Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 62%
Full-length
The client is admitted to the emergency room with shortness of breath, anxiety, and tachycardia. His ECG reveals atrial fibrillation with a ventricular response rate of 130 beats per minute. The doctor orders quinidine sulfate. While he is receiving quinidine, the nurse should monitor his ECG for:
Correct answer
D
Rationale
Quinidine, an antiarrhythmic, can prolong the QT interval, increasing the risk of torsades de pointes. Monitoring the ECG for QT prolongation is critical. The other ECG changes are not specific to quinidine.