CET Test(questions with complete
solutions)A+ rated
Sinus Rhythms - correct answer ✔✔Rhythms originating from the SA node:
Normal Sinus Rhythm
Sinus Bradycardia
Sinus Tachycardia
Sinus Arrhythmia
Sinoatrial Pause (block)
Sinus Arrest
Sinus Rhythm - correct answer ✔✔the only rhythm considered NORMAL
Sinus Bradycardia - correct answer ✔✔All electrical impulses originate from the SA node and follow the
normal conduction pathway.
However, the rate is slower than 60 beats per minute.
Normally seen in patients sleeping or athletes.
Causes-vomiting, drugs such as digitalis, morphine or sedatives
S&S-pale, cool, clammy skin; cyanosis; dyspnea; confusion or disorientation; dizziness, weakness,
fainting; decreased urinary output; mild or severe chest pain; or unresponsiveness
Sinus Tachycardia - correct answer ✔✔All electrical impulses originate from the SA node and follow the
normal conduction pathway.
However, the rate is between 101 and 150 beats per minute.
Causes-pain, fever, anemia, dehydration, hemorrhage, exercise, fear, sudden excitement, anxiety or the
effects of drugs such as atropine, nicotine, caffeine or some street drugs
,Sinus Arrhythmia - correct answer ✔✔Occurs when the SA node initiates all the electrical impulses but
at irregular intervals.
The P-P intervals and the R-R intervals change with respiration-the heart rate increases when the patient
inhales and decreases when the patient exhales.
Heart rate is usually 60-100 beats per minute
Normally seen in infants or young children.
Causes-diseased SA node, coronary artery disease
Sinoatrial Pause (block) - correct answer ✔✔Occurs when the SA node initiates an electrical impulse but
it is blocked and NOT conducted to the atria.
The atria and ventricles do not depolarize, so a P wave will not be seen until the next conducted complex
(exactly 1 P wave and QRS complex will be missing or dropped) *We call this a pause!*
Causes-MI, ischemia, hypoxia, drugs such as digitalis or quinidine
Sinus Arrest - correct answer ✔✔Occurs when the SA node does NOT initiate an electrical impulse.
Because an impulse is not generated, depolarization will not occur and the next expected complex will
not be seen.
There will be more than 1 P wave and QRS missing
Because the SA node is not firing, any pacemaker cell in the heart can begin to initiate electrical
impulses, so the rhythm after the pause may be different than the rhythm before the pause.
Causes-MI, ischemia, hypoxia, drugs such as digitalis or quinidine
Atrial Dysrhythmias - correct answer ✔✔when the SA node fails to generate an electrical impulse and
any other pacemaker site within the atria initiates an impulse:
Premature Atrial Complex
Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia/Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia
Supraventricular Tachycardia
Atrial Flutter
Atrial Fibrillation
, Premature Atrial Complex - correct answer ✔✔An individual complex that occurs earlier than the next
expected complex of the underlying rhythm.
It originates from any atrial site outside the SA node.
The PAC is followed by a pause before the underlying rhythm returns.
PAC's are not rhythms! So in naming the rhythm, first name the underlying rhythm and then add PAC.
Causes-pain, fever, fear, anxiety, sudden excitement, exercise, the effects of drugs such as digitalis,
atropine, nicotine, caffeine and some street drugs
Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia/Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia (most common and most recent
name) - correct answer ✔✔Paroxysmal is used to describe a rhythm that starts or ends suddenly.
It may last for minutes, hours or days and as long as the start and end are observed, it is called PSVT.
The impulse is initiated by an irritable site in the atria.
This rhythm cannot be tolerated for long periods of time because the rate is so rapid, the ventricles do
not have time to fill completely before each contraction.
Causes-stimulants such as caffeine, nicotine or some street drugs
Effects-weakness, dizziness, palpitations or a feeling that the heart is doing "flip-flops"
Supraventricular Tachycardia - correct answer ✔✔SVT is a general term that refers to any dysrhythmia
that cannot be identified by other means and originates from an irritable site of the atria, above the
Bundle of HIS, and has a rate greater than 150 beats/min.
Again, this rhythm cannot be tolerated for long periods of time.
Causes-stimulants such as caffeine, nicotine or some street drugs
Atrial Flutter - correct answer ✔✔Atrial Flutter is an atrial rhythm in which an irritable site within the
atria fires regularly at a very rapid rate.
The electrical impulses are conducted throughout the atria so rapidly that normal P waves are not
produced. Instead of P waves, flutter waves (F waves) are formed.