A Patient Comes to the Clinic with a History of Syncope

question 5

Multiple Choice

A patient comes to the clinic with a history of syncope and weakness for 2 to 3 days.The primary care NP notes thready,rapid pulses and 3-second capillary refill.An ECG reveals a heart rate of 198 beats per minute with a regular rhythm.The NP should:

• A) administer intravenous fluids and obtain serum electrolytes.
• B) administer amiodarone in the clinic and observe closely for response.
• C) order digoxin and verapamil and ask the patient to return for a follow-up examination in 1 week.
• D) send the patient to an emergency department for evaluation and treatment.

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Definitions:

Homeostasis

The self-regulating process by which biological systems tend to maintain stability while adjusting to conditions that are optimal for survival.

Internal Environment

The conditions and processes occurring within an organism's body that ensure its stable operation and life activities.

Tolerable Range

The range of environmental conditions within which an organism can survive and reproduce without experiencing stress.

Carolus Linnaeus

A Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist in the 18th century, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature.