Action Potential Phases
This is the specific ion that moves into the cell during Phase 0.
What is Sodium?
This specific type of arrhythmia involves the atria beating at an extremely rapid rate.
What is Atrial Flutter?
Class I antiarrhythmics work by blocking these specific channels in the cell membrane.
What are Sodium channels?
Class III antiarrhythmics, like Amiodarone, work by blocking these channels.
What are Potassium channels?
A common contraindication for three of the four classes that involves low cardiac output.
A bradyarrhythmia.
During Phase 2, this ion moves into the cell to help maintain the plateau.
What is Calcium?
This class(es) has an ADE of potentially causing an arrhythmia.
What are all four classes?
This Class Ib drug is associated with the mnemonic "with Lettuce."
What is Lidocaine?
This "Very Demure" mnemonic helps you to remember Verapamil and Diltiazem, which belong to this class.
What is Class IV?
When initiating or changing a dose, the nurse must continually monitor this.
What is cardiac rhythm? (Or ECG, teli)
These two phases are characterized by the movement of Potassium out of the cells.
What are Phases 1 and 3?
This common cause of arrhythmias involves a decrease in the amount of "fuel" delivered to the heart cells.
What is a decrease in oxygen?
Class II antiarrhythmics typically end in this suffix.
What is "-olol"? Bonus $100, what are the other two Class II that don't end in -olol?
While Class III agents prolong the action potential, Class IV agents specifically delay these two phases of repolarization to slow the heart rate.
What are Phases 1 and 2?
The nurse monitors the Complete Blood Count (CBC) primarily to detect this serious adverse effect, which is more likely to occur with Class I antiarrhythmics.
Bone Marrow Suppression
In Phase 4, the cardiac muscle cell is in this state.
What is "at rest and ready to start over again"?
This term describes a situation where an antiarrhythmic drug actually causes a new or worsened arrhythmia.
What is a proarrhythmic effect?
This specific drug is a Class II agent used for SVT when other measures are not effective.
What is Adenosine?
When used for this specific condition, there are no contraindications for Class III antiarrhythmics.
What are life-threatening arrhythmias?
These four physical assessments of the head/face should be checked to monitor for CNS effects.
What are level of alertness, speech, vision, and reflexes?
Class IV antiarrhythmics specifically delay these two phases of repolarization.
What are Phases 1 and 2?
Beyond electrolyte disturbances and structural damage, this metabolic state can alter the action potential and cause arrhythmias.
What is acidosis?
Patients taking antidiabetic medications should be cautious with Class II agents because they can mask this condition.
What is hypoglycemia? Bonus $100, what is the other condition that can be masked?
This Class III drug requires extra caution in patients with existing thyroid or pulmonary disease.
What is Amiodarone?
When a patient is taking Class II antiarrhythmics, the nurse must carefully monitor for these two respiratory symptoms, which could indicate a serious adverse effect on the lungs.
What are Bronchospasm and Dyspnea?