Question

A client diagnosed with atrial fibrillation has a pacemaker set at a ventricular rate of 70 beats per minute. Which of the following findings should the nurse immediately report to the provider?

Answer 1

Findings that a nurse should immediately report for a client with a pacemaker and atrial fibrillation include signs of ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia, as well as symptoms like dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain, or syncope, which may indicate the pacemaker is not functioning properly or the patient's condition is worsening.

Step-by-step explanation:

A client with a pacemaker set for a ventricular rate of 70 beats per minute and diagnosed with atrial fibrillation may be stable as long as the ventricles are pumping blood effectively. However, there are specific findings that a nurse should immediately report to the provider, such as signs of ventricular fibrillation, which is a medical emergency and is often signified by a cessation of effective blood pumping, described as "code blue" in a hospital setting. Another concerning finding would be tachycardia, defined as a resting heart rate above 100 beats per minute, which in this context could indicate an override of the pacemaker's settings or another serious condition requiring prompt attention. The nurse should also be vigilant for symptoms like dizziness, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, chest pain, or fainting (syncope), particularly if these symptoms are not typical for the individual patient and could suggest an issue with the pacemaker's function or a worsening of the patient's condition.