RCIS Practice Test 2026 – All-in-One Exam Prep

Immediate synchronized cardioversion is the appropriate action in this scenario because the patient is experiencing symptomatic supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) with a significantly low systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 70 and signs of distress such as diaphoresis. Synchronized cardioversion is a critical intervention used to restore normal heart rhythm in patients showing hemodynamic instability due to tachyarrhythmias.

In cases where a patient presents with both low blood pressure and symptoms of shock or distress, rapid intervention is essential to stabilize the patient and prevent further complications, such as cardiac arrest. Synchronized cardioversion effectively targets the tachyarrhythmia while minimizing the risk of causing more harm to the patient.

This intervention is especially significant because other approaches, such as administering medications to slow the heart rate, could take longer to achieve the desired effect and may not be safe or effective when immediate stabilization is necessary. While increasing fluid intake and closely monitoring the patient may be beneficial in some cases, they are not sufficient responses to the urgency presented by the patient's symptoms and low blood pressure. Immediate synchronized cardioversion prioritizes the restoration of hemodynamic stability and cardiovascular function.