NHA CET Certification Exam Study Guide

Which of the following arteries is the best location for an EKG technician to use to measure the heart rate for an adult patient following an exercise stress test?

radial

An EKG technician is performing an exercise stress test for a patient. For which of the following finding should the technician expect the provider to stop the test?

dizziness

An EKG technician is performing a standard 12-lead EKG for a patient who is experiencing accelerated junctional rhythm. Which of the following speed settings should the technician use?

25 mm/second

While performing a 5-lead EKG, an EKG technician notices that lead II and lead III are not yielding a reading. Which of the following limbs should the technician check to correct the error?

Left leg

An EKG technician obtains a pulse oximetry reading of 88% from a patient. Which of the following terms should the technician use to describe the patient's condition?

hypoxemia

A thin spike before the P wave indicates that a pacemaker has been implanted to pace which of the following?

atria

An EKG technician is preparing to enter an inpatient room to perform a standard 12-lead EKG. Which of the following actions should the technician take for a patient who is prescribed contact precaution?

remove gloves before leaving the patient's room

An EKG technician is recording a patient's radial pulse and finds the pulse to be irregular. The provider then takes the patient's apical pulse. The technician should recognize that which of the following locations is used for assessment?

between the 5th and 6th ribs, at the left midclavicular line

An EKG technician is preparing to perform a standard 12-lead EKG tracing on a patient who has a heart rate of 150/min. Which of the following speed controls should the technician select?

50 mm/second

An EKG technician in an outpatient facility is obtaining a patient's vital signs and is having trouble visualizing the patient's chest movement. Which of the following actions should the technician take to obtain an accurate respiratory rate for the patient?

place a hand on the middle of the patient's back to count the respirations

An EKG technician is preparing to apply electrodes to a patient for a standard 12-lead EKG. Which of the following methods should the technician use to prepare the patient for application of the electrodes?

use a razor or clippers to remove the patient's hair

When placing electrodes on the patient for telemetry, in which of the following locations should an EKG technician place the ground electrode?

the right lower leg

An EKG technician is instructing a patient about the use of a transtelephonic monitor with loop memory. Which of the following instructions should the technician include?

"press the record button on the device when you begin to feel dizzy or have chest pain"

Which of the following statements made by an EKG technician correctly prepares the patient for telemetry monitoring?

"i will clean your skin with an alcohol pad"

An EKG technician is monitoring a patient who is undergoing an exercise stress test. Which of the following findings should indicate to the technician that the patient is experiencing an adverse reaction?

report of tingling sensations in the lower extremeties

An EKG technician notices an accelerated idioventricular rhythm on a tracing. Which of the following actions should the technician take next?

call for help and stay with the patient

An EKG technician should recognize that which of the following blood pressure readings is within the expected reference range for an adolescent patient?

98/78 mm Hg

An EKG technician is performing an exercise stress test for a patient. Which of the following findings should the technician report to the provider?

decreased heart rate

An EKG technician observes ST segment depression and T wave inversion in multiple leads on a patient's EKG tracing. Which of the following should the technician suspect?

myocardial ischemia

An EKG technician is working with a patient who has a below-the-knee amputation of the left leg. Where should the technician place the right-leg electrode?

on the lower right abdomen

Which of the following actions should an EKG technician take when preparing a patient for a standard 12-lead EKG?

have the patient remove any jewelry

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

left sternal border, fourth intercostal space

An EKG technician is caring for a patient who is experiencing heart palpitations. Which of the following interventions should the technicians expect the provider to prescribe?

holter monitor

Which of the following sites is the most accurate for an EKG technician to use when measuring the body temperature of a young child?

temporal

An EKG technician should follow which of the following recommendations regarding infection control practices in health care settings?

remove soiled gloves prior to touching uncontaminated surfaces

An EKG technician is performing a posterior 12-lead EKG for a patient. Which of the following leads should the technician place along the paraspinous border.

lead v9

Which of the following methods should an EKG technician use to store electrodes when not in use?

in the original, foil-lined packaging

After completing a standard 12-lead EKG on a patient, which of the following actions should an EKG technician take next?

check that the tracing is free from artifacts and then disconnect the patient from the machine

A patient tells the EKG technician that she does not understand why she needs an ambulatory monitor after having a standard 12-lead EKG 2 days ago. Which of the following responses should the technician make?

"your provider wants to study your heart over a longer period of time"

An EKG technician is preparing a patient for the application of a Holter monitor. The patient tells the technician that she runs about 5 miles each day. Which of the following responses should the technician make?

"you should continue exercising as usual while wearing the monitor"

An EKG technician should recognize that which of the following signs are often present when a patient is experiencing ventricular tachycardia?

multiple premature ventricular contractions in a row

An EKG technician is preparing a patient for an exercise stress test. Which of the following leads should the technician place on the right lower side of the anterior torso?

lead RL

An EKG technician notes that the QRS complex is too tall to fit on the EKG paper. Which of the following actions should the technician take?

change the gain control to 5 mm/mV

An EKG technician should recognize that a rhythm strip should be at least how many seconds long to accurately identify rate and rhythm?

