CRITICAL CARE CLASS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
UPDATED 2024 - 2025
cardiac,output,,ANS,-,,heart,rate,X,systemic,volume
-to,increase,CO,,increase,stroke,volume,,increase,heart,rate,,or,increase,both
cardiac,conduction,system,,ANS,-,,sinus,node,-->,internal,tracts,-->,AV,node,-->,bundle,of,his,--
>,bundle,branches,-->,purkinje,fibers
SA,node,inherent,(escape),rate,,ANS,-,,60-100,bpm
AV,junction,inherent,(escape,rate),,ANS,-,,40-60,bpm
ventricles,inherent,(escape),rate,,ANS,-,,20-40,bpm
isoelectric,line,(aka,baseline),,ANS,-,,-indicates,absence,of,electrical,activity
-heart,is,resting,before,depolarization
P,wave,,ANS,-,,-atrial,depolarization
-normally,first,deflection,of,cardiac,cycle
-should,be,round,and,uniform
PR,interval,,ANS,-,,-0.12-0.20,seconds
-represents,the,length,of,time,it,takes,the,impulse,to,travel,from,the,atria,to,the,ventricles
QRS,,ANS,-,,-represents,ventricular,depolarization
-the,initial,negative,deflection,is,the,Q,wave,(Q,wave,is,often,absent)
-the,first,positive,deflection,of,the,QRS,complex,is,the,R,wave
,-the,negative,deflection,after,the,R,wave,is,the,S,wave
QRS,interval,,ANS,-,,0.04-0.12,sec
ST,segment,,ANS,-,,-represents,early,phase,of,depolarization,of,both,ventricles
-ST,segment,should,be,flat,and,isoelectric
ST,segment,elevation,,ANS,-,,-may,indicate,acute,MI,,pericarditis,,vasospastic,angina,,injury
ST,segment,depression,,ANS,-,,-
may,indicate,ischemia,,hypokalemia,,hypothermia,,subendocardial,MI,,digoxin,toxicity
T,wave,,ANS,-,,-represents,ventricular,depolarization
-in,general,,T,waves,are,in,the,same,direction,as,the,R,wave,of,the,QRS,complex
-if,T,waves,are,in,opposite,direction,(negative),may,indicate,ischemia
-peaked,T,waves,may,be,seen,with,hyperkalemia
U,wave,,ANS,-,,-
may,appear,after,the,T,wave,if,the,serum,potassium,drops,below,normal,levels,(hypokalemia)
QT,interval,,ANS,-,,-represents,total,ventricular,activity,(depolarization,and,depolarization,of,ventricles)
-in,general,the,QT,interval,is,less,than,half,the,R-R,interval
-normally,measures,0.32,to,0.40,seconds,but,varies,with,patient's:,HR,,age,,and,sex
calculating,heart,rate,,ANS,-,,-
calculation,by,6,second,strip:,count,number,of,R,waves,in,6,second,strip,and,multiply,by,10
-
300,,150,,100:,find,an,R,wave,that,falls,on,a,heavy,black,line,,the,next,heavy,black,line,is,300,,followed,by,
150,,100,,75,,60,,and,50;,where,the,next,R,wave,falls,gives,the,rate,(ex:,if,the,next,R,wave,falls,on,"75",,th
e,rate,is,75,ppm);,used,only,if,rhythm,is,REGULAR
, systemic,analysis,of,rhythm,,ANS,-,,1.,obtain,rate
2.,is,rhythm,regular,or,irregular
3.,are,P,waves,present,,p,wave,before,every,QRS,,are,all,p,waves,consistent,in,shape
4.,PR,interval,(greater,than,0.20,indicates,a,conduction,delay,or,block,in,the,area,of,the,AV,node)
-
QRS:,are,they,present,,all,the,same,,within,normal,range,(>0.12,seconds,indicates,a,delay;,bundle,branch,
block)
-
ST,segment:,should,be,isoelectric,(elevation,can,indicate,MI,,pericarditis,,aneurysm...depression,may,be,
caused,by,ischemia,,subendocardial,MI,,digitalis,toxicity)
-T,wave:,should,be,positive,if,QRS,is,positive,(negative,T,wave,may,indicate,ischemia,or,an,MI)
normal,sinus,rhythm,,ANS,-,,-rate:,60-100
-regularity:,regular
-P,waves:,upright,in,most,leads,and,identical
-PR,interval:,consistent,0.12-0.20
-QRS,interval:,consistent,<0.12,(if,no,BBB)
sinus,bradycardia,,ANS,-,,-rate:,<60
-regular
-impulse,originates,in,SA,node,and,travels,conduction,system,normally
-slower,than,normal
-
causes:,vagal,stimulation,,sleeping,,drugs,(digoxin,,beta,blockers),,hypothermia,,physically,fit,,MI,,late,inc
reased,ICP,,hypoxia
-
nursing:,assess,pt,(VS,,LOC).,if,symptomatic,,keep,in,bed,with,HOB,lowered.,hold,drugs,that,may,decreas
e,HR.,notify,physician.
-treatment,(if,symptomatic):,oxygen,,atropine,,pacemaker
sinus,tachycardia,,ANS,-,,-rate:,>100,(101-150)