Asystole quiz review for nursing students!
This quiz will test your knowledge on how to identify asystole, the causes of this heart rhythm, and the treatment. Before taking this quiz, you might want to review our asystole video on YouTube, or review the asystole notes.
Also, check out the other ECG quizzes:
Second-Degree Type I (Mobitz I or Wenckebach)
Second-Degree Type II (Mobitz II)
Third-Degree (Complete) Heart Block
Ventricular Tachycardia (V-tach)
ECG Interpretation Comprehensive
Asystole ECG Heart Rhythm Interpretation Quiz Questions
ECG/EKG Study Guide and Workbook for Nursing Students
“ECG/EKG Interpretation Study Guide and Workbook by Nurse Sarah”. This book contain 100 pages of content featuring 26 ECG rhythm break downs, 51 ECG rhythm analysis practice problems, 100 comprehensive ECG practice questions, worksheets, chart summaries, and more.
You can get an eBook version here: “Nurse Sarah ECG Book” or a physical copy here: “ECG/EKG Interpretation Study Guide by Nurse Sarah“.
Asystole ECG/EKG Heart Rhythm Interpretation Quiz
1. Select the options below that describe the rhythm above:
A. Erratic, unorganized ECG waveform
B. Absent P-wave, QRS complex, T-wave
C. Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA)
D. Ventricular fibrillation (V-fib)
E. Asystole
F. Irregular atrial rate
G. Irregular ventricular rate
The answers are B and E. This is asystole which presents as a flat line on the ECG. There is NO electrical activity in the heart, therefore, the P-wave, QRS complex, and T-wave will all be absent.
2. TRUE or FALSE: Asystole requires immediate defibrillation to increase the patient’s chances of survival.
FALSE: Asystole is an un-shockable rhythm. High quality CPR and rhythm checks should be conducted per ACLS protocol until a shockable rhythm is present (V-tach or V-fib).
3. The cardiac monitor is showing asystole for the patient’s rhythm. However, the patient is alert and oriented with a strong pulse when palpated. The nurse should perform what action next?
A. Press the code blue button
B. Start CPR
C. Check the monitor’s cable and electrode connection
D. Continue to monitor
The answer is C: If the patient is alert and oriented and has a pulse, they are not truly experiencing asystole. If there is a bad connection with the monitor’s cable or electrodes this can present. Therefore, the nurse should check the monitor’s cable and electrode connection and correct it.
4. The patient has the rhythm above displaying on the cardiac monitor. The patient is unresponsive and no pulse is present. The nurse calls a code blue and then should do what next?
A. Prepare the patient for defibrillation
B. Check the H’s and T’s
C. Administer Atropine
D. Start CPR
The answer is D. The nurse should immediately start CPR after calling a code blue.
5. What medication can be administered during resuscitation to a patient who is in asystole?
A. Amiodarone
B. Epinephrine
C. Atropine
D. Adenosine
The answer is B: Epinephrine
6. Which rhythm above is NOT treated with defibrillation? Select all that apply:
A. Rhythm 1
B. Rhythm 2
C. Rhythm 3
D. Rhythm 4
The answer are B and D. Rhythm 1 is ventricular fibrillation and requires defibrillation (it is a shockable rhythm). Rhythm 2 is asystole and is NOT a shockable rhythm and can’t be defibrillated. Rhythm 3 is ventricular tachycardia without a pulse and requires defibrillation (it is a shockable rhythm). Rhythm 4 is Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA) and is NOT a shockable rhythm and can’t be defibrillated.
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