Question

A nurse in an urgent care center is assessing a client who reports a sudden onset of irregular palpitations, fatigue, and dizziness. The nurse finds a rapid and irregular heartbeat with a significant pulse deficit. Which of the following dysrhythmias should the nurse expect to find on the ECG?

A. First-degree AV block
B. Atrial fibrillation
C. Sinus bradycardia
D. Sinus tachycardia

Answer 1

The nurse should expect to find atrial fibrillation on the ECG.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should expect to find atrial fibrillation on the ECG. Atrial fibrillation is a type of supraventricular tachycardia, which is characterized by a rapid and irregular heartbeat. It occurs when the electrical signals in the atria of the heart fire chaotically, causing irregular heartbeats and a significant pulse deficit. On the ECG, atrial fibrillation is identified by an abnormal electrical pattern prior to the QRS complexes, and an increased frequency between the QRS complexes.