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Cardiac Nursing

How the Healthy Heart Works

Characteristics
  • The impulse originates in the SA node
  • Both the atrial and ventricular rhythms are regular
  • The rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute

 

The P wave  

Is upright and normal in appearance, unchanging in length, and precede each QRS 

The PR interval   Is between .12 -.20 sec and it is constant  

The QRS complex  

is between .6 and .10 seconds

What happens when the heart doesn't beat normal?

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Be Cautious! - Arrhythmias 

Atrial Rhythms

Sinus Arrest
Premature Atrial Complex
Atrial Tachycardia
Paroxysmal SupraVentricular Tachycardia (PSVT)
Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia
Atrial Flutter
Atrial Fibrillation

Junctional Rhythms
Junctional Premature Beats
Junctional Escape Rhythm 
Junctional Tachycardia
Paroxysmal Junctional Tachycardia
Premature Ventricular Contraction
Multifocal PVCs
PVC Couplets
First Degree AV Block
Second Degree AV Block Type I (Wenchebach or Mobitz Type I)
SA Block
Junctional Escape Beats

Ventricular Escape Beats

Artifact

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Volitale - Possibly Lethal Arrhythmias 

Ventricular Fibrillation