Critical Care - 33279

The nurse in the intensive care unit (ICU) is caring for a client who has experienced multiple ventricular dysrhythmias in the past 24 hours.

The nurse recognizes that if the client develops ventricular fibrillation, the priority treatment is

Correct

A. cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

[11%]

B. intravenous epinephrine.

[8%]

C. defibrillation.

[79%]

D. rapid isotonic fluid resuscitation.

[2%]

Statistics

Difficulty level - Easy

79%of peers got it right

Time taken - 13 s

Subject/Lesson

• Subject

  Critical Care

• Lesson

  Critical Care Concepts

Client Need

• Test Plan

  Physiological Adaptation

• Related Topic

  Medical Emergencies

Item Type

• Item Type

  Application

Explanation

Choice C is correct. Defibrillation is the priority intervention for ventricular fibrillation (VF), a life-threatening arrhythmia in which the ventricles quiver ineffectively, producing no cardiac output. Immediate defibrillation is required to restore an organized rhythm and circulation. While high-quality CPR is essential to maintain limited perfusion to the brain and heart until defibrillation can be performed, it does not stop VF or restore a viable rhythm.

Choice A is incorrect. While CPR is initiated immediately if a defibrillator is not available, defibrillation remains the first-line treatment for VF. CPR supports circulation until defibrillation can be performed, but it is not a substitute for it.

Choice B is incorrect. Epinephrine is part of the advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) algorithm after initial defibrillation and CPR, but it is not the initial or priority treatment for VF.

Choice D is incorrect. This intervention is appropriate for hypovolemia or hypotension, not for arrhythmias like VF. It does not address the underlying electrical chaos in the heart seen in VF.

Related Videos

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Ventricular Fibrillation

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00:05:37

7.6 Ventricular Dysrhythmias & Cardiac Arrest

Additional Info

Last Updated - 25 Aug 2025