Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 82%
Simulated
A nurse is caring for a client who reports heart palpitations that come and go. An ECG confirms the client is experiencing episodes of ventricular tachycardia (VT). The client is stable. The nurse should anticipate the need for taking which of the following actions?
Correct answer
A
Rationale
The correct answer is A: Elective cardioversion. In this scenario, the client is stable, so immediate interventions like CPR or defibrillation are not necessary. Elective cardioversion is the appropriate action for ventricular tachycardia to restore the heart's normal rhythm. Radiofrequency catheter ablation is a treatment option for arrhythmias but is not typically the first-line intervention for stable VT. Defibrillation is used for unstable VT or ventricular fibrillation. In summary, elective cardioversion is the most appropriate intervention for stable VT in this client.