RN Exam Practice
Physiological AdaptationQuestion 755 of 2368

The SA node of a client fails to send impulses. At what rate does the nurse expect the AV node to pace the heart?

  1. 60 to 100 beats per minute
  2. 40 to 60 beats per minute
  3. 20 to 40 beats per minute
  4. 100 to 120 beats per minute
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Correct answer: 40 to 60 beats per minute

The AV node is the backup pacemaker and paces at 40 to 60 beats per minute. Purkinje fibers pace at 20 to 40.

Source: Nursing Advanced Skills (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2023), Interpret Basic ECG: BASIC CONCEPTS. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Practice the topic "Physiological Adaptation"

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026