Basic Cardiac Rhythm

The nurse is reviewing a patient’s electrocardiogram. Which wave should the nurse recognize as being the first positive wave in a normal cardiac cycle?

• P wave

• Q wave

• R wave

• S wave

A patient is experiencing electrocardiogram changes. Which wave should the nurse recognize as representing ventricular repolarization?

• Q wave

• R wave

• S wave

• T wave

After reviewing an electrocardiogram the nurse determines that an electrical impulse originated in a patient’s the sinoatrial node. What did the nurse see on this tracing?

• An upright T wave

• An inverted T wave

• A positive P wave before a QRS complex

• A negative P wave before a QRS complex

The nurse is determining the functioning of a patient’s sinoatrial node. How many times per minute should the nurse expect the node to normally fire?

• 20 to 40

• 25 to 55

• 40 to 85

• 60 to 100

The nurse determines that a patient’s electrocardiogram is demonstrating normal sinus rhythm. What did the nurse observe to come to this conclusion? (Select all that apply.)

• Regular rhythm

• P wave before each QRS complex

• Wide QRS intervals

• Heart rate 88 beats per minute

The t-wave correlates with which event?

• atrium contraction /signals moving from SA node to AV node
• ventricle contraction
• ventricle repolarization
• both atrial and ventricle contraction

Lead II is the standard lead in viewing the EKG.

• True

• False

A common cardiac dysrhythmia characterized by premature heartbeats originating in the atria.

• A-Fib

• A-Flutter

• PAC's

• SA Block

Arrhythmia resulting from impulses coming from a locus of tissue in the area of the AV node, the "junction" between atria and ventricles.

• 1st Degree AV Block

• Junctional Rhythm

• 2nd Degree AV Block Type I

• 2nd Degree AV Block Type II

Occurs when the natural pacemaker site shifts between SA node, the atria, and/or the AV node.

• 1st Degree AV Block

• SA Block

• Sinus Pause

• Wandering Atrial Pacemaker