cardiac rhythms

• Rate 60 to 100 beats/min

• Regular rhythm

• Normal P wave in lead II

• Narrow QRS

• P wave before each QRS

• Normal PR, QRS, and QT intervals

• Normal Sinus Rhythm

• less than 60bpm

• S&S: pale, diaphoretic, hypoxia, SOB, hypotensive, decreased LOC

• Risk factors: cardiac surgery, MI, elderly, athletes, congenital heart disease, myocarditis, drug toxicities

• treatment: support C/O that meets body demands, pacemaker, fix underlying cause, MEDS: atropine, epinephrine, dopamine

• Sinus bradycardia

• rate greater than 100bpm

• Causes: Hyperthyroidism, hypovolemia, heart failure anemia, exercise, use of stimulants, fever, and response to fear/pain/anxiety

• assess for symptoms of low cardiac output

• treat the cause

• Sinus tachycardia

• Rate varies with respirations

• Inspire = increase

• Expire = decrease

• Rarely affects hemodynamic status

• Common in pediatric patients

• sinus arrythmia