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    Pharmacology exam proctored exam

    Which of the following electrocardiography (ECG) findings would require immediate intervention?

    Explanation & Rationale

    A. Arterial fibrillation with a rate of 88 beats per minute: Atrial fibrillation with a controlled ventricular response of 88 beats per minute indicates hemodynamic stability. While this rhythm requires long-term management for stroke prevention, it is not an immediate life-threatening emergency. The patient can be monitored while awaiting pharmacological or electrical rate and rhythm control. B. Ventricular fibrillation: This lethal arrhythmia represents disorganized electrical activity that results in the total loss of cardiac output. Without immediate defibrillation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the patient will progress to biological death within minutes. It is the highest clinical priority in electrocardiographic monitoring and requires an instant emergency response. C. Sinus tachycardia with a rate of 105 beats per minute: A heart rate of 105 is a mild elevation that may be caused by pain, anxiety, fever, or dehydration. While it requires investigation into the underlying cause, it does not represent an immediate threat to life. It is a physiological response that usually resolves once the primary stressor is addressed. D. Normal sinus rhythm with a rate of 72 beats per minute: This finding represents a healthy, physiologically normal cardiac rhythm. A rate of 72 falls perfectly within the standard adult range of 60 to 100 beats per minute. No nursing or medical intervention is required for this stable and expected monitoring result.

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