Unstable dysrhythmia
NCLEX-RN glossary · Physiological Adaptation
Definition
A change in cardiac rhythm that is accompanied by signs of hemodynamic collapse, such as hypotension, altered mental status, or chest pain.
Unstable dysrhythmia in plain English
It requires immediate intervention (e.g., cardioversion or pacing) because the client is no longer perfusing vital organs effectively. The main trap is treating a stable dysrhythmia (where the client has no symptoms) with the same urgency as an unstable one.
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