NHA Certified EKG Technician (CET) Test Plan Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on the NHA Certified EKG Technician (CET) Test Plan and job analysis outcomes.

CET Certification Examination

A professional certification exam based on a $2017$ job analysis, consisting of $100$ scored items and $20$ pretest items with a $2$-hour time limit.

Task statements

Descriptions of the specific duties that a candidate must know how to properly perform for the CET exam.

Knowledge statements

Information that a candidate must know to support the performance of task statements on the CET exam.

Domain $1$: Safety, Compliance, and Coordinated Patient Care

A category of the CET exam containing $32$ items focusing on HIPAA, infection control, and patient communication.

Domain $2$: EKG Acquisition

A category of the CET exam containing $44$ items focusing on equipment maintenance, lead application, and resolving artifacts.

Domain $3$: EKG Analysis and Interpretation

A category of the CET exam containing $24$ items focusing on heart rate calculation, rhythm regularity, and identifying arrhythmias.

HIPAA regulations

Federal standards that EKG technicians must adhere to regarding patient privacy and data protection.

Infection control practices

Guidelines defined by OSHA and universal precautions that must be followed during EKG procedures.

Scope of practice

The legal and ethical boundaries of an EKG technician's role, including compliance with the NHA Code of Ethics.

Communication factors

Variables that affect patient interaction, including culture, language, religion, developmental level, gender, and disability.

Cardiac testing emergencies

Urgent conditions that may occur during testing, such as syncope, chest pain, and abnormal vitals.

Ambulatory monitoring

Types of cardiac monitoring conducted while the patient is mobile, such as Holter or event monitors.

EMR/EHR

Electronic Medical Records or Electronic Health Records used to upload results, transmit data, and input patient information like medications and vitals.

EKG machine settings

Configurable parameters on the EKG machine, specifically speed and gain, that must be verified for accurate tracings.

Special patient populations

Groups requiring specific positioning considerations, such as amputees, patients with respiratory issues, or those in late-term pregnancy.

Artifacts

Interference in EKG tracings, such as wandering baseline, somatic tremors, and AC interference.

Heart rate calculation methods

Techniques used to determine heart rate from a tracing, including the $6$-second method, R-R interval, and sequencing.

EKG intervals and waveforms

Specific segments of the cardiac cycle measured on graph paper, including PR interval (PRI), QRS duration, and QT interval.

Arrhythmias

Abnormal heart rhythms including sinus, atrial, ventricular, junctional, and heart blocks.

Pacemaