Question

The nurse notes the following on the ECG monitor. The nurse would evaluate the cardiac arrhythmia as: A. Atrial flutter B. A sinus rhythm C. Ventricular tachycardia D. Atrial fibrillation

Short answer

Describe the characteristics you observed that led you to this conclusion. Answer: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Step-by-step solution

Understand Atrial Flutter

Atrial flutter is a type of abnormal heart rhythm that originates in the atria, the upper chambers of the heart. It is characterized by rapid, organized, and regular atrial contractions, usually at a rate of 250 to 350 beats per minute. On an ECG, atrial flutter can be identified by the presence of "flutter waves" or sawtooth-shaped waves.

Understand Sinus Rhythm

A sinus rhythm is a normal heart rhythm that originates from the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is the heart's natural pacemaker. The normal heart rate for a sinus rhythm ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. On an ECG, a sinus rhythm can be identified by the presence of a regular P wave before each QRS complex, indicating normal electrical activity of the atria.

Understand Ventricular Tachycardia

Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is a type of rapid heart rate that originates in the ventricles, the lower chambers of the heart. It can be life-threatening and usually occurs due to underlying heart disease or other medical conditions. In VT, the ventricles beat too fast, resulting in a decreased cardiac output. On an ECG, ventricular tachycardia is characterized by a series of wide and bizarre QRS complexes, often without clearly visible P waves.

Understand Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an irregular and often rapid heart rate that results from chaotic electrical signals in the atria. AF can lead to blood clots, heart failure, and other heart-related complications. On an ECG, atrial fibrillation can be identified by the absence of distinct P waves. Instead, there are irregular and disorganized electrical signals, causing a rapid and irregular ventricular response.

Evaluate the Cardiac Arrhythmia

To evaluate the cardiac arrhythmia, examine the ECG monitor's reading and look for the characteristics of each type of arrhythmia discussed in the previous steps. Use the information on atrial flutter, sinus rhythm, ventricular tachycardia, and atrial fibrillation to determine which type of arrhythmia is present in the given example. Once you identify the specific characteristics of the arrhythmia, you can select the correct answer from the provided options (A, B, C, or D).