A 64-year-old patient is seen in the emergency department for palpitations and mild shortness of breath. The electrocardiogram reveals a normal P wave, P-R interval, and QRS complex with a regular rhythm and a rate of 108 beats per minute
The nurse should recognize this as which type of cardiac dysrhythmia? a. Sinus dysrhythmia
b. Sinus tachycardia
c. Supraventricular tachycardia
d. Ventricular tachycardia
B
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A A sinus dysrhythmia has a rate of 60 to 100 beats per minute, slows during inspiration, and increases with expiration. This patient is not experiencing a sinus dysrhythmia.
B The patient is experiencing sinus tachycardia. The rhythm is regular with a normal P wave, normal QRS complex, and a rate of 100 to 180 beats per minute.
C With supraventricular tachycardia, the heart rate is 150 to 250 beats per minute, the P wave may be buried in the preceding T wave, and the PR interval is variable. This patient is not experiencing supraventricular tachycardia.
D With ventricular tachycardia, the rhythm is slightly irregular at a rate of 100 to 200 beats per minute, the P wave is absent, PR interval is absent, and the QRS complex is wide. This patient is not experiencing ventricular tachycardia.
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