EKG Exam 1-6 Review

Electrocardiogram (EKG)

A recording in visible form of the electrical activity of a patient’s heart; also called ECG

DIagnosis

determination of medial condition by a doctor

Cardiologist

A doctor specializing in the health of the heart

EKG technician

a healthcare worker who performs or assists with different types of EKG tests

Ambulatory care

care provided in an outpatient setting such as a doctor’s office or urgent care center

Outpatient treatment

care provided without the patient being admitted to a hospital

Acute care

care provided in an inpatient setting such a as a hospital where the emphasis is on providing short-term, immediate care for illnesses and injuries

Inpatient treatment

care provided to a patient who has been admitted to a hospital

Myocardial infarction

a condition that occurs when the heart muscle does not receive enough oxygen because blood flow is blocked; also called heart attack

Scope of practice

a description of the duties a healthcare worker is expected and legally allowed to perform

Ambulatory care settings

• Doctor’s office

• Urgent care center

• Free-standing emergency department

• Occupational health clinic

• Primary care clinic

• Cardiology specialty clinic

• Outpatient surgery center

• Rehabilitation or physical therapy clinic

Inpatient Care Settings

• Hospital

• Specialty hospital (e.g., heart hospital or children’s hospital)

• Long-term care facility

• Inpatient rehabilitation facilition

Soft skills

skills, such as attention to detail and use of tact, which are not related to the performance of a specific task but which affect how a person performs her job.

Hard skills

skills, such as measuring blood pressure, applying electrodes, and operating EKG machines, that involve performing specific tasks.

Prejudice

an unfavorable opinion of a person or group of people based on race, religion, and so forth that is without basis.

Empathy

the ability to understand and experience the feelings of another person.

Sympathy

the expression of concern for a person’s feelings or situation.

Code of ethics

a list outlining behavior that is considered morally right or wrong in a particular setting.

Qualities of Great EKG Technicians

• Acceptance of constructive feedback

• Care for personal appearance

• Reliable attendance

• Attention to detail

• Communication skills

• Acceptance of cultural diversity

• Compassion

Positive Nonverbal Communication

• Standing up straight with arms relaxed

• Leaning toward speaker

• Making eye contact

• Nodding or smiling

• Offering handshake or greeting

• Taking notes

• Using a cheerful tone of voice

• Smiling

Negative Nonverbal Communication

• Slouching or resting head in hands

• Leaning back from the speaker

• Crossing arms over chest

• Avoiding eye contact, looking down

• Checking the time

• Not acknowledging the other person

• Picking at or playing with something

• Using an angry tone of voice

• Frowning, wincing, rolling eyes

Certification

a credential issued by a school, a facility, or an organization verifying that a person has met certain standards and/or completed a certain course of study.

Licensure

a legally required process that involves completing an approved course of education, passing a written exam and, in some cases, completing a skills test in order to practice a medical profession.

Clinical experience

experience working with patients in a healthcare facility.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

medical procedures used when a person’s heart or lungs have stopped working.

Chain of command

the line of authority within a facility or agency.

Liability

a legal term that means a person can be held responsible for her actions if someone is harmed.

Policy

a course of action that should be taken every time a certain situation occurs.

Procedure

a method or way of doing something.

Confidentiality

the legal and ethical principle of keeping information private.

Vital Signs

measurements—temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, pain level—that monitor the functioning of the vital organs of the body.

Baseline

what is considered normal for a particular patient; what her initial vital sign readings are and how she normally responds and acts.

Objective information

information based on what a person sees, hears, touches, or smells; also called signs.

Subjective information

information that a person cannot or did not observe, but is based on something reported to the person that may or may not be true; also called symptoms.

Microorganisms

a living thing so small it is only visible under a microscope.

Pathogens

microorganisms that are capable of causing infection and disease.

Infection prevention

the set of methods practiced in healthcare facilities to prevent and control the spread of disease.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

a federal government agency that makes rules to protect workers from hazards on the job.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

a federal government agency that issues guidelines to protect and improve the health of individuals and communities.

Standard Precautions

a method of infection prevention in which all blood, body fluids, nonintact skin, and mucous membranes are treated as if they were infected with an infectious disease.

Transmission-Based Precautions

a method of infection prevention used when caring for persons who are infected or may be infected with certain infectious diseases.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

bacteria that have developed resistance to the antibiotic methicillin.

Standard Precautions require the following measures:

• Wash hands before and after providing care

• Use personal protective equipment (PPE) when contact with body fluids or nonintact skin is likely

• Treat all blood, body fluids, nonintact skin, and mucous membranes as if infected

• Properly clean and disinfect patient care equipment and instruments/devices

OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard requires that employers

• Have a written exposure control plan

• Provide appropriate PPE

• Provide appropriate biohazard disposal containers

• Give healthcare workers free Hepatitis B vaccination

• Maintain a log of contaminated sharps injuries

EKG technicians should always follow these general infection prevention guidelines:

• Don any necessary PPE outside a patient’s room and remove it before exiting the room

• Do not reuse disposable equipment or share it between patients

• Clean and disinfect reusable equipment (such as lead wires and electrode clips) after use, following facility policy/manufacturer’s instructions

• Never place patient equipment on contaminated surfaces

• Be familiar with available PPE

• Follow directions stated on any signs on the patient’s door

Diaphoresis

profuse sweating

cyanosis

a situation in which the nail beds and the skin around the mouth become blue or gray; indication of lack of oxygen.

