Practice Question
What is the priority nursing intervention for a client with a heart rate of 52 beats per minute?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
Assess the client for symptoms
Rationale:
♦️A heart rate of 52 bpm indicates bradycardia, which may be benign or symptomatic depending on the patient's condition and perfusion status.
♦️The first nursing action is to assess for signs of poor perfusion—such as dizziness, hypotension, chest pain, shortness of breath, or altered level of consciousness—to determine if the bradycardia is clinically significant.
♦️If the client is asymptomatic, no immediate pharmacologic or pacing intervention is necessary; continuous monitoring and evaluation for possible causes (e.g., beta-blocker use, vagal stimulation, or hypoxia) are appropriate.
♦️If symptoms are present, the nurse should promptly notify the provider and prepare for possible atropine administration or temporary pacing per ACLS protocol.
♦️Assessment always precedes intervention to avoid unnecessary treatment and to tailor care to the patient’s specific clinical picture.
Want to practice more questions like this?
This question is from Exam 3 - Cardiac FA25 which contains 37 questions.
More Questions from This Exam
A nurse assesses a client 2 hours after a cardiac catheterization via the left femoral artery. The nurse notes that the left pedal pulse is weak. Which action should the nurse take?
Answer Choices:
Which of the following is an early contributory factor to the underlying process in the development of atherosclerosis?
Answer Choices:
The nurse is measuring the client's ECG strip. What is the approximate ventricular rate noted on the six-second strip?
Answer Choices:
The nurse is responding to a rapid response call and observes the following ECG rhythm. The nurse knows which dysrhythmias is displayed?
Answer Choices:
Question Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: Examplify Exam(s)
- Domain: Medical-Surgical
- Answer Choices: 4