A client’s electrocardiogram strip shows atrial and ventricular rates of 80 complexes per minute. The PR interval is 0.14 second, and the QRS complex measures 0.08 second. The nurse interprets this rhythm is:
A. Normal sinus rhythm
B. Sinus bradycardia
C. Sinus tachycardia
D. Sinus dysrhythmia
Correct Answer: A. Normal sinus rhythm
Normal sinus rhythm (NSR) is another name for the normal heart rhythm. The heartbeat is controlled by regular electric signals (also called electrical impulses) that spontaneously arise in a structure called the sinus node. These signals then spread across the heart starting at the atria and then the ventricles. The heart’s rhythm is referred to as “sinus rhythm” because the electrical impulse is generated in the sinus node. A normal sinus rhythm is one in which the rate of firing is not too fast nor too slow.
Option B: Sinus bradycardia occurs during sleep, for example, when most people experience a dip in heart rate to well below 60 beats per minute. Trained athletes can have resting heart rates in the 40s even while awake. However, when a person’s heart rate is too low while they’re awake, they may have a disorder called sinus node disease, or sick sinus syndrome, which can cause them to get tired easily and experience other symptoms such as lightheadedness and fainting.
Option C: Sinus rhythm that is at the high end of the normal range is referred to as sinus tachycardia. It can be normal for the heart rate to speed up during exercise, as this allows it to pump extra blood throughout the body to fuel physical exertion.
Option D: A cardiac dysrhythmia (also called an arrhythmia) is an abnormal rhythm of your heartbeat. It can be slower or faster than a normal heart rate. It can also be irregular. It can be life-threatening if the heart cannot pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the heart itself or the rest of the body.
No comments:
Post a Comment