Chapter 36 Nursing Management: Dysrhythmia

Question 1

Key Terms:

asystole, p. 795

Answer 1

represents the total absence of ventricular electrical activity

Question 2

Key Terms:

atrial fibrillation, p. 796

Answer 2

a cardiac dysrhythmia characterized by a total disorganization of atrial electrical activity without effective atrial contraction.

Question 3

Key Terms:

atrial flutter, p. 795

Answer 3

an atrial tachydysrhythmia identified by recurring, regular, sawtooth-shaped flutter waves.

Question 4

Key Terms:

automatic external defibrillator (AED), p. 802

Answer 4

XX

Question 5

Key Terms:

cardiac pacemaker, p. 803

Answer 5

an electronic device used to increase the heart rate in severe bradycardia by electrically stimulating the heart muscle.

Question 6

Key Terms:

complete heart block, p. 798

Answer 6

third-degree atrioventricular heart block in which no impulses from the atria are conducted to the ventricles.

Question 7

Key Terms:

dysrhythmias, p. 787

Answer 7

XX

Question 8

Key Terms:

premature atrial contraction (PAC), p. 794

Answer 8

contraction originating from an ectopic focus in the atrium in a location other than the sinus node.

Question 9

Key Terms:

premature ventricular contraction (PVC), p. 799

Answer 9

a contraction originating in an ectopic focus in the ventricles.

Question 10

Key Terms:

telemetry monitoring, p. 790

Answer 10

XX

Question 11

Key Terms:

ventricular fibrillation (VF), p. 800

Answer 11

a severe derangement of the heart rhythm characterized on electrocardiogram (ECG) by irregular undulations of varying contour and amplitude.

Question 12

Key Terms:

ventricular tachycardia (VT), p. 799

Answer 12

a condition that occurs when an ectopic focus or foci fire repetitively and the ventricle takes control as the pacemaker.

Question 13

Automaticity

Answer 13

Ability to initiate an impulse spontaneously and continuously

Question 14

Excitability

Answer 14

Ability to be electrically stimulated

Question 15

Conductivity

Answer 15

Ability to transmit an impulse along a membrane in an orderly manner

Question 16

Contractility

Answer 16

Ability to respond mechanically to an impulse

Question 17

P Wave

0.06-0.12 seconds

Answer 17

Represents time for the passage of the electrical impulse through the atrium causing atrial depolarization (contraction). Should be upright.

Question 18

PR Interval

0.12-0.20 seconds

Answer 18

Measured from beginning of P wave to beginning of QRS complex. Represents time taken for impulse to spread through the atria, AV node and bundle of His, bundle branches, and Purkinje fibers, to a point immediately preceding ventricular contraction.

Question 19

QRS Complex

Q wave

<0.03 seconds

Answer 19

First negative (downward) deflection after the P wave, short and narrow, not present in several leads.

Question 20

QRS Complex

R wave

Answer 20

First positive (upward) deflection in the QRS complex.

Question 21

QRS Complex

S wave

Answer 21

First negative (downward) deflection after the R wave.

Question 22

QRS Interval

<0.12 seconds

Answer 22

Measured from beginning to end of QRS complex. Represents time taken for depolarization (contraction) of both ventricles (systole).

Question 23

ST Segment

0.12 seconds

Answer 23

Measured from the S wave of the QRS complex to the beginning of the T wave. Represents the time between ventricular depolarization and repolarization (diastole). Should be isoelectric (flat).

Question 24

T Wave

0.16 seconds

Answer 24

Represents time for ventricular repolarization. Should be upright.

Question 25

QT Interval

0.34-0.43 seconds

Answer 25

Measured from beginning of QRS complex to end of T wave. Represents time taken for entire electrical depolarization and repolarization of the ventricles.

Question 26

Sinus bradycardia

Answer 26

The conduction pathway is the same as that in sinus rhythm but the SA node fires at a rate less than 60 beats/minute

Question 27

Symptomatic bradycardia

Answer 27

Refers to an HR that is less than 60 beats/minute and is inadequate for the patient’s condition, causing the patient to experience symptoms (e.g., chest pain, syncope).