DYSRHYTHMIA FINAL STUDY GUIDE
2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS.
◉ A group of nursing students are discussing atrial flutter. These
students recognize that which of the following are seen with atrial
flutter? Select all that apply:
1) Ventricular rate of 220-300 bpm.
2) Regular rhythm
3) Saw-tooth pattern
4) Measurable PR interval
5) Long QRS interval. Ans: Answer(s): 2, 3
The ATRIAL rate is 250-400 bpm. Ventricular is about 75-150. The
rhythm is regular, with the P wave appearing as little flutter or a "saw
tooth pattern". The PR interval is not measurable r/t this saw-tooth P
wave. The QRS is normal.
◉ A nursing student is aware that which of the following is the
treatment for unstable atrial flutter?
1) Adenosine (Adenocard) 6 mg rapid IVP.
2) Cardioversion with adjacent Heparin therapy
3) Defibrillation STAT followed by CPR.
4) Altemose 3 mg IVP over 1-2 seconds.. Ans: Answer: 2
,Cardioversion is used if the patient is unstable. Anticoagulants are
used if the arrhythmia has stuck around for 48 hr +. Adenosine may
be used with a narrow QRS and regular RR interval
◉ A nurse working on a CVT unit receives report from day shift.
After receiving report, which patient should the nurse see first?
1) A 23-year-old professional tennis player with a HR of 47 bpm.
2) A 69-year-old male with atrial fibrillation who has new onset
confusion.
3) A 72-year-old female with atrial flutter who reports feeling
unusually tired today and yesterday.
4) A 33-year-old female with sinus tachycardia who is asking for her
at-home Metoprolol.. Ans: Answer: 2
Patients with a-fib are at risk for pulmonary and systemic emboli, and
new onset of confusion may indicate a stroke in this patient. Patients
with atrial flutter may feel more tired some days than others.
◉ A nurse on a CVT unit views the monitor and sees the patient in
room 452 has just begun having occasional PVCs. Which action
should the nurse take first?
1) Check on the patient
2) Check last magnesium and potassium levels
3) Document the occurrence and watch for further PVCs
4) Contact the physician. Ans: Answer: 1
Although electrolytes are likely the culprit, the nurse first needs to
first assess the patient. Then, the nurse should look in the patient's
, chart and evaluate or request an order for electrolyte levels. This may
eventually need to be documented, but the nurse can be held liable for
neglect if he/she does not assess the patient first. The physician may
or may not need to be contacted.
◉ Which of the following does the nursing student realize is the
treatment for a stable patient presenting with QRS intervals above
0.12 seconds with a regular rhythm and a rate of 100-250 bpm?
1) Atropine
2) Defibrillation
3) Amiodarone
4) Adenosine. Ans: Answer: 3
This is describing ventricular tachycardia (QRS is a giveaway), and
the treatment for a stable patient is Amiodarone or cardioversion. If
the patient were unstable, we'd go ahead and defibrillate.
◉ 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?
a) Administer atropine 0.5 mg
b) Administer epinephrine
c) Defibrillate with 360 joules
d) Begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Ans: Answer: D
We cannot defibrillate asystole
2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS.
◉ A group of nursing students are discussing atrial flutter. These
students recognize that which of the following are seen with atrial
flutter? Select all that apply:
1) Ventricular rate of 220-300 bpm.
2) Regular rhythm
3) Saw-tooth pattern
4) Measurable PR interval
5) Long QRS interval. Ans: Answer(s): 2, 3
The ATRIAL rate is 250-400 bpm. Ventricular is about 75-150. The
rhythm is regular, with the P wave appearing as little flutter or a "saw
tooth pattern". The PR interval is not measurable r/t this saw-tooth P
wave. The QRS is normal.
◉ A nursing student is aware that which of the following is the
treatment for unstable atrial flutter?
1) Adenosine (Adenocard) 6 mg rapid IVP.
2) Cardioversion with adjacent Heparin therapy
3) Defibrillation STAT followed by CPR.
4) Altemose 3 mg IVP over 1-2 seconds.. Ans: Answer: 2
,Cardioversion is used if the patient is unstable. Anticoagulants are
used if the arrhythmia has stuck around for 48 hr +. Adenosine may
be used with a narrow QRS and regular RR interval
◉ A nurse working on a CVT unit receives report from day shift.
After receiving report, which patient should the nurse see first?
1) A 23-year-old professional tennis player with a HR of 47 bpm.
2) A 69-year-old male with atrial fibrillation who has new onset
confusion.
3) A 72-year-old female with atrial flutter who reports feeling
unusually tired today and yesterday.
4) A 33-year-old female with sinus tachycardia who is asking for her
at-home Metoprolol.. Ans: Answer: 2
Patients with a-fib are at risk for pulmonary and systemic emboli, and
new onset of confusion may indicate a stroke in this patient. Patients
with atrial flutter may feel more tired some days than others.
◉ A nurse on a CVT unit views the monitor and sees the patient in
room 452 has just begun having occasional PVCs. Which action
should the nurse take first?
1) Check on the patient
2) Check last magnesium and potassium levels
3) Document the occurrence and watch for further PVCs
4) Contact the physician. Ans: Answer: 1
Although electrolytes are likely the culprit, the nurse first needs to
first assess the patient. Then, the nurse should look in the patient's
, chart and evaluate or request an order for electrolyte levels. This may
eventually need to be documented, but the nurse can be held liable for
neglect if he/she does not assess the patient first. The physician may
or may not need to be contacted.
◉ Which of the following does the nursing student realize is the
treatment for a stable patient presenting with QRS intervals above
0.12 seconds with a regular rhythm and a rate of 100-250 bpm?
1) Atropine
2) Defibrillation
3) Amiodarone
4) Adenosine. Ans: Answer: 3
This is describing ventricular tachycardia (QRS is a giveaway), and
the treatment for a stable patient is Amiodarone or cardioversion. If
the patient were unstable, we'd go ahead and defibrillate.
◉ 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?
a) Administer atropine 0.5 mg
b) Administer epinephrine
c) Defibrillate with 360 joules
d) Begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Ans: Answer: D
We cannot defibrillate asystole
