ATI MED SURG PROCTORED EXAM 2019 – CARDIO STUDY GUIDE
A nurse is performing discharge teaching with a client who has an implantable cardioverter
defibrillator (ICD) placed. Which client statement indicates effective teaching?
Correct response:
• "I'll keep a log of each time my ICD discharges."
The nurse is caring for a client scheduled for a transesophageal echocardiogram with a diagnosis
of atrial fibrillation. The client's spouse asks the nurse to explain the purpose of the test. What is
the nurse's best response?
Correct response:
• "This test will show any blood clots in the heart, and help us determine if it is
safe to do a cardioversion."
A client is admitted to the emergency department reporting chest pain and shortness of breath.
The nurse notes an irregular rhythm on the bedside electrocardiograph monitor. The nurse counts
9 RR intervals on the client’s 6-second rhythm tracing. The nurse correctly identifies the client’s
heart rate as
Correct response: multiply by 10
• 90 bpm.
The nurse analyzes a 6-second electrocardiogram (ECG) tracing. The P waves and QRS
complexes are regular. The PR interval is 0.18 seconds long, and the QRS complexes are 0.08
seconds long. The heart rate is calculated at 70 bpm. The nurse correctly identifies this rhythm as
Correct response:
• normal sinus rhythm.
The nurse is assessing a patient with a probable diagnosis of first-degree AV block. The nurse is
aware that this dysrhythmia is evident on an ECG strip by what indication?
Correct response:
• Delayed conduction, producing a prolonged PR interval
A client is diagnosed with a dysrhythmia at a rate slower than 60 beats/minute. What type of
dysrhythmia does the client have?
Correct response:
• sinus bradycardia
,A client presents to the emergency department via ambulance with a heart rate of 210
beats/minute and a sawtooth waveform pattern per cardiac monitor. The nurse is most correct to
alert the medical team of the presence of a client with which disorder?
Correct response:
• Atrial flutter
The nurse is assessing vital signs in a patient with a permanent pacemaker. What should the
nurse document about the pacemaker?
Correct response:
• Pacer rate
A patient has had several episodes of recurrent tachydysrhythmias over the last 5 months and
medication therapy has not been effective. What procedure should the nurse prepare the patient
for?
Correct response:
• Catheter ablation therapy
After performing an ECG on an adult client, the nurse reports that the PR interval reflects normal
sinus rhythm. What is the PR interval for a normal sinus rhythm?
Correct response:
• 0.12 and 0.2 seconds.
The nurse documents that a client is having a normal sinus rhythm. What characteristics of this
rhythm has the nurse assessed?
Correct response:
• The sinoatrial (SA) node initiates the impulse.
The nurse is caring for clients on a telemetry unit. Which nursing consideration best represents
concerns of altered rhythmic patterns of the heart?
Correct response:
• Altered patterns frequently affect the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively.
The licensed practical nurse is co-assigned with a registered nurse in the care of a client admitted
to the cardiac unit with chest pain. The licensed practical nurse is assessing the accuracy of the
cardiac monitor, which notes a heart rate of 34 beats/minute. The client appears anxious and
states not feeling well. The licensed practical nurse confirms the monitor reading. When
consulting with the registered nurse, which of the following is anticipated?
Correct response:
, • The registered nurse administering atropine sulfate intravenously
A client is unconscious on arrival to the emergency department. The nurse in the emergency
department identifies that the client has a permanent pacemaker due to which characteristic?
Correct response:
• “Spike” on the rhythm strip
A client tells the nurse “my heart is skipping beats again; I’m having palpitations.” After
completing a physical assessment, the nurse concludes the client is experiencing occasional
premature atrial complexes (PACs). The nurse should instruct the client to
Correct response:
• avoid caffeinated beverages.
Which ECG waveform characterizes conduction of an electrical impulse through the left
ventricle?
Correct response:
• QRS complex
The nurse is caring for a client who is being discharged after insertion of a permanent pacemaker.
