Two days after having coronary bypass grafting, a patient develops atrial fibrillation. The patient is tolerating the rhythm. What is the nurse's initial action?
1. Have the patient cough.
2. Do an electrocardiogram (ECG).
3. Increase the patient's IV rate.
4. Notify the health care provider.
2
Rationale 1: Coughing will sometimes cause rhythm conversion, but this is not the primary intervention.
Rationale 2: The nurse's first priority is to do an ECG while the patient remains in the rhythm. This would not be the first priority if the patient were not tolerating the rhythm.
Rationale 3: Increasing the IV rate may be indicated, but this is not the first intervention.
Rationale 4: The nurse will notify the health care provider, but this is not the first intervention indicated if the patient is tolerating the rhythm.
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