Cardiac-Vascular Nursing (CVRN) Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive All-in-One Resource for Exam Success!

Atrial fibrillation is characterized by rapid and irregular heartbeats, which often manifest as frequent palpitations. This condition arises from chaotic electrical signals in the heart, leading to disorganized atrial contractions. Patients typically report sensations of their heart racing or fluttering, which can occur sporadically or continuously. The irregular nature of the heartbeat in atrial fibrillation can result in inadequate filling of the ventricles, potentially leading to hemodynamic instability or other complications.

While bradycardia, or a slower than normal heart rate, does not usually cause palpitations, tachycardia is defined specifically by an increased heart rate, which may also lead to feelings of palpitations. However, it is generally the irregular rhythm and the resultant symptoms of atrial fibrillation, including the potentially more uncomfortable sensations, that make it the hallmark condition for palpitations. Asystole refers to a complete absence of heart electrical activity, which would not elicit palpitations. Thus, for individuals experiencing frequent palpitations, atrial fibrillation is most indicative of the condition described.

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