apply.
1
Bradycardia
2
Cerebral damage
3
Ventricular fibrillation
4
Premature atrial complexes
5
Premature ventricular complexes - Answers - 1,2,3
Supraventricular tachydysrhythmias are treated temporarily by carotid sinus massage
therapy. Complications of this therapy include bradycardia, cerebral damage, and
ventricular fibrillation. Premature atrial complexes are caused by irritated atrial tissue,
which is not associated with carotid sinus massage therapy. Premature ventricular
complexes are caused by irritated ventricular tissue, which is also not associated with
carotid sinus massage therapy.
The nurse is caring for a patient with sinus tachycardia. For which underlying causes
does the nurse assess? Select all that apply.
1
, Fever
2
Anxiety
3
Graves' disease
4
Straining when moving the bowels
5
Use of a beta-adrenergic blocking drug - Answers - 1,2,3
Sinus tachycardia results from sympathetic nervous system stimulation or
parasympathetic inhibition, which increases the heart rate to over 100 beats per minute.
Causes may include fever, anxiety, pain, stress, hyperthyroidism (Graves' disease),
hypoxemia, and pulmonary embolism. Beta-adrenergic blocking drugs inhibit or block
the sympathetic nervous system resulting in lower heart rates or bradycardia. Straining
during defecation (Valsalva maneuver) may cause vagal stimulation of the heart with
resulting bradycardia.
When caring for a patient who has been admitted with tachydysrhythmia, which
assessment finding would the nurse expect?
1
Fainting
2
Flushing
3
Agitation
4
Bounding pulse - Answers - 1
Patients with tachydysrhythmia may experience syncope (blackout or fainting),
palpitations, chest pressure/pain, pallor (not flushing), and restlessness/anxiety.
Agitation is a sign of hypoxemia, and a bounding pulse is associated with increased
cardiac output or increased intracranial pressure.
Which cardiac rhythm typically deteriorates into ventricular fibrillation?
1
Atrial flutter
2
Atrial fibrillation
3
Ventricular tachycardia
4
Third-degree heart block - Answers - 3
Ventricular tachycardia (VT) may occur in patients with ischemic heart disease,
myocardial infarction (MI), cardiomyopathy, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, valvular
heart disease, heart failure, drug toxicity, hypotension, or ventricular aneurysm. In
patients who go into cardiac arrest, VT is commonly the initial rhythm before
deteriorating into ventricular fibrillation (VF) as the terminal rhythm. Atrial fibrillation and
VERIFIED ANSWERS
A college student presents to the campus clinic reporting palpitations. Frequent
premature atrial contractions are identified on the electrocardiogram (ECG). What does
the nurse include in teaching this patient? Select all that apply.
1
Smoking cessation
2
Limited physical exertion
3
Decreased consumption of caffeinated beverages
4
Improvement of hydration with increased water intake
5
Referral to the counseling center for stress management - Answers - 1,3,5
Stress is a cause of atrial irritability leading to premature atrial contractions. More
effective ways of stress management may be explored at the counseling center.
Nicotine and caffeine also increase the incidence of premature atrial contractions and
should be avoided or reduced. Increasing water intake will not alleviate the problem.
Limiting physical exertion is not indicated.
Which complications are associated with carotid sinus massage therapy? Select all that
apply.
1
Bradycardia
2
Cerebral damage
3
Ventricular fibrillation
4
Premature atrial complexes
5
Premature ventricular complexes - Answers - 1,2,3
Supraventricular tachydysrhythmias are treated temporarily by carotid sinus massage
therapy. Complications of this therapy include bradycardia, cerebral damage, and
ventricular fibrillation. Premature atrial complexes are caused by irritated atrial tissue,
which is not associated with carotid sinus massage therapy. Premature ventricular
complexes are caused by irritated ventricular tissue, which is also not associated with
carotid sinus massage therapy.
The nurse is caring for a patient with sinus tachycardia. For which underlying causes
does the nurse assess? Select all that apply.
1
, Fever
2
Anxiety
3
Graves' disease
4
Straining when moving the bowels
5
Use of a beta-adrenergic blocking drug - Answers - 1,2,3
Sinus tachycardia results from sympathetic nervous system stimulation or
parasympathetic inhibition, which increases the heart rate to over 100 beats per minute.
Causes may include fever, anxiety, pain, stress, hyperthyroidism (Graves' disease),
hypoxemia, and pulmonary embolism. Beta-adrenergic blocking drugs inhibit or block
the sympathetic nervous system resulting in lower heart rates or bradycardia. Straining
during defecation (Valsalva maneuver) may cause vagal stimulation of the heart with
resulting bradycardia.
When caring for a patient who has been admitted with tachydysrhythmia, which
assessment finding would the nurse expect?
1
Fainting
2
Flushing
3
Agitation
4
Bounding pulse - Answers - 1
Patients with tachydysrhythmia may experience syncope (blackout or fainting),
palpitations, chest pressure/pain, pallor (not flushing), and restlessness/anxiety.
Agitation is a sign of hypoxemia, and a bounding pulse is associated with increased
cardiac output or increased intracranial pressure.
Which cardiac rhythm typically deteriorates into ventricular fibrillation?
1
Atrial flutter
2
Atrial fibrillation
3
Ventricular tachycardia
4
Third-degree heart block - Answers - 3
Ventricular tachycardia (VT) may occur in patients with ischemic heart disease,
myocardial infarction (MI), cardiomyopathy, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, valvular
heart disease, heart failure, drug toxicity, hypotension, or ventricular aneurysm. In
patients who go into cardiac arrest, VT is commonly the initial rhythm before
deteriorating into ventricular fibrillation (VF) as the terminal rhythm. Atrial fibrillation and
