Cardiac-Vascular Nursing (CVRN) Practice Exam

What must a nurse do to disable the defibrillation function of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)?

1. Slow the patient's heart rate

2. Apply a magnet to the chest over the device

3. Call the company representative for reprogramming

4. Perform transthoracic synchronized cardioversion

The correct answer is: Apply a magnet to the chest over the device

Applying a magnet over the chest where the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is located is the correct method to temporarily disable the defibrillation function of the device. This process works by triggering a feature in the ICD that switches it into a mode where all therapies are disabled, thereby preventing the device from delivering shocks. This can be beneficial in situations where the patient is experiencing discomfort from the ICD's shocks or during certain medical procedures where interfering with the device's function is necessary. The other options involve actions that do not directly disable the defibrillation function. Slowing the patient's heart rate might influence the heart's electrical activity, but it does not change the operational status of the ICD. Calling a company representative for reprogramming, while important in other contexts, is not an immediate solution for disabling the defibrillation function and could cause unnecessary delays. Performing synchronized cardioversion is a separate intervention intended for managing specific arrhythmias and does not affect the ICD's settings or its defibrillation capability.