A patient on the cardiac unit reports dizziness after walking to the bathroom. Vital signs show hypotension and tachycardia. What rhythm should the nurse expect on telemetry?

• A. Atrial fibrillation
• B. Sinus tachycardia
• C. Ventricular tachycardia
• D. Junctional rhythm

Answer: (B)

When blood pressure drops, the heart often beats faster as a normal compensatory response to maintain perfusion. This presents on telemetry as sinus tachycardia: a regular rhythm with normal P waves preceding each QRS and a rate above 100 beats per minute. The scenario—dizziness after activity with hypotension and tachycardia—fits this physiologic reaction, making sinus tachycardia the most likely rhythm observed.

Atrial fibrillation would show an irregular rhythm with no distinct P waves. Ventricular tachycardia would typically display wide, fast complexes and can be a dangerous rhythm, not a standard compensatory response. Junctional rhythm usually has P waves that are absent or inverted and a slower rate, not a rapid, normal-appearing rhythm.