ECG study

A client is in the intensive care unit. The nurse observing the telemetry monitor identifies flattening T waves and peaked P waves. What problem should the nurse consider based on these ECG changes? Hypokalemia Hypocalcemia Hyponatremia Hypomagnesemia

Hypokalemia

Electrocardiography (ECG) is scheduled for an infant who has tetralogy of Fallot. The mother asks the nurse what type of test this is and why it is done. What is the best response by the nurse? "It's a type of x-ray that shows us the size of the baby's heart." "Electrical activity in the baby's heart is recorded, then printed on graph paper." "It's an ultrasound procedure that produces images of the structures in the baby's heart." "Contrast material is injected into the baby's vein to visualize the flow of blood through the heart."

"Electrical activity in the baby's heart is recorded, then printed on graph paper."

A client arrives at the emergency room complaining of chest pain and dizziness. The client has a history of angina. The health care provider prescribes an electrocardiogram (ECG) and lab tests. A change in which component of the ECG tracing should the nurse recognize as the client actively having a myocardial infarction (MI)? 1 QRS complex 2 S-T segment 3 P wave 4 R wave

2 S-T segment

An electrocardiogram (ECG) is prescribed for a client who reports chest pain. What early finding does the nurse expect on the lead over the infarcted area? 1 Flattened T waves 2 Absence of P waves 3 Elevated ST segments 4 Disappearance of Q waves

3 Elevated ST segments

An electrocardiogram (ECG) is performed before a client is to have a cardiac catheterization, and hypokalemia is suspected. To confirm the presence of hypokalemia, the nurse expects the primary health care provider to prescribe: A complete blood count A serum electrolyte level An arterial blood gas panel An x-ray film of long bones

A serum electrolyte level

A client is brought to the emergency department with chest pain. The client asks why an electrocardiogram (ECG) has been prescribed. The nurse explains that the ECG will: Aid in detecting heart damage Detect altered heart sounds Determine the flow of blood to the heart muscle Evaluate the spatial relationship of structures within the heart

Aid in detecting heart damage

A client comes to the emergency room (ER) complaining of weakness, dizziness, and difficulty breathing. The nurse performs an electrocardiogram (ECG) and notices this arrhythmia. Which arrhythmia is the client exhibiting? Atrial fibrillation (AF) Ventricular tachycardia (VT) Junctional tachycardia Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)

Atrial fibrillation (AF)

A client with a history of heart failure and hypertension is admitted with reports of syncope. Which prescribed medication should the nurse prepare to administer based on the ECG rhythm strip image? Digoxin (Lanoxin) Enalapril (Vasotec) Atropine Metoprolol (Lopressor)

Atropine

A nurse in the cardiovascular clinic reviews a client's ECG. What should the nurse do? Recommend the Valsalva maneuver. Document that the rhythm is normal. Prepare to defibrillate the client at 200 joules. Advise the client to reduce the intake of caffeine.

Document that the rhythm is normal.

A female client whose ECG exhibits multiple premature ventricular complexes is to take oral disopyramide (Norpace). Which side effects should the nurse include when teaching the client about this drug? Select all that apply. Dry mouth Rhinorrhea Constipation Hyperglycemia Stress incontinence

Dry mouth 4 Hyperglycemia

The six precordial leads are positioned on the chest wall directly over the heart. Precise placement of these leads is crucial for providing an accurate representation and for comparing with previous and future ECGs. Knowing this, the nurse places the V1 lead at the: Fourth intercostal space, right sternal border Fourth intercostal space, left sternal border Halfway between V2 and V4 Fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line

Fourth intercostal space, right sternal border

An older adult client comes to the emergency department reporting pink-tinged urine. An ECG is performed, which is within acceptable limits, and blood specimens are sent to the laboratory for diagnostic tests. The nurse obtains a health history and the client's vital signs and reviews the laboratory test results. What nursing action is a priority when caring for this client? Monitor the intake and output. Provide oxygen via nasal cannula. Institute measures to prevent physical injury. Obtain a prescription for an antidysrhythmic.

Institute measures to prevent physical injury.

A client experiences crushing chest pain and is brought to the emergency department. When assessing the ECG tracing, the nurse concludes that the client is experiencing premature ventricular complexes (PVCs). Which abnormalities of the electrocardiogram support this conclusion? Irregular rhythm, abnormal shaped P wave, and normal QRS Irregular rhythm, absence of a P wave, wide, and distorted QRS Regular rhythm, more than 100 beats per minute, normal P wave, and normal QRS Regular rhythm, 100 to 250 beats per minute, absent P wave, and wide, distorted QRS

Irregular rhythm, absence of a P wave, wide, and distorted QRS

The serum potassium level of a client who has diabetic ketoacidosis is 5.4 mEq/L. When monitoring the ECG tracing, the nurse expects to observe: Abnormal P waves and depressed T waves Peaked T waves and widened QRS complexes Abnormal Q waves and prolonged ST segments Peaked P waves and an increased number of T waves

Peaked T waves and widened QRS complexes

The nurse observes the following pattern on a client's ECG strip. What dysrhythmia does the nurse identify? Asystole Atrial flutter Ventricular fibrillation Premature ventricular complex

Premature ventricular complex

When interpreting an ECG rhythm strip, the nurse identifies that ventricular contraction is displayed as the: P wave T wave PR interval QRS interval

QRS interval

A client who is suspected of having had a silent myocardial infarction has an electrocardiogram (ECG) prescribed by the health care provider. While the nurse prepares the client for this procedure, the client asks, "Why was this test prescribed?" The best reply by the nurse is, "This test will Detect your heart sounds." Reflect any heart damage." Help us change your heart's rhythm." Tell us how much stress your heart can tolerate."

Reflect any heart damage."

Before a client has a cardiac catheterization, an electrocardiogram (ECG) is performed and hypokalemia is suspected. The nurse expects that the diagnosis will be confirmed by which diagnostic test? Complete blood count Serum potassium level X-ray film of long bones Blood cultures times three

Serum potassium level

A client is receiving continuous ECG monitoring while intravenous medication is being administered for premature ventricular complexes (PVC). What dysrhythmia does the nurse conclude that the client is experiencing when the following rhythm appears on the ECG monitor? Atrial flutter Atrial fibrillation Ventricular fibrillation Ventricular tachycardia

Ventricular tachycardia

A client with a bundle branch block is on a cardiac monitor. What ECG change should the nurse identify on the client's cardiac monitor? Sagging ST segments Absence of P wave configurations Inverted T waves following each QRS complex Widening of QRS complexes to a minimum of 0.12 second

Widening of QRS complexes to a minimum of 0.12 second

A nurse attaches electrocardiogram (ECG) leads to a client who is admitted to the hospital for chest pain. When monitoring the ECG strip, the nurse identifies that depolarization of the atria is occurring when which waveform in the illustration is present? a b c d

a