BASIC ARRHYTHMIA Sentara
Test 1 Questions and Answers
Graded A+
1. Which feature is the best first step in rhythm interpretation?
A. Check blood pressure
B. Determine the rate
C. Count the number of Q waves
D. Measure ST elevation
Answer: B
Rationale: Rhythm interpretation begins with rate, then regularity, P waves,
PR interval, and QRS width.
2. A normal sinus rhythm typically has which heart rate?
A. 20–40 bpm
B. 40–60 bpm
C. 60–100 bpm
D. 100–150 bpm
Answer: C
Rationale: Normal sinus rhythm is usually 60 to 100 beats per minute.
3. Sinus rhythm is identified by:
A. Absent P waves and wide QRS
B. Upright, uniform P waves before each QRS
C. Irregularly irregular rhythm only
D. Sawtooth flutter waves
Answer: B
Rationale: A sinus rhythm originates from the SA node and shows P waves
before every QRS.
4. Which rhythm is usually considered normal in a healthy adult?
A. Sinus tachycardia
B. Atrial fibrillation
C. Normal sinus rhythm
, D. Ventricular tachycardia
Answer: C
Rationale: Normal sinus rhythm is the standard normal rhythm.
5. Sinus bradycardia is defined as a sinus rhythm with a rate:
A. Below 60 bpm
B. Below 50 bpm
C. Above 100 bpm
D. Above 150 bpm
Answer: A
Rationale: Sinus bradycardia is a sinus rhythm under 60 beats per minute.
6. Sinus tachycardia is defined as a sinus rhythm with a rate:
A. Below 60 bpm
B. 60–100 bpm
C. Above 100 bpm
D. Above 150 bpm only
Answer: C
Rationale: Sinus tachycardia is a sinus rhythm faster than 100 beats per
minute.
7. A sinus rhythm with a rate of 58 bpm in a sleeping athlete may be:
A. Always an emergency
B. A normal physiologic finding
C. Ventricular fibrillation
D. A second-degree block
Answer: B
Rationale: Bradycardia can be normal in conditioned athletes or during
sleep.
8. Which rhythm is most likely to be irregularly irregular?
A. Sinus rhythm
B. Atrial fibrillation
C. Sinus bradycardia
D. Junctional rhythm
Answer: B
Rationale: Atrial fibrillation classically has no organized atrial activity and
an irregularly irregular ventricular response.
, 9. Atrial fibrillation usually has:
A. Distinct P waves before each QRS
B. No visible P waves
C. Very wide QRS complexes only
D. Regular rhythm with no variation
Answer: B
Rationale: AF typically lacks identifiable P waves.
10.The main concern with atrial fibrillation is increased risk of:
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Stroke
C. Pneumothorax
D. Hypothermia
Answer: B
Rationale: Blood stasis in the atria increases clot risk.
11.Atrial flutter is commonly identified by:
A. Sawtooth atrial waves
B. No atrial activity at all
C. Wide bizarre QRS only
D. Complete absence of rhythm
Answer: A
Rationale: Flutter produces characteristic sawtooth waves.
12.Atrial flutter often has an atrial rate around:
A. 40–60 bpm
B. 60–100 bpm
C. 150–250 bpm
D. 300–350 bpm
Answer: D
Rationale: Atrial flutter commonly has atrial rates near 250–350 bpm.
13.Which rhythm is most likely to have a ventricular rate of 150 bpm with
sawtooth waves?
A. Atrial flutter
B. Sinus bradycardia
C. Junctional escape rhythm
D. First-degree AV block
Answer: A
Test 1 Questions and Answers
Graded A+
1. Which feature is the best first step in rhythm interpretation?
A. Check blood pressure
B. Determine the rate
C. Count the number of Q waves
D. Measure ST elevation
Answer: B
Rationale: Rhythm interpretation begins with rate, then regularity, P waves,
PR interval, and QRS width.
2. A normal sinus rhythm typically has which heart rate?
A. 20–40 bpm
B. 40–60 bpm
C. 60–100 bpm
D. 100–150 bpm
Answer: C
Rationale: Normal sinus rhythm is usually 60 to 100 beats per minute.
3. Sinus rhythm is identified by:
A. Absent P waves and wide QRS
B. Upright, uniform P waves before each QRS
C. Irregularly irregular rhythm only
D. Sawtooth flutter waves
Answer: B
Rationale: A sinus rhythm originates from the SA node and shows P waves
before every QRS.
4. Which rhythm is usually considered normal in a healthy adult?
A. Sinus tachycardia
B. Atrial fibrillation
C. Normal sinus rhythm
, D. Ventricular tachycardia
Answer: C
Rationale: Normal sinus rhythm is the standard normal rhythm.
5. Sinus bradycardia is defined as a sinus rhythm with a rate:
A. Below 60 bpm
B. Below 50 bpm
C. Above 100 bpm
D. Above 150 bpm
Answer: A
Rationale: Sinus bradycardia is a sinus rhythm under 60 beats per minute.
6. Sinus tachycardia is defined as a sinus rhythm with a rate:
A. Below 60 bpm
B. 60–100 bpm
C. Above 100 bpm
D. Above 150 bpm only
Answer: C
Rationale: Sinus tachycardia is a sinus rhythm faster than 100 beats per
minute.
7. A sinus rhythm with a rate of 58 bpm in a sleeping athlete may be:
A. Always an emergency
B. A normal physiologic finding
C. Ventricular fibrillation
D. A second-degree block
Answer: B
Rationale: Bradycardia can be normal in conditioned athletes or during
sleep.
8. Which rhythm is most likely to be irregularly irregular?
A. Sinus rhythm
B. Atrial fibrillation
C. Sinus bradycardia
D. Junctional rhythm
Answer: B
Rationale: Atrial fibrillation classically has no organized atrial activity and
an irregularly irregular ventricular response.
, 9. Atrial fibrillation usually has:
A. Distinct P waves before each QRS
B. No visible P waves
C. Very wide QRS complexes only
D. Regular rhythm with no variation
Answer: B
Rationale: AF typically lacks identifiable P waves.
10.The main concern with atrial fibrillation is increased risk of:
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Stroke
C. Pneumothorax
D. Hypothermia
Answer: B
Rationale: Blood stasis in the atria increases clot risk.
11.Atrial flutter is commonly identified by:
A. Sawtooth atrial waves
B. No atrial activity at all
C. Wide bizarre QRS only
D. Complete absence of rhythm
Answer: A
Rationale: Flutter produces characteristic sawtooth waves.
12.Atrial flutter often has an atrial rate around:
A. 40–60 bpm
B. 60–100 bpm
C. 150–250 bpm
D. 300–350 bpm
Answer: D
Rationale: Atrial flutter commonly has atrial rates near 250–350 bpm.
13.Which rhythm is most likely to have a ventricular rate of 150 bpm with
sawtooth waves?
A. Atrial flutter
B. Sinus bradycardia
C. Junctional escape rhythm
D. First-degree AV block
Answer: A