6 seconds

When an EKG technician is obtaining a pulse from a patient, which of the following terms should the technician use to document the rhythm of the pulse?

irregular

An EKG technician should recognize that which of the following situations is an allowable disclosure of patient information according to HIPAA guidelines?

patients write their names on a basic sign-in sheet at the registration desk

An EKG technician should recognize that which of the following is the most commonly used paper speed for an EKG?

25 mm/second

Which of the following responses should an EKG technician make to a patient in an outpatient clinic who is upset that the technician cannot share the results of the tracing?

"i understand your frustration. my role as the technician is to conduct the test correctly. the provider is qualified to interpret the results."

An EKG technician is performing a standard 12-lead EKG for a patient. The technician should identify that which of the following information is recorded by lead I?

electrical activity between the right arm and left arm

An EKG technician notes that a patient is experiencing a variation in respirations that correlates with the EKG tracing. Which of the following irregularities does this include?

sinus dysrhythmia

An EKG technician is performing an exercise stress test to evaluate a patient for coronary vascular disease. Which of the following actions should the technician take regarding this procedure?

report unexpected dusrhythmias during the test

During an exercise stress test, an EKG technician notices that the patient appears to be hyperventilating. Which of the following actions should the technician take first?

check the patient's respiratory rate

Which of the following methods can be used to calculate both regular and irregular rhythms?

6-second method

An EKG technician is preparing a patient for a standard 12-lead EKG. Which of the following is the correct placement for lead V4?

the 5th intercostal space at the midclavicular line

In a healthy adult patient, which of the following is the expected shape and direction of the P wave in lead II?

rounded and upright

An EKG technician has performed an EKG on a patient. Which of the following actions by the technician would protect the patient's health information in accordance with HIPAA regulations?

hand-delivering the EKG to the patient's provider

Which of the following patient findings indicates myocardial infarction?

cyanosis

Which of the following methods should an EKG technician use to calculate a patient's heart rate from the EKG tracing?

divide 300 by the number of large boxes between two r waves

For which of the following patients should an EKG technician expect to see somatic interference on the EKG tracing?

a 20-year-old patient who is experiencing a seizure

An EKG technician is providing instructions to a patient who is to wear a cardiac event monitor at home. Which of the following statements by the patient indicates an understanding of the instructions?

"i will continue to do my daily walk to the grocery store"

Which of the following statements should an EKG technician include when preparing a patient for an upcoming stress test?

"refrain from caffeine, smoking, or alcohol for at least 3 hours prior to the test"

An EKG technician is performing a standard 12-lead EKG on a patient who is 9 years old. In which of the following locations should the technician place the V6 electrode?

left midaxillary line

An EKG technician is instructing a patient about a transtelephonic event monitor using a Heart Card monitoring device. To which of the following sites should the patient apply the card to activate it during an event?

over the middle to lower part of the sternum

Which of the following actions should the EKG technician take to resolve a wandering baseline on a patient's EKG tracing?

relieve tension from the lead wires

Which of the following positions is appropriate for a patient during a nuclear stress test while the camera is scanning?

supine with the arms above the head

An EKG technician is preparing to obtain a standard 12-lead EKG tracing for a patient who is at least 35 weeks of gestation. In which of the following positions should the technician place the patient?

slightly on the left side with a opillow supporting the right hip

While performing a standard 12-lead EKG, an EKG technician notices that none of the leads are giving a reading. Which of the following limbs should the technician check first when correcting this problem?

right leg

The presence of which of the following on an EKG tracing can indicate a previous myocardial infarction?

pathological q wave

Which of the following sites is the most appropriate for an EKG technician to use when taking the pulse of an infant?

brachial artery

An EKG technician is speaking with a patient on the phone. The patient is wearing a Holter monitor and reports severe chest pain and shortness of breath. Which of the following actions should the technician take?

have someone call emergency services while remaining on the call with the patient

An EKG technician is entering a patient's history into the electronic health record. Which of the following statements by the patient should the technician enter into the social history section?

"i have smoked cigarettes for a long time"

An EKG technician is reviewing the EKG tracing of a patient who has ventricular hypertrophy. Which of the following findings should the technician expect?

increased amplitude of the qrs complex

Which of the following activities should an EKG technician instruct a patient to record in the Holter monitor diary?

bike riding

In which of the following locations should an EKG technician place the electrodes for leads V7, V8, and V9?

evenly spaced on the back between the axillary line and the vertebral column at the 5th intercostal space

An EKG technician is providing instructions for a patient who is going home with a Holter monitor for 48 hours. Which of the following statements indicates the patient understands the instructions?

