A nurse is preparing the client for an electrocardiogram (ECG). The client asks the nurse what is an electrocardiogram.
Which is the best description for an electrocardiogram?
Electrical representations of the cardiac cycle that are documented by deflections on recording paper.
The amount of blood ejected from the left ventricle over 1 minute.
The amount of blood that is ejected with every heartbeat.
Electrical impulses of the heart displayed on a screen.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale
The electrical representations of the cardiac cycle that are documented by deflections on recording paper are known as an electrocardiogram (ECG). ECGs provide a visual record of the heart's electrical activity, captured through electrodes placed on the body. These deflections correspond to the depolarization and repolarization phases of the heart's muscle cells, translating into P, QRS, and T waves on the ECG strip. The primary function is to diagnose arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, and other heart conditions by identifying abnormal patterns in these waves.
Choice B rationale
This choice describes cardiac output, the amount of blood ejected from the left ventricle over one minute, which is unrelated to the visual documentation of electrical activity provided by an ECG.
Choice C rationale
This choice refers to the stroke volume, the amount of blood ejected with each heartbeat, not the electrical representation of cardiac activity shown on an ECG.
Choice D rationale
This choice is partially correct but does not fully describe an ECG, which includes a detailed recording on paper rather than just visual electrical impulses on a screen.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Scleroderma is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissues. While it affects the skin, it is unrelated to emphysema and bronchitis, making it an unlikely finding in this client.
Choice B rationale
Pedal erythema, or redness of the feet, can result from various causes, including infections, allergies, and circulatory issues. However, it is not commonly associated with emphysema and bronchitis, making it an unlikely finding in this client.
Choice C rationale
Anasarca is generalized body swelling due to fluid retention, often seen in severe heart failure, liver disease, and kidney failure. While this condition involves significant swelling, it is not typically linked to emphysema and bronchitis.
Choice D rationale
Clubbing of the nails is a common finding in chronic respiratory conditions like emphysema and bronchitis. It involves bulbous enlargement of the fingertips and nail curvature, resulting from prolonged low oxygen levels, making it a likely finding in this client.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Rhonchi are low-pitched, coarse sounds typically heard during expiration, associated with secretions in large airways, not high-pitched continuous sounds.
Choice B rationale
Stridor is a high-pitched sound heard during inspiration, typically indicating upper airway obstruction.
Choice C rationale
Wheezes are continuous high-pitched whistling sounds heard during expiration, common in conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, where airway narrowing is present.
Choice D rationale
Crackles are discontinuous sounds heard during inspiration, usually associated with fluid in the lungs or alveolar opening, not continuous high-pitched sounds. .
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