Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) Practice Test

In the case of bradycardia with adequate perfusion, closely monitoring the patient is the most appropriate initial approach. Adequate perfusion indicates that the patient is stable despite the low heart rate, and immediate interventions such as medication or pacing are not necessarily required at this stage. By monitoring the patient closely, the healthcare provider can assess vital signs, watch for any changes in condition, and prepare for possible interventions if the situation worsens. This approach prioritizes patient safety and is in line with the guidelines that suggest intervention when symptoms of poor perfusion are present rather than when the heart rate alone is low.

Other approaches, such as administering atropine or starting transcutaneous pacing, might be warranted if the patient were to develop symptoms or if there were evidence of hemodynamic instability. However, since the patient currently has adequate perfusion, these actions would not be the first line of defense. Similarly, initiating treatment for rapid heart rate would not apply in cases of bradycardia, where the heart rate is low, not elevated.