Nursing Interventions for Arrhythmias
September 6, 2010 | In: Nursing Interventions
Nursing Interventions: Arrhythmias
- Document any arrhythmias in a monitored patient.
- Notify the doctor if a change in pulse pattern or rate occurs in an unmonitored patient.
- As ordered, obtain an ECG tracing in an unmonitored patient to confirm and identify the type of arrhythmia present.
- Be prepared to initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if indicated, when a life threatening arrhythmia occurs.
- Administer medication as ordered, monitor for adverse effect, and perform nursing interventions related to monitoring vital signs, hemodynamic monitoring, and appropriate laboratory work.
- Provide adequate oxygen and reduce heart workload while carefully maintaining metabolic, neurologic, respiratory, and hemodynamic status.
- Evaluate the monitored patient’s ECG regularly for arrhythmia.
- Monitor for predisposing factors, such as fluid and electrolyte imbalance, and signs of drug toxicity, especially with digoxin.
- Teach the patient how to take his pulse and recognize an irregular rhythm and instruct him to report alterations from his baseline to the doctor.
- Emphasize the importance of keeping laboratory and physician’s appointments.