twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN 1 Article; 1,289 Posts Specializes in ED. Has 18 years experience. Jul 12, 2018 It would depend on how tachy or how brady the patient is. Both can be equally life threatening.
MunoRN, RN 8,058 Posts Specializes in Critical Care. Has 10 years experience. Jul 12, 2018 "Neither" and "Both" are equally correct. Both of those terms simply refer to a HR within a common range or outside of a common range. Depending on the factors affecting a patient's perfusion and cardiac output demands, a HR of 55 might be more than enough for one person, but life threatening for another. Likewise, a HR of 130 might be totally appropriate in someone under high physiological stress, but unsustainable for someone else.
Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN 955 Posts Specializes in NICU. Has 14 years experience. Jul 12, 2018 It would depend on how tachy or how brady the patient is. Both can be equally life threatening.Also depends on what's causing it.
That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B 3,421 Posts Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab. Has 6 years experience. Jul 12, 2018 I always say too fast is better than not enough but that comes with a big asterisk.
JadedCPN, BSN, RN 1,476 Posts Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU. Has 17 years experience. Jul 13, 2018 Assuming this is a homework question like it appears to be, how about you tell us your thoughts first?
martymoose, BSN, RN 1,944 Posts Specializes in PCCN. Has 20 years experience. Jul 14, 2018 I always say too fast is better than not enough but that comes with a big asterisk.I dunno. I've seen some perfuse ok with a hr of 29-40, hypertensive, but some not tolerate 160 at all. No time for the ventricles to fill.tend to get hypotensive
Guest219794 2,453 Posts Jul 14, 2018 What are your thoughts on the matter?What is the context of the question?
That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B 3,421 Posts Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab. Has 6 years experience. Jul 14, 2018 I dunno. I've seen some perfuse ok with a hr of 29-40, hypertensive, but some not tolerate 160 at all. No time for the ventricles to fill.tend to get hypotensiveThats why it comes with a big asterisk. It doesn't apply to all situations.
offlabel 1,481 Posts Jul 15, 2018 As a practical matter, I'd rather treat too slow than too fast. Less to think about, differential list is shorter, overall easier to treat IMO
psu_213, BSN, RN 3,878 Posts Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant. Has 14 years experience. Jul 18, 2018 What is the context of the question?I am curious to find this out as well. Short answer: both can be not so bad, both can be really bad. It depends on how high or low and on the overall clinical picture.
Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP 1,367 Posts Specializes in Critical Care and ED. Has 34 years experience. Jul 19, 2018 Both can cause unstable hemodynamics and it's the unstable hemodynamics that kill, not the blood pressure itself. It's all about the oxygenation, and if that's not happening then it's over. A tachycardia can turn to V Fib which is lethal, and sinus brady can turn to worse sinus brady and then asystole which is not compatible with life.
