The nurse has been teaching a class on dysrhythmias to a group of patients with this disorder. The nurse determines that teaching has been effective when a patient makes which statement?
1. "Our sodium, potassium, and magnesium levels must be okay for our hearts to have an electrical impulse."
2. "Potassium is the most important electrolyte when it comes to the electrical impulse in our hearts."
3. "Our sodium, potassium, and calcium levels must be okay for our hearts to have an electrical impulse."
4. "Enhancing potassium and sodium is how our medications will work to prevent dysrhythmias."
Correct Answer: 3
Rationale: Changes in sodium, potassium, and calcium levels generate the action potential in myocardial cells. For this to occur, the patient must have normal levels of sodium, potassium, and calcium. Changes in sodium, potassium, and calcium, not magnesium, levels generate the action potential in myocardial cells. Antidysrhythmic drugs work by blocking, not enhancing, potassium, sodium, or calcium channels. Sodium, potassium, and calcium are equally important when it comes to the myocardial action potential.
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