"i should activate the event marker if i have chest pain"

An EKG technician is performing an exercise stress test for a patient who exhibits ventricular fibrillation on the EKG tracing. Which of the following actions should the technician take first?

determine if the patient is responsive

An EKG technician should recognize that electrical interference on a 12-lead EKG tracing is most likely a result of which of the following?

crossed lead wires

While performing an exercise stress test on a patient, a technician observes elevated ST segments. The technician should identify these findings as which of the following?

signs of acute myocardial injury

For which of the following types of heart block should an EKG technician observe the patient for signs and symptoms of decreased cardiac output that could lead to cardiac arrest?

third-degree AV block

An EKG technician is obtaining a pulse rate for a 2-year-old patient. Which of the following pulse rates should the technician recognize as within the expected reference range for this patient?

120/min

In which of the following locations should an EKG technician place the leads for a resting EKG tracing for a patient who is in an immobile fetal position?

on the patient's back

An EKG technician is measuring the intervals on an EKG tracing. Which of the following is an expected finding of impaired conduction through the AV node?

prolonged pr interval

An EKG technician is performing a second standard 12-lead EKG on a patient immediately following the first test. For which of the following reasons should the technician recognize that resting tab electrodes should not be used for more than two consecutive EKG tracings.

the electrodes will not conduct accurately after two EKG tracings

An EKG technician is reviewing a tracing for a patient who has a ventricular pacemaker. Which of the following rhythm patterns should the technician expect after a pacing spike?

wide qrs interval

Which of the following leads is created when an EKG technician places the electrode to the right of the patient's sternum at the fourth intercostal space?

lead v1

During an exercise stress test, a patient reports heaviness on his chest and becomes diaphoretic. The EKG technician should recognize these findings as manifestations of which of the following conditions?

myocardial infarction

An EKG technician is preparing a patient for Holter monitor placement. Which of the following actions should the technician take to reduce the chance of artifacts on the tracing?

use stress loops on the electrodes to reduce tension on the leads

Which of the following EKG findings differentiates accelerated idioventricular rhythm from junctional rhythm?

accelerated idioventricular rhythm has wide qrs complexes

Which of the following actions should the EKG technician take immediately after attaching the telemetry lead wires to the electrodes?

check the wire colors and identifications to ensure attachment to the correct electrodes

An EKG technician is preparing to perform a standard 12-lead EKG for a healthy adult patient. In which of the following positions should the technician place the patient for testing?

Supine position

When performing a posterior EKG, which of the following is the correct location for placement of lead V8?

left midscapular line

An EKG technician is preparing to perform an exercise stress test on a patient. Which of the following findings in a patient's medical history would prevent the patient from participating in an exercise stress test?

congestive heart failure (chf)

An EKG technician should recognize that which of the following situations could result in wandering baseline artifact on an EKG tracing?

loose electrodes

An EKG technician has just provided patient education prior to an exercise stress test. Which of the following statements made by the patient indicates an understanding of the preparation?

"i can smoke the night before the exam"

What is loss of capture?

loss of capture occurs when pacemaker spikes appear on the patient's ekg tracing but are not followed by the appropriate qrs complex. this indicates that, in those instances, the heart is not responding to the pacemaker's electrical impulses.

An EKG technician should recognize that which of the following is the expected reference range for the respiratory rate of a newborn patient?

30-49/min

An EKG technician is applying a Holter monitor for a patient. Which of the following is the final step the technician should take when applying a Holter monitor?

document the procedure in the patient's health record

Which of the following is used to ensure the EKG machine is working properly?

calibration

Which of the following is the electrode charge combination for the limb leads for a standard 12-lead EKG?

right arm negative pole, left arm positive pole, and left leg positive pole

An EKG technician is preparing a patient for a standard 12-lead EKG. Which of the following is the correct placement for the lead V4?

the 5th intercostal space at the midclavicular line

An EKG technician is preparing a patient for an exercise stress test. Which of the following statements should the technician make before the test?

"this procedure requries informed consent"

Which of the following describes the correct electrode placement for lead V5?

anterior axillary line, 5th intercostal space

Which of the following is the order in which the EKG technician should document a patient's vital signs?

temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure

For a healthy adult patient, which of the following describes the pattern of the anticipated QRS complex in lead V4?

biphasic

An EKG technician should recognize that the Purkinje fibers serve which of the following purposes?

carry electrical impulses directly to ventricular muscle tissue

An EKG technician is preparing to transport a patient for an EKG. The patient is prescribed droplet precautions. Which of the following personal protective equipment (PPE) should the technician apply to the patient?

simple face mask

Which of the following can cause sinus arrhythmia?

the patient's respirations

An EKG technician is preparing a patient for cardiac monitoring and notices that the patient's skin is diaphoretic. Which of the following actions should the technician take?

prepare the site with antiperspirant

An EKG technician is preparing a patient for a transtelephonic ambulatory monitor. Which of the following monitors can the patient wear for 30 days or longer and can record cardiac event information from before, during, and after an episode?

loop-memory monitor

An EKG technician is administering an exercise stress test to a patient and notices the patient's heart rhythm shows a depressed ST segment. Which of the following actions should the technician take first?

discontinue the test