Pieces and Parts
This portion of the cardiac rhythm represents atrial depolarization.
What is the P wave?
In this rhythm, the upper chambers of the heart quiver instead of forcefully contracting.
What is atrial fibrillation?
This is the first action to take if you discover a patient without a pulse.
What is start compressions?
(What is Call for help/call a code?)
This is the name of the treatment used when a synchronized shock is delivered to treat a tachycardic rhythm that is causing patient instability.
What is cardioversion?
This rhythm is defined by a prolonged PR interval.
What is a first-degree AV block?
This portion of the cardiac rhythm represents ventricular depolarization.
What is the QRS complex?
This characteristic of the R to R interval is present in atrial fibrillation.
What is irregularity?
This is the priority action to take as soon as possible if a patient is in ventricular fibrillation.
What is defibrillate?
This rhythm originating from the lower chambers of the heart with a rate of 160 bpm that does create a pulse can be treated with synchronized cardioversion.
What is ventricular tachycardia (V. tach) with a pulse?
This rhythm occurs when the atria and ventricles are each functioning independently of each other.
What is a 3rd degree heart block?
(What is a complete heart block?)
This portion of the cardiac rhythm represents ventricular repolarization.
What is the T wave?
A patient who is in atrial fibrillation is at higher risk for this complication.
What is embolus (clot) formation?
(What is stroke/PE?)
This is the name of an organized rhythm that does not have a pulse associated with it.
What is pulseless electrical activity (PEA)?
These 3 rhythms start above the ventricles and can be treated with synchronized cardioversion.
What are A. fib with RVR, A. flutter with RVR, and supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)?
This rhythm occurs when the PR interval becomes increasingly longer until it reaches a point where the atrial impulse does not conduct to the ventricles.
What is a second-degree type 1 heart block?
(What is a Mobitz I or Wenckebach?)
Abnormalities in this portion of the cardiac rhythm indicate myocardial ischemia or infarction.
What is the ST segment?
This is the definitive treatment for ventricular fibrillation.
What is defibrillation?
You see a flat line on the cardiac monitor from outside a patient's room. These are the 2 priority actions to take.
What are check the patient and confirm the rhythm in a second lead?
(What is start chest compressions?)
This is the broad term for cardiac rhythms that occur when the atria and ventricles become dyssynchronous.
What are heart blocks?
This rhythm occurs with an unchanging PR interval that sometimes does not conduct from the atria to the ventricles.
What is a second-degree type 2 heart block?
(What is Mobitz II?)
When this portion of the cardiac rhythm is longer than normal, it puts the patient at risk for deadly dysrhythmias.
What is the QT interval?
Aside from starting anticoagulation, this is the priority goal for a patient in atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response (A. fib with RVR).
What is rate control?
This rhythm originates from the ventricles with a rate of 20 - 40 bpm.
What is an idioventricular rhythm?
This device can be inserted to help re-synchronize the patient's ventricles.
What is a bi-ventricular (bi-V) pacemaker?
This is the definitive treatment for a high-degree heart block.
What is pacing? (Transcutaneous, temporary/transvenous, or permanent)