ECG Troubleshooting and Maintenance

After performing an ECG, the medical assistant notices wandering baselines in the precordial leads. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step?

A. Replace electrodes on the limb leads.

B. Make sure that all electronics are off in the room.

C. Run the ECG again.

D. Re-evaluate chest leads.

Re-evaluate chest leads.

Which of the following occurs when a singular irritable impulse fires so rapidly it bombards the AV node, causing V shaped or upside down V shaped waves?

A. ventricular flutter

B. atrial flutter

C. ventricular tachycardia

D. atrial tachycardia

atrial flutter

While performing an ECG on a patient, electrodes keep falling off. Which of the following should the medical assistant do? (Select the two (2) correct answers).

A. Place tape over the wires of the electrodes.

B. Clean the skin with soap and water.

C. Clean the skin with 70% isopropyl.

D. Reposition the electrode.

E. Ask the patient to sit on her hands.

Place tape over the wires of the electrodes, Clean the skin with 70% isopropyl

To prevent wandering baseline artifact, the medical assistant should ensure the patient is

A. positioned with their hands under the buttocks.

B. reminded not to move during the procedure.

C. moved away from the wall if in hospital beds.

D. cleansed with alcohol prep pads.

cleansed with alcohol prep pads.

A series of small uniform spikes on the ECG paper most likely represents:

A. Wandering Baseline

B. Somatic Tremors

C. Interrupted Baseline

D. AC Interference

AC Interference

To correct a wandering baseline, the medical assistant should

A. unplug the electrical equipment around the ECG.

B. have patient remain still.

C. replace loose electrodes.

D. replace broken cables.

replace loose electrodes

During an ECG, the right leg provides grounding for which leads?

A. Bipolar

B. Augmented

C. Chest

D. Precordial

Augmented