CMT Pharmacology and Cardiac Medications Flashcards
6 cards from real CMT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 CMT Pharmacology and Cardiac Medications flashcards as text
A patient's QTc interval is 510 ms. The CMT should:
Answer: Notify the nurse immediately of a critically prolonged QTc
A QTc greater than 500 ms is critically prolonged and associated with high risk of torsades de pointes, requiring immediate clinical notification.
Which electrolyte replacement is the antidote for torsades de pointes?
Answer: IV magnesium sulfate
IV magnesium sulfate is the treatment of choice for torsades de pointes, stabilizing the cardiac membrane and suppressing the arrhythmia.
A patient on warfarin is admitted for cardiac monitoring. The CMT notes a new rapid irregular rhythm. The significance of anticoagulation in this context is:
Answer: Warfarin prevents thrombus formation in AF, reducing stroke risk
Patients in atrial fibrillation are anticoagulated with warfarin to prevent left atrial thrombus formation and subsequent embolic stroke.
IV lidocaine is used in the acute management of which condition?
Answer: Ventricular arrhythmias
Lidocaine (Class IB) suppresses ventricular automaticity and is used for acute treatment of ventricular tachyarrhythmias.
A patient's ECG shows flattened T waves and prominent U waves. Which electrolyte abnormality does this most suggest?
Answer: Hypokalemia
Hypokalemia classically produces flat or inverted T waves and prominent U waves on the ECG, increasing arrhythmia risk.
Which drug should be immediately available at the bedside when a patient is receiving IV amiodarone infusion?
Answer: Resuscitation equipment due to proarrhythmic risk
IV amiodarone can cause hypotension and proarrhythmia, so full resuscitation equipment must be immediately available during infusion.