Asystole

Etiology / Pathophysiology

• No detectable ventricular electrical activity, often final common pathway of arrest.
• No electrical activity means no mechanical output.

Medications

No specific medication class was seeded for this card.

Nursing actions

• Confirm rhythm in more than one lead and assess pulse.
• Start CPR and follow non-shockable arrest protocol.
• Search reversible causes and do not defibrillate true asystole.

Complications

• Death

NCLEX cues

• Flatline rhythm.
• CPR and epinephrine pathway, not shock.

Memory hooks

• Asystole is non-shockable.

Labs / Diagnostics

• Trend assessment findings and ordered diagnostics; verify exact values with school source material.

Review notes

• Session-derived study seed. Verify against school materials, ATI/NCLEX review sources, current orders, and facility policy before relying on details.