A 64-year-old client is seen in the emergency department for palpitati

A 64-year-old client is seen in the emergency department for palpitations and mild shortness of breath.

The electrocardiogram (ECG) reveals a normal P wave, P-R interval, and QRS complex with a regular rhythm and rate of 108 beats per minute. The nurse should recognize this cardiac dysrhythmia as:
1. Sinus dysrhythmia
2. Sinus tachycardia
3. Supraventricular tachycardia
4. Ventricular tachycardia

ANSWER

ANS: 2
The client is experiencing sinus tachycardia. The rhythm is regular with a normal P wave, normal QRS complex, and a rate of 100 to 180 beats per minute. A sinus dysrhythmia has a rate of 60 to 100 beats per minute and slows during inspiration and increases with expiration. The client is not experiencing a sinus dysrhythmia. With supraventricular tachycardia, the heart rate is 150 to 250 beats per minute, the P wave may be buried in the preceding T wave, and the P-R interval is var-iable. This client is not experiencing supraventricular tachycardia. With ventricular tachycardia the rhythm is slightly irregular at a rate of 100 to 200 beats per minute, the P wave is absent, the P-R interval is absent, and the QRS complex is wide. This client is not experiencing ventricular tachycardia.