Normal temperature ranges are different for different temperature sites:

• Normal range for oral temperature is 97.7°F–99°F (36.5°C–37.2°C)

• Temporal and tympanic readings are slightly higher

• Axillary readings are lower (.5 to 1 degree lower than oral)

• Rectal temperature is most accurate, but EKG technicians are unlikely to be asked to use this method. (.5 to 1 degree higher than oral)

EKG technicians to note significant variations in skin condition:

• Hot and dry skin may indicate fever or heat-related emergency

• Diaphoresis can be due to fever, pain, or an environment that is too hot, but can also be a sign of heart attack

• Cyanosis indicates decreased oxygen in the blood

• Pallor (pale skin) can be due to decreased circulation

• Flushing (reddened skin) can be due to fever, pain, or an environment that is too hot

• Cyanosis and pallor in patients with dark complexions can be observed in nail beds, or lining of the mouth and nose

Palpation

feeling with the fingers, as in the method normally used to measure radial pulse.

Auscultation

use of a stethoscope to listen to the body’s internal sounds.

Apnea

the absence of breathing

Dyspnea

shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Orthopnea

difficulty breathing when lying flat

Tachypnea

rapid breathing

Cheyne-Stokes

alternating periods of slow, irregular breathing and rapid, shallow breathing.

Hypoxia

inadequate (not enough) oxygen supply to the heart

Be aware of these situations in which it may be difficult to obtain an oxygen saturation reading:

• The patient’s blood oxygen has dramatically decreased (hypoxia)

• Patient’s extremities are cold

• Patient has poor circulation

• Patient is wearing dark nail polish

Remember these points about pain and pain assessment:

• Pain is often referred to as the fifth vital sign

• Presence of pain can influence other vital signs

• Assessment of pain is an important part of patient care, but is difficult because pain is a subjective experience

Alert

patient’s eyes are open and he responds to questions readily

Oriented

patient is able to state his name, the date, and where he is

Supine

a body position in which a person lies flat on his back.

Fowler’s position

a body position in which a person’s upper body is elevated 45 to 60 degrees; in semi-Fowler’s position the elevation is 45 degrees or lower.

Anatomy

the study of the structures of the body.

physiology

the study of how various systems of the body work.

homeostasis

a state of balance and stability within the systems of the body.

metabolism

physical and chemical processes carried out by the body systems to maintain homeostasis.

Integumentary (skin)

protects internal organs, barrier against harmful microorganisms, retains body fluids, helps maintain temperature

Musculoskeletal

provides framework for body, protects organs, allows for movement and stability, stores minerals, produces blood cells

Cardiovascular

circulates blood, gases, and nutrients to all cells, transports wastes away from cells

Respiratory

provides oxygen to all cells, rids body of carbon dioxide

Nervous

sends, receives, and interprets information, coordinates internal body functions in response to environmental conditions

Gastrointerstinal

takes in, digests, and absorbs nutrients to nourish cells, eliminates waste products

Urinary

processes and eliminates waste products from filtered blood

Endocrine

regulates body functions by producing and releasing hormones

Lymphatic

removes excess fluids and waste products from body tissues, transports white blood cells throughout the body to fight infection

Reproductive

produces hormones and male and female sex cells to make reproduction possible

Plasma

the liquid portion of blood

formed elements

the solid portion of blood

erythrocytes

red blood cells; contain the protein (hemoglobin) that carries oxygen in the blood.

leukocytes

white blood cells; capable of producing antibodies and destroying pathogens.

thrombocytes

part of the formed elements of blood that play a role in blood clotting; also called platelets.

hemoglobin

a protein that transports oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.

arteries

blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.

oxygen-rich blood

blood that returns to the heart from the lungs after receiving oxygen and is then pumped throughout the body; also called oxygenated blood.

capillaries

the smallest blood vessels; they carry oxygen and nutrients to and remove carbon dioxide and wastes from cells throughout the body.

veins

blood vessels that carry blood toward the heart.

oxygen-depleted blood

blood that is returned to the heart through the veins after supplying oxygen to the rest of the body and is then pumped to the lungs to receive oxygen again; also called deoxygenated blood.

diaphragm

a muscle that divides the thoracic cavity from the abdomen.

pharynx

an area of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity.

larynx

an organ that includes the vocal cords and allows air to pass into the trachea.

Trachea

the tube that goes from the larynx to the bronchi, allowing air to pass to the lungs; also called windpipe.

bronchi

the two tubes that take air to the lungs; singular is bronchus.

bronchioles

smaller branches from the bronchi; tubes that carry air further into the lungs, reaching the air sacs (alveoli).

alveoli

the air sacs in the lungs where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged.

stimuli

changes that can cause a response in the body (singular is stimulus).

central nervous system

the part of the nervous system that is composed of the brain and the spinal cord.

peripheral nervous system

part of the nervous system made up of the nerves that extend throughout the body.

somatic nervous system

division of the peripheral nervous system that controls voluntary actions.

autonomic nervous system

the part of the nervous system that controls body functions that are not consciously directed (for example, breathing and heartbeat).