Rhythm strips on NCLEX

[Kshing]

I am working on part of an NCLEX prep assignment for our final semester of nursing school. It's called a "teach/learn" assignment - I teach them something that they (other students in my clinical group) have expressed a need for further education. They asked that my topic of discussion cover rhythm strips, but I can't seem to find information on what rhythms NCLEX expects students to know for the test. I don't want to waist time teaching them how to identify heart blocks if they aren't going to be on the test, but I also don't want to leave them out of our discussion if there's a chance that they're on the test. Our presentation can only be 10 minutes long so I'm trying to refine it to things they need to know.

Any input would be great.

Thank You!

[Meeshie]

There's no way of knowing. However, you're not as likely to see something like "what is this?" as you are "This is the EKG of your patient, which medication is contraindicated?" Or "You patient is on blahblah medication, the EKG is this, the vitals are this. What do you need to do?"

[dianah, ASN]

Moved to NCLEX discussion forum.

[Dani_Mila, BSN, RN]

Most important will be definitely V-Fib and Asystole. These are the Pulseless rhythm that you need to watch out for. Also with V-tach because if its untreated it may lead to V-Fib. Most NCLEX questions will show you the rhythm strips and you have to know what it is and it will all you what will the nurse do first or best etc. Sometimes it will describe to you what the rhythm looks like eg. "sawtooth pattern" so you know this will be Atrial Flutter

[CTtoRN, ADN, BSN, RN]

Having recently taken the NCLEX, I can tell you that my school taught us to know, V-fib, V-tach, asystole, AF and a few others. None of those were asked. What was asked was "what would you do about..." pictures. One of my correct answers was to "go check the lead placement" for an artifact pic. The other one was "which strip concerns you"? It was based on a high heart rate. Hope this helps.

[jewels08]

I'm prepping for NCLEX with Uworld and Kaplan, and most of the rhythms I have come across so far in practice questions are heart blocks, V tac, V fib, A fib, and maybe SVT. Definitely need to know when to shock, initiate CPR, when to cardiovert, when to pace (blocks), and meds you would give for each situation. Also from ACLS, it's important you assess the patient FIRST because you cannot shock a stable V-tach, aka alive and asymptomatic.