NUR 265 EXAM 1: CARDIAC RHYTHM
STRIPS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS 100%
CORRECT RATED A+ LATEST
UPDATED 2026/2027
Rhythm: Sinus Bradycardia
Answer: ✔✔ A heart rate slowing below 60 beats per minute. If the patient
displays no adverse symptoms, simply inform the physician. If the patient
becomes symptomatic (hypotensive, dizzy), administer Atropine
intravenously or prepare for transcutaneous pacing.
Rhythm: Sinus Tachycardia
Answer: ✔✔ An elevated heart rate exceeding 100 beats per minute. For
asymptomatic cases, eliminate underlying stimulants like coffee, energy
drinks, nicotine, or illicit drugs. For unstable, symptomatic patients,
interventions include administering beta-blockers or performing synchronized
cardioversion.
Rhythm: Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib)
Answer: ✔✔ A highly irregular rhythm characterized by normal QRS
complexes preceded by rapid, chaotic fibrillatory waves instead of clear P
waves. Management prioritizes stroke prevention using systemic
anticoagulants (such as Heparin, Warfarin, or Coumadin), along with
rate/rhythm control via chemical or electrical cardioversion, or catheter
ablation.
Rhythm: Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs)
Answer: ✔✔ Early, wide, and distorted QRS complexes originating in the
ventricles that can present as a single shape (unifocal) or multiple shapes
(multifocal). They are commonly benign and provoked by emotional stress,
excessive caffeine, or illicit drugs. If an excessive, frequent burden is captured
on a 24-hour monitor, they are managed with beta-blockers.
Rhythm: Ventricular Tachycardia (V-Tach)
Answer: ✔✔ A rapid, dangerous ventricular rhythm characterized by wide,
bizarre complexes that resemble a row of "tombstones." For a stable patient
with a pulse, treat using an Amiodarone infusion and synchronized
cardioversion—be mindful that chronic amiodarone usage requires strict
, hepatic monitoring due to liver toxicity risk. Unstable, pulseless V-Tach must
be treated immediately as Ventricular Fibrillation.
Rhythm: Ventricular Fibrillation (V-Fib)
Answer: ✔✔ A chaotic, lethal rhythm causing the ventricles to quiver without
producing any cardiac output. Initiate CPR immediately; the definitive
treatment is prompt electrical defibrillation. Advanced cardiac life support
medications like epinephrine, amiodarone, lidocaine, or magnesium sulfate
are integrated sequentially, but early shocks yield the highest survival rates.
Rhythm: Asystole
Answer: ✔✔ A state of total cessation of electrical and mechanical cardiac
activity, appearing as a flat line on an ECG monitor. Treatment mandates
immediate, continuous CPR and Epinephrine administration; because there
is no electrical activity to disrupt, this rhythm is not shockable and cannot be
defibrillated.
Sinus Bradycardia -ANSWER ✔✔Asymptomatic= notify doctor. Symptomatic=
Atropine, may need to be paced.
Sinus Tachycardia -ANSWER ✔✔Asymptomatic= stop triggers (energy drinks,
coffee, caffeine, drugs). Symptomatic= cardiovert, beta blocker.
STRIPS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS 100%
CORRECT RATED A+ LATEST
UPDATED 2026/2027
Rhythm: Sinus Bradycardia
Answer: ✔✔ A heart rate slowing below 60 beats per minute. If the patient
displays no adverse symptoms, simply inform the physician. If the patient
becomes symptomatic (hypotensive, dizzy), administer Atropine
intravenously or prepare for transcutaneous pacing.
Rhythm: Sinus Tachycardia
Answer: ✔✔ An elevated heart rate exceeding 100 beats per minute. For
asymptomatic cases, eliminate underlying stimulants like coffee, energy
drinks, nicotine, or illicit drugs. For unstable, symptomatic patients,
interventions include administering beta-blockers or performing synchronized
cardioversion.
Rhythm: Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib)
Answer: ✔✔ A highly irregular rhythm characterized by normal QRS
complexes preceded by rapid, chaotic fibrillatory waves instead of clear P
waves. Management prioritizes stroke prevention using systemic
anticoagulants (such as Heparin, Warfarin, or Coumadin), along with
rate/rhythm control via chemical or electrical cardioversion, or catheter
ablation.
Rhythm: Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs)
Answer: ✔✔ Early, wide, and distorted QRS complexes originating in the
ventricles that can present as a single shape (unifocal) or multiple shapes
(multifocal). They are commonly benign and provoked by emotional stress,
excessive caffeine, or illicit drugs. If an excessive, frequent burden is captured
on a 24-hour monitor, they are managed with beta-blockers.
Rhythm: Ventricular Tachycardia (V-Tach)
Answer: ✔✔ A rapid, dangerous ventricular rhythm characterized by wide,
bizarre complexes that resemble a row of "tombstones." For a stable patient
with a pulse, treat using an Amiodarone infusion and synchronized
cardioversion—be mindful that chronic amiodarone usage requires strict
, hepatic monitoring due to liver toxicity risk. Unstable, pulseless V-Tach must
be treated immediately as Ventricular Fibrillation.
Rhythm: Ventricular Fibrillation (V-Fib)
Answer: ✔✔ A chaotic, lethal rhythm causing the ventricles to quiver without
producing any cardiac output. Initiate CPR immediately; the definitive
treatment is prompt electrical defibrillation. Advanced cardiac life support
medications like epinephrine, amiodarone, lidocaine, or magnesium sulfate
are integrated sequentially, but early shocks yield the highest survival rates.
Rhythm: Asystole
Answer: ✔✔ A state of total cessation of electrical and mechanical cardiac
activity, appearing as a flat line on an ECG monitor. Treatment mandates
immediate, continuous CPR and Epinephrine administration; because there
is no electrical activity to disrupt, this rhythm is not shockable and cannot be
defibrillated.
Sinus Bradycardia -ANSWER ✔✔Asymptomatic= notify doctor. Symptomatic=
Atropine, may need to be paced.
Sinus Tachycardia -ANSWER ✔✔Asymptomatic= stop triggers (energy drinks,
coffee, caffeine, drugs). Symptomatic= cardiovert, beta blocker.
