Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA) review for nursing students!
This quiz will test your knowledge on how to identify Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA), the causes of this heart rhythm, and the treatment. Before taking this quiz, you might want to review our Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA) video on YouTube, or review the Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA) notes .
Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA) ECG/EKG Interpretation Quiz
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“.
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
Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA) EKG/ECG Rhythm Quiz
1. Which of the following is NOT found in the rhythm Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA)?
A. Organization
B. Pulse
C. P waves
D. QRS complexes
The answer is B. The rhythm above is known as PEA (Pulseless Electrical Activity). This rhythm looks like an organized rhythm (you may or may NOT see p waves and QRS complexes). The presentation can vary (appear as normal sinus, bradycardia, tachycardia etc.). However, the patient will have NO pulse and be unresponsive.
2. The nurse observes the rhythm above on the cardiac monitor. The nurse assesses the patient and finds that the patient is unresponsive and has no pulse. The nurse calls a code blue and starts CPR. A rhythm checked is performed and the same rhythm is noted with no pulse. What is an INCORRECT action by the code team for treatment of this rhythm?
A. Continue CPR
B. Administer Epinephrine
C. Defibrillation
D. Support the airway
The answer is C. PEA (Pulseless Electrical Activity) is a non-shockable rhythm meaning it is NOT treated with defibrillation. The code team should continue high-quality CPR, administered Epinephrine per ACLS protocol along with supporting the airway.
3. True or False: PEA (Pulseless Electrical Activity) can have many presentations on the ECG and can sometimes appear as a complete flat line.
The answer is FALSE: PEA is an organized rhythm where the patient has no pulse and is unresponsive. It does NOT appear as a flat line, this would be called asystole.
4. Which medication below can be used during a code to treat PEA (Pulseless Electrical Activity)?
A. Atropine
B. Amiodarone
C. Lidocaine
D. Epinephrine
The answer is D. Epinephrine can be used during a code to treat PEA (Pulseless Electrical Activity).
5. Your patient is coding and high-quality CPR is being performed. The last rhythm checked showed PEA (Pulseless Electrical Activity). The team is checking the potential causes of this situation by assessing the H’s and T’s. Select all the possible causes of this rhythm using this mnemonic:
A. Hypothyroidism
B. Hypoxia
C. Hypertension
D. Typhoid fever
E. Thrombolysis
F. Hyperkalemia
G. Hypovolemia
H. Trauma
I. Toxins
The answers are: B, F, G, H and I.
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.