Sinus tachycardia ECG interpretation quiz for nursing students!
This EKG quiz will test your knowledge on how to identify sinus tachycardia, causes of this rhythm, nursing interventions for sinus tachycardia, and treatment. As the nurse, it is vital you are able to determine if a patient is experiencing sinus tachycardia and what signs and symptoms require intervention for this rhythm.
Before taking this quiz, don’t forget to review the lecture on ECG/EKG Interpretation Basics and access the lectures in this ECG series.
Don’t forget to review the sinus tachycardia notes before taking the quiz and to watch the lecture below.
Sinus Tachycardia ECG/EKG Rhythm Nursing Quiz
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Sinus Tachycardia ECG/EKG Rhythm Quiz
1. Sinus tachycardia originates from what part of the electrical conduction system?
A. Bundle of His
B. Bundle Branches
C. AV Node
D. SA Node
The answer is D: SA Node.
2. You’re analyzing an ECG strip. In order for the rhythm to be identified as Sinus Tachycardia, what must be present in the rhythm? (Select all that apply):
A. One p wave present in front of every QRS complex
B. Atrial rate >100 bpm
C. Ventricular rate >100 bpm
D. Regular atrial rate and irregular ventricular rate
E. Regular atrial and ventricular rate
F. Atrial rate <60 bpm
G. QRS complex <0.12 seconds
H. PR interval 0.12-0.20 seconds
I. PR interval >0.20 seconds
The answers are: A, B, C, E, G, H
3. You’re providing care to a 55-year-old male. You note on the bedside monitor the patient has a heart rate of 116 bpm. You obtain an ECG and discover the patient rhythm is Sinus Tachycardia. You assess probable causes of this rhythm. Which finding below could be a cause of this patient’s heart rhythm?
A. Digoxin therapy
B. Pain rating of 2 on 1-10 scale
C. Temperature 103.6’F
D. Blood glucose of 86 mg/dL
The answer is C. An elevated temperature can lead to Sinus Tachycardia.
4. Your patient is experiencing Sinus Tachycardia with a rate of 160 bpm. Which findings below demonstrate the patient is experiencing a decrease in cardiac output? Select all that apply:
A. Blood pressure 220/120 mmHg
B. Blood pressure70/42 mmHg
C. Crackles throughout the lung fields
D. Decreased capillary refill time
E. Cool extremities
The answers are B, C, and E. Option D is NOT the answer because INCREASED capillary refill time would present, NOT decreased and hypotension would be presenting NOT hypertension.
5. What are possible causes of Sinus Tachycardia? Select all that apply:
A. Exercise
B. Atropine
C. Pain
D. Sick Sinus Syndrome
E. Cardiogenic shock
F. Hypothyroidism
The answers are A, B, C, and E.
6. Your patient develops Sinus Tachycardia with a heart rate of 136 bpm. The patient is post-op from hip surgery. The patient reports chest pain that is worst with each breath in and has shortness of breath. These findings can correlate with what serious condition?
A. Cardiogenic shock
B. Pulmonary embolism
C. Sick Sinus Syndrome
D. Hypovolemic shock
The answer is B. Sinus tachycardia many times develops with a pulmonary embolism and can be viewed as an early/warning sign. The clue in this question is “post-op from hip surgery”. Surgery (especially surgery of bones) increases a patient’s risk of a PE. In addition, the presenting signs and symptoms correlate with this serious condition.
7. Which statement below best describes why Sinus Tachycardia could lead to decreased cardiac output?
A. “The atrial kick is decreased leading to inadequate atria emptying.”
B. “The ventricles don’t have enough time to fill completely so less blood is pumped out of the heart.”
C. “The rapid firing of the SA node leads to rapid atrial contraction and causes blood to pool in the atria.”
D. “The ventricles are unable to properly contract and push blood forward so less blood is pumped out of the heart.”
The answer is B.
8. What medication below is NOT a treatment for Sinus Tachycardia?
A. Verapamil
B. Metoprolol
C. Antipyretics
D. Dopamine
The answer is D. Dopamine increases the heart rate along with the blood pressure. It is used in Sinus Bradycardia. Verapamil is a calcium channel blocker and can slow down the heart. In addition, Metoprolol is a beta blocker that can slow down the heart rate as well. Antipyretics reduce a patient’s fever which can slow down the heart rate (if a fever is causing the sinus tachycardia).
9. Use the figure above to answer the next 4 questions: What is the rate of the rhythm above?
A. 110 bpm
B. 120 bpm
C. 130 bpm
D. 140 bpm
The answer is A: 110 bpm
10. What is the PR Interval?
A. 0.06 seconds
B. 0.12 seconds
C. 0.16 seconds
D. 0.20 seconds
The answer is B.
11. What is the QRS complex duration?
A. 0.06 seconds
B. 0.12 seconds
C. 0.08 seconds
D. 0.20 seconds
The answer is C.
12. What is the atrial rate?
A. 100 bpm
B. 110 bpm
C. 120 bpm
D. 130 bpm
The answer is B: 110 bpm
13. True or False: The rhythm above is Sinus Tachycardia.
The answer is TRUE.
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