A patient is in the critical care area with ventricular tachycardia. The nurse realizes that the patient will require which action? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected
Select all that apply. 1. Immediate assessment and probable emergency intervention
2. Cardioversion, if the ventricular tachycardia is sustained and symptomatic
3. Probable drug intervention
4. Close observation for 1 hour prior to calling the physician
5. Defibrillation to convert the rhythm in the awake patient
1,2,3
Rationale 1: The nurse should immediately assess the patient to see how the potentially life-threatening rhythm is being tolerated.
Rationale 2: The nurse should be prepared to cardiovert the patient in ventricular tachycardia with a pulse according to standing prescriptions. The nurse in critical care needs to be aware of standing prescriptions for each patient prior to an emergent event and to have the necessary emergency equipment and medications ready.
Rationale 3: If the patient is hemodynamically stable, drug intervention may correct this arrhythmia.
Rationale 4: Observation prior to calling a physician is not an appropriate action when a potentially life-threatening rhythm is identified.
Rationale 5: Defibrillation is only performed in ventricular tachycardia when the patient is pulseless; otherwise, time is taken to synchronize for cardioversion.
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