Final answer:
A nurse should stop an exercise electrocardiography (stress test) if an ST segment depression or T wave inversion appears on the EKG. These occurrences can indicate a critical cardiac event, such as a myocardial infarction. While other changes occur during a stress test, these EKG changes are the most serious.
Step-by-step explanation:
When performing an exercise electrocardiography (stress test), a nurse would need to stop the test if an ST segment depression or T wave inversion occurs on the EKG. These events can indicate a myocardial infarction (MI), a condition where insufficient oxygen is being delivered to the heart muscle. The heart's electrical activity is monitored during a stress test using an electrocardiogram (ECG). The ECG's five main components - the P wave, QRS complex, and T wave - provide detailed insights into the heart's functioning. The P wave represents atrial depolarization, the QRS complex represents ventricular depolarization, and the T wave signifies ventricular repolarization.
The ST segment links the QRS complex and T wave. Its elevation or depression can suggest an acute MI or hypoxia respectively. While a client breathing harder or an increase in heart rate are expected during a stress test, an increased frequency of QRS complexes can indicate abnormalities like a partial block or atrial fibrillation. Nonetheless, the appearance of an ST segment depression or T wave inversion on the EKG are the most critical and immediate reasons to stop an exercise electrocardiography.
Learn more about Exercise Electrocardiography