DC Clinical Procedures & Protocols 5

Question 1

A nurse notes a patient's pacemaker is firing but QRS complexes are absent after each spike. This is called:

Accepted Answer

Failure to capture

Answer

Failure to capture occurs when the pacemaker spike does not trigger myocardial depolarization, seen as spikes without subsequent QRS complexes.

Question 2

During endotracheal intubation of a cardiac arrest patient, the maximum allowable pause in chest compressions is:

Accepted Answer

10 seconds

Answer

AHA guidelines limit interruptions to chest compressions to no more than 10 seconds to maintain coronary and cerebral perfusion pressure.

Question 3

A patient develops a wide-complex tachycardia after receiving digoxin. The most likely diagnosis is:

Accepted Answer

Digitalis-toxic ventricular tachycardia

Answer

Digoxin toxicity commonly causes ventricular tachycardia by increasing automaticity and triggering delayed afterdepolarizations.

Question 4

The post-cardiac arrest care bundle includes targeted temperature management, 12-lead ECG, and which hemodynamic goal?

Accepted Answer

Mean arterial pressure ≥ 65 mmHg

Answer

Post-ROSC guidelines recommend maintaining a MAP of ≥65 mmHg to ensure adequate cerebral and organ perfusion.

Question 5

Which action is correct when a patient in atrial fibrillation has been symptomatic for more than 48 hours and cardioversion is planned?

Accepted Answer

Anticoagulate for at least 3 weeks before cardioversion or perform TEE to rule out thrombus

Answer

AFib lasting > 48 hours carries a significant risk of atrial thrombus; therapeutic anticoagulation × 3 weeks or TEE to exclude thrombus is mandatory before cardioversion.

(DC) Dysrhythmia Certification Practice Test

(DC) Dysrhythmia Certification Practice Test

DC Clinical Procedures & Protocols 5