The client, an avid tennis player, is scheduled to play in a tournament in 1 week. What is the best
advice the nurse can give related to this activity?
Correct response:
• "You will need to cancel this activity; you must restrict arm movement above
your head for 2 weeks."
The nurse is caring for a client who has a suspected dysrhythmia. What most appropriate
intervention should the nurse use to help detect dysrhythmias?
Correct response:
• Monitor cardiac rhythm continuously.
A client's Holter monitor strip reveals a heart rate with normal conduction but with a rate
consistently above 105 beats/minute. What other conditions can cause this response in a healthy
heart?
• elevated temperature
• shock
• strenuous exercise
Correct response:
, • All options are correct.
A patient with hypertension has a newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation. What medication does the
nurse anticipate administering to prevent the complication of atrial thrombi?
Correct response:
• Warfarin
A client with a second-degree atrioventricular heart block, Type II is admitted to the coronary
care unit. How will the nurse explain the need to monitor the client's electrocardiogram (ECG)
strip to the spouse?
Correct response:
• "The small box will transmit the heart rhythm to the central monitor all the time."
The nurse is assessing a client with symptomatic bradycardia. What medication does the nurse
anticipate will be ordered by the healthcare provider to treat the bradycardia?
Correct response:
• Atropine
The nurse cares for a client with a dysrhythmia and understands that the P wave on an
electrocardiogram (ECG) represents which phase of the cardiac cycle?
Correct response:
• Atrial depolarization
The nurse is observing the monitor of a patient with a first-degree atrioventricular (AV) block.
What is the nurse aware characterizes this block?
Correct response:
• Delayed conduction, producing a prolonged PR interval
To evaluate a client's atrial depolarization, the nurse observes which part of the
electrocardiogram waveform?
Correct response:
• P wave
The staff educator is teaching a class in dysrhythmias. What statement is correct for
defibrillation?
Correct response:
• It is used to eliminate ventricular dysrhythmias.
A nurse is performing discharge teaching with a client who has an implantable cardioverter
defibrillator (ICD) placed. Which client statement indicates effective teaching?
Correct response:
• "I'll keep a log of each time my ICD discharges."
The nurse is caring for a client scheduled for a transesophageal echocardiogram with a diagnosis
of atrial fibrillation. The client's spouse asks the nurse to explain the purpose of the test. What is
the nurse's best response?
Correct response:
• "This test will show any blood clots in the heart, and help us determine if it is
safe to do a cardioversion."
A client is admitted to the emergency department reporting chest pain and shortness of breath.
The nurse notes an irregular rhythm on the bedside electrocardiograph monitor. The nurse counts
9 RR intervals on the client’s 6-second rhythm tracing. The nurse correctly identifies the client’s
heart rate as
Correct response: multiply by 10
• 90 bpm.
The nurse analyzes a 6-second electrocardiogram (ECG) tracing. The P waves and QRS
complexes are regular. The PR interval is 0.18 seconds long, and the QRS complexes are 0.08
seconds long. The heart rate is calculated at 70 bpm. The nurse correctly identifies this rhythm as
Correct response:
• normal sinus rhythm.
The nurse is assessing a patient with a probable diagnosis of first-degree AV block. The nurse is
aware that this dysrhythmia is evident on an ECG strip by what indication?
Correct response:
• Delayed conduction, producing a prolonged PR interval
A client is diagnosed with a dysrhythmia at a rate slower than 60 beats/minute. What type of
dysrhythmia does the client have?
Correct response:
• sinus bradycardia
,A client presents to the emergency department via ambulance with a heart rate of 210
beats/minute and a sawtooth waveform pattern per cardiac monitor. The nurse is most correct to
alert the medical team of the presence of a client with which disorder?
Correct response:
• Atrial flutter
The nurse is assessing vital signs in a patient with a permanent pacemaker. What should the
nurse document about the pacemaker?
Correct response:
• Pacer rate
A patient has had several episodes of recurrent tachydysrhythmias over the last 5 months and
medication therapy has not been effective. What procedure should the nurse prepare the patient
for?
Correct response:
• Catheter ablation therapy
After performing an ECG on an adult client, the nurse reports that the PR interval reflects normal
sinus rhythm. What is the PR interval for a normal sinus rhythm?
Correct response:
• 0.12 and 0.2 seconds.
The nurse documents that a client is having a normal sinus rhythm. What characteristics of this
rhythm has the nurse assessed?
Correct response:
• The sinoatrial (SA) node initiates the impulse.
The nurse is caring for clients on a telemetry unit. Which nursing consideration best represents
concerns of altered rhythmic patterns of the heart?
Correct response:
• Altered patterns frequently affect the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively.
The licensed practical nurse is co-assigned with a registered nurse in the care of a client admitted
to the cardiac unit with chest pain. The licensed practical nurse is assessing the accuracy of the
cardiac monitor, which notes a heart rate of 34 beats/minute. The client appears anxious and
states not feeling well. The licensed practical nurse confirms the monitor reading. When
consulting with the registered nurse, which of the following is anticipated?
Correct response:
, • The registered nurse administering atropine sulfate intravenously
A client is unconscious on arrival to the emergency department. The nurse in the emergency
department identifies that the client has a permanent pacemaker due to which characteristic?
Correct response:
• “Spike” on the rhythm strip
A client tells the nurse “my heart is skipping beats again; I’m having palpitations.” After
completing a physical assessment, the nurse concludes the client is experiencing occasional
premature atrial complexes (PACs). The nurse should instruct the client to
Correct response:
• avoid caffeinated beverages.
Which ECG waveform characterizes conduction of an electrical impulse through the left
ventricle?
Correct response:
• QRS complex
The nurse is caring for a client who is being discharged after insertion of a permanent pacemaker.
The client, an avid tennis player, is scheduled to play in a tournament in 1 week. What is the best
advice the nurse can give related to this activity?
Correct response:
• "You will need to cancel this activity; you must restrict arm movement above
your head for 2 weeks."
The nurse is caring for a client who has a suspected dysrhythmia. What most appropriate
intervention should the nurse use to help detect dysrhythmias?
Correct response:
• Monitor cardiac rhythm continuously.
A client's Holter monitor strip reveals a heart rate with normal conduction but with a rate
consistently above 105 beats/minute. What other conditions can cause this response in a healthy
heart?
• elevated temperature
• shock
• strenuous exercise
Correct response:
, • All options are correct.
A patient with hypertension has a newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation. What medication does the
nurse anticipate administering to prevent the complication of atrial thrombi?
Correct response:
• Warfarin
A client with a second-degree atrioventricular heart block, Type II is admitted to the coronary
care unit. How will the nurse explain the need to monitor the client's electrocardiogram (ECG)
strip to the spouse?
Correct response:
• "The small box will transmit the heart rhythm to the central monitor all the time."
The nurse is assessing a client with symptomatic bradycardia. What medication does the nurse
anticipate will be ordered by the healthcare provider to treat the bradycardia?
Correct response:
• Atropine
The nurse cares for a client with a dysrhythmia and understands that the P wave on an
electrocardiogram (ECG) represents which phase of the cardiac cycle?
Correct response:
• Atrial depolarization
The nurse is observing the monitor of a patient with a first-degree atrioventricular (AV) block.
What is the nurse aware characterizes this block?
Correct response:
• Delayed conduction, producing a prolonged PR interval
To evaluate a client's atrial depolarization, the nurse observes which part of the
electrocardiogram waveform?
Correct response:
• P wave
The staff educator is teaching a class in dysrhythmias. What statement is correct for
defibrillation?
Correct response:
• It is used to eliminate ventricular dysrhythmias.
