NHA CET Study Guide - Ch. 2 EKG Acquisition

Following best practices, how frequently should an EKG technician disinfect lead wires and clips?

A. At the end of every shift

B. After each use

C. Once every hour

D. Once per week

B

An EKG technician is reviewing an EKG tracing and notices that the calibration mark measures 10 mm high and 10 mm wide. The technician should expect to find that the machine is using which of the following settings?

A. 25 mm/sec

B. 2 mm/mV

C. 50 mm/sec

D. 0.5 mm/mV

C

An EKG technician is preparing a patient who has Parkinson’s disease for an EKG. Which of the following actions should the technician take to reduce artifacts associated with tremors caused by Parkinson’s disease?

A. Ask the patient to take slow, deep breaths

B. Raise the head of the bed to a semi-Fowler’s position

C. Have the patient place their hands palms-down under their buttocks

D. Place a blanket over the patient

C

Which of the following leads is located at the intersection of the midclavicular line and the fifth intercostal space for a standard 12-lead EKG?

A. V2

B. V4

C. V5

D. V6

B

An EKG technician is preparing to perform a standard 12-lead EKG. In which of the following locations should the technician place the electrode for lead V1?

A. Anterior axillary line at the same horizontal level as lead V4

B. Fourth intercostal space at the right sternal border

C. Fifth intercostal space at the midclavicular line

D. Midaxillary line at the same horizontal level as lead V4

B

An EKG technician is preparing to perform an exercise stress test for a patient. Which of the following actions should the technician take?

A. Administer oxygen to the patient prior to testing

B. Administer moisturizing lotion before applying electrodes

C. Allow the patient to wear jewelry during the test

D. Shave areas with excess body hair before applying electrodes

D

An EKG technician is preparing to apply leads to a patient who is scheduled for five-lead Holter monitoring. In which of the following locations should the technician apply the ground electrode?

A. Right lower abdomen

B. Over the manubrium

C. Over the fourth intercostal space

D. Left lower abdomen

A

An EKG technician is performing a 12-lead EKG on a patient who had a below-the-knee amputation of the left leg. Which of the following actions should the technician take?

A. Place both leg electrodes on the patient’s thighs

B. Place the left leg electrode on the amputation site and the right leg electrode at the same location on the right leg

C. Place the left leg electrode on the left thigh and the right leg electrode below the knee on the right leg

D. Place both leg electrodes below the knee on the right leg

A

An EKG technician is performing a 12-lead EKG for a patient who has dextrocardia. In which of the following locations should the technician place the electrode for lead V5?

A. Fourth intercostal space on the right side of the sternum

B. Fifth intercostal space on the left side of the sternum

C. Midway between V4 and V6 on the left side of the chest

D. Right anterior axillary line, fifth intercostal space

D

An EKG technician notes a positive deflection of the waveforms on lead aVR on a patient’s standard 12-lead EKG tracing. Which of the following steps should the technician take?

A. Remove tension from the lead wires

B. Immediately print the EKG tracing results

C. Verify lead and electrode placement

D. Reposition the patient on the examination table

C

An EKG technician notes that the tracing on an EKG is drifting away from the center of the paper. This is an example of which of the following artifacts?

A. AC interference

B. Somatic tremor

C. Wandering baseline

D. Interrupted baseline

C

Which of the following patient conditions during stress testing would require emergency intervention by an EKG technician?

A. Fatigue

B. Syncope

C. Heart Rate 148/min

D. Nausea

B

An EKG technician applies a pulse oximetry device to a patient who is undergoing a stress test. The pulse oximetry device provides information about which of the following test parameters?

A. Oxygen saturation

B. Cardiac output

C. Respiratory rate

D. Cardiac rhythm

A

An EKG technician is preparing a patient for an exercise stress test. Which of the following describes the correct lead placement for this procedure?

A. Lead placement is the same as for a standard 12-lead EKG

B. Limb leads are not used for exercise stress testing

C. Precordial leads are not used for exercise stress testing

D. Limb leads are placed on the torso

D

Which of the following is a type of continuous monitoring performed in an inpatient health care facility?

A. Holter monitoring

B. Telemetry monitoring

C. Post symptom event monitoring

D. Loop memory monitoring

B

An EKG technician is preparing to apply electrodes prior to performing an EKG. Which of the following is a recommended method of removing oil and dirt from the patient’s skin prior to electrode placement?

A. Use alcohol wipes

B. Perform a dry rub with clean gauze

C. Apple an acetone-based solution

D. Swab with povidone-iodine solution

A

An EKG technician is preparing to perform CPR on an adult patient who is unresponsive. Which of the following sites should the technician use to palpate the patient’s pulse prior to initiating CPR?

A. Radial

B. Femoral

C. Temporal

D. Carotid

D

An EKG technician is preparing to apply electrodes and leads for a patient who has a prescription for a Holter monitor. Which of the following actions should the technician take?

A. Apply tape to lead wires

B. Ensure the lead wires are held in tension

C. Apply conductive gel to the electrode sites

D. Place the monitor in the patient’s pants pocket

A

Which of the following changes to the settings of the EKG machine will double the height of the tracing it produces?

A. 10 mm.mV

B. 25 mm/sec

C. 20 mm/mV

D. 50 mm/sec

C

Which of the following can result in an interrupted baseline on a patient’s EKG tracing?

A. Crossed lead wires

B. Hair on the skin under the electrodes

C. Involuntary muscle movements

D. Corroded lead wires

D