Question 1

The normal QRS complex does not exceed what time on the horizontal axis?

Accepted Answer

A) 0.05 second 
B) 0.10 second 
C) 0.5 second 
D) 1 second 
A) 0.05 second 
B) 0.10 second 
C) 0.5 second 
D) 1 second

Question 2

Which of the following are common causes of tachycardia?
1)Pain
2)Fever
3)Hypoxemia
4)Hypothyroidism

Accepted Answer

A) 1, 3 
B) 2, 4 
C) 1, 2, 3 
D) 1, 2, 3, 4 
A) 1, 3 
B) 2, 4 
C) 1, 2, 3 
D) 1, 2, 3, 4

Question 3

Why is it important for a respiratory therapist (RT) to be able to identify cardiac dysrhythmias?

Accepted Answer

A) It is likely that the RT will observe the onset of the initial event. 
B) The RT is primarily responsible for management of the dysrhythmia. 
C) The RT must be able to confirm the physician's initial diagnosis. 
D) RTs are always the first responders for complaints of a cardiac nature. 
A) It is likely that the RT will observe the onset of the initial event. 
B) The RT is primarily responsible for management of the dysrhythmia. 
C) The RT must be able to confirm the physician's initial diagnosis. 
D) RTs are always the first responders for complaints of a cardiac nature.

Question 4

Which chamber is responsible for pumping blood into the pulmonary circulation?

Accepted Answer

A) Left atrium 
B) Left ventricle 
C) Right atrium 
D) Right ventricle 
A) Left atrium 
B) Left ventricle 
C) Right atrium 
D) Right ventricle

Question 5

What is the upper limit of normal for the width of a normal Q wave?

Accepted Answer

A) 0.08 second 
B) 0.04 second 
C) 1.2 seconds 
D) 1.4 seconds 
A) 0.08 second 
B) 0.04 second 
C) 1.2 seconds 
D) 1.4 seconds

Question 6

What is represented by the P wave on the ECG tracing?

Accepted Answer

A) Repolarization of the atria 
B) Depolarization of the atria 
C) Repolarization of the ventricles 
D) Depolarization of the ventricles 
A) Repolarization of the atria 
B) Depolarization of the atria 
C) Repolarization of the ventricles 
D) Depolarization of the ventricles

Question 7

At what speed does the paper travel through the ECG machine?

Accepted Answer

A) 25 mm/sec 
B) 30 mm/sec 
C) 40 mm/sec 
D) 50 mm/sec 
A) 25 mm/sec 
B) 30 mm/sec 
C) 40 mm/sec 
D) 50 mm/sec

Question 8

Which of the following dysrhythmias represents a dissociation of the mechanical and electrical activities of the heart?

Accepted Answer

A) Asystole 
B) AV block 
C) Bradycardia 
D) Pulseless electrical activity (PE
A)  
A) Asystole 
B) AV block 
C) Bradycardia 
D) Pulseless electrical activity (PE
A)

Question 9

What is the ventricular heart rate when the AV node paces the heart?

Accepted Answer

A) 20 to 40 beats/min 
B) 40 to 60 beats/min 
C) 60 to 80 beats/min 
D) 80 to 100 beats/min 
A) 20 to 40 beats/min 
B) 40 to 60 beats/min 
C) 60 to 80 beats/min 
D) 80 to 100 beats/min

Question 10

Which chamber normally has the largest muscle mass?

Accepted Answer

A) Left atrium 
B) Left ventricle 
C) Right atrium 
D) Right ventricle 
A) Left atrium 
B) Left ventricle 
C) Right atrium 
D) Right ventricle

Question 11

What is the upper limit in height of the normal P wave?

Accepted Answer

A) 1 mm 
B) 2.5 mm 
C) 3.5 mm 
D) 5 mm 
A) 1 mm 
B) 2.5 mm 
C) 3.5 mm 
D) 5 mm

Question 12

Which of the following is a characteristic of third-degree heart block?

Accepted Answer

A) There is a lengthening PR interval. 
B) There is often a 2:1 ratio between P waves and QRS complexes. 
C) The atrial rate is the same as the ventricular rate. 
D) There is no relationship between the P waves and the QRS complexes. 
A) There is a lengthening PR interval. 
B) There is often a 2:1 ratio between P waves and QRS complexes. 
C) The atrial rate is the same as the ventricular rate. 
D) There is no relationship between the P waves and the QRS complexes.

Question 13

A patient who has atrial fibrillation is at risk for which of the following pulmonary conditions?

Accepted Answer

A) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COP
D)  
B) Pneumothorax 
C) Pleural effusion 
D) Pulmonary emboli 
A) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COP
D)  
B) Pneumothorax 
C) Pleural effusion 
D) Pulmonary emboli

Question 14

What term describes heart cells that have the ability to spontaneously depolarize?

Accepted Answer

A) Systole 
B) Purkinje 
C) Automaticity 
D) Myocardiocity 
A) Systole 
B) Purkinje 
C) Automaticity 
D) Myocardiocity

Question 15

What problem is indicated by elevation of the ST segment?

Accepted Answer

A) Heart block 
B) Myocardial ischemia 
C) Elevation of serum potassium 
D) Depletion of serum potassium 
A) Heart block 
B) Myocardial ischemia 
C) Elevation of serum potassium 
D) Depletion of serum potassium

Question 16

Where does the normal electrical impulse originate for each heartbeat?

Accepted Answer

A) Atrioventricular (AV) node 
B) Sinoatrial (S
A)  node 
C) Bundle of His 
D) Right bundle branch 
A) Atrioventricular (AV) node 
B) Sinoatrial (S
A)  node 
C) Bundle of His 
D) Right bundle branch

Question 17

Which of the following would be a typical ECG finding in a patient with emphysema?

Accepted Answer

A) Reduced voltage in the limb leads 
B) Left axis deviation 
C) Smaller-than-normal P waves 
D) Prominent QRS complexes, particularly in leads V5 and V6 
A) Reduced voltage in the limb leads 
B) Left axis deviation 
C) Smaller-than-normal P waves 
D) Prominent QRS complexes, particularly in leads V5 and V6

Question 18

Which of the following dysrhythmias is associated with the lowest cardiac output?

Accepted Answer

A) AV block 
B) Atrial fibrillation 
C) Ventricular flutter 
D) Ventricular fibrillation 
A) AV block 
B) Atrial fibrillation 
C) Ventricular flutter 
D) Ventricular fibrillation

Question 19

Which chamber of the heart initially receives deoxygenated blood from the vena cava?

Accepted Answer

A) Left atrium 
B) Left ventricle 
C) Right atrium 
D) Right ventricle 
A) Left atrium 
B) Left ventricle 
C) Right atrium 
D) Right ventricle

Question 20

What term describes the sudden loss of the negative charge inside the myocardial cells?

Accepted Answer

A) Repolarization 
B) Depolarization 
C) Automaticity 
D) Conductivity 
A) Repolarization 
B) Depolarization 
C) Automaticity 
D) Conductivity

Exam 11: Interpretation of Electrocardiogram Tracings

The normal QRS complex does not exceed what time on the horizontal axis?

Which of the following are common causes of tachycardia? 1)Pain 2)Fever 3)Hypoxemia 4)Hypothyroidism

Why is it important for a respiratory therapist (RT) to be able to identify cardiac dysrhythmias?

Which chamber is responsible for pumping blood into the pulmonary circulation?

What is the upper limit of normal for the width of a normal Q wave?

What is represented by the P wave on the ECG tracing?

At what speed does the paper travel through the ECG machine?

Which of the following dysrhythmias represents a dissociation of the mechanical and electrical activities of the heart?

What is the ventricular heart rate when the AV node paces the heart?

Which chamber normally has the largest muscle mass?

What is the upper limit in height of the normal P wave?

Which of the following is a characteristic of third-degree heart block?

A patient who has atrial fibrillation is at risk for which of the following pulmonary conditions?

What term describes heart cells that have the ability to spontaneously depolarize?

What problem is indicated by elevation of the ST segment?

Where does the normal electrical impulse originate for each heartbeat?

Which of the following would be a typical ECG finding in a patient with emphysema?

Which of the following dysrhythmias is associated with the lowest cardiac output?

Which chamber of the heart initially receives deoxygenated blood from the vena cava?

What term describes the sudden loss of the negative charge inside the myocardial cells?

Preparing for the Patient Encounter

The Medical History and the Interview

Cardiopulmonary Symptoms

Vital Signs

Fundamentals of Physical Examination

Neurologic Assessment

Clinical Laboratory Studies

Interpretation of Blood Gases

Pulmonary Function Testing

Chest Imaging

Neonatal and Pediatric Assessment

Older Patient Assessment

Respiratory Monitoring in Critical Care

Vascular Pressure Monitoring

Cardiac Output Measurement

Bronchoscopy

Nutrition Assessment

Sleep and Breathing Assessment

Home Care Patient Assessment

Documentation

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