CEA Nursing Practice Exam

What is the first priority intervention for a patient with a rapid, irregular heart rate and symptoms lasting several days?

1. Treat with vagal maneuvers

2. Maintain rate control and anticoagulate

3. Notify EMS for emergency transport

4. Ask about family cardiac history

The correct answer is: Maintain rate control and anticoagulate

In the scenario of a patient presenting with a rapid, irregular heart rate and symptoms persisting for several days, the first priority intervention focuses on maintaining rate control and anticoagulating the patient. This approach is essential because a rapid, irregular heart rate, particularly in cases like atrial fibrillation, can lead to hemodynamic instability and increase the risk of thromboembolic events, such as stroke. Rate control involves using medications like beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers to slow down the heart rate and improve the patient's stability. Anticoagulation is critical to prevent the formation of blood clots due to sluggish blood flow in the atria, which is a common complication in irregular heart rhythms. Implementing rate control and anticoagulation addresses immediate risks posed by the symptoms, ensuring the patient's safety while preparing for further assessment and possible treatment. Other options, while they may seem relevant, do not appropriately address the immediate need for rate control and clot prevention in this context. For instance, using vagal maneuvers can be beneficial in certain scenarios, but they may not be effective for rapid atrial fibrillation or flutter, particularly after symptoms have persisted for several days. Notifying EMS for emergency transport might be necessary for critically unstable patients; however