Question

The nurse needs to quickly estimate the heart rate for a patient with a regular heart rhythm. Which method will be fastest to use?

a. Count the number of large squares in the R-R interval and divide by 300.
b. Print a 1-minute electrocardiogram (ECG) strip and count the number of QRS complexes.
c. Use the 3-second markers to count the number of QRS complexes in 6 seconds and multiply by 10.
d. Calculate the number of small squares between one QRS complex and the next and divide into 1500.

Answer 1

The fastest method to estimate the heart rate for a patient with a regular heart rhythm is:

c. Use the 3-second markers to count the number of QRS complexes in 6 seconds and multiply by 10.

This method allows for a quick estimation of the heart rate by counting the number of QRS complexes in a 6-second interval and multiplying by 10 to obtain the heart rate per minute. It is a rapid and efficient way to assess the heart rate in a patient with a regular rhythm

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

The fastest method for a nurse to estimate the heart rate using an electrocardiogram (ECG) is to count the number of QRS complexes in 6 seconds using the 3-second markers and multiply by 10.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse needs to quickly estimate the heart rate for a patient with a regular heart rhythm. To do this efficiently, option (c) is the fastest method: Use the 3-second markers to count the number of QRS complexes in 6 seconds and multiply by 10. This approach is based on the standard ECG paper speed of 25 mm/s, where 3-second markers are evident as heavier lines. Given the time constraint and need for accuracy, this method provides a quick yet reliable estimate of heart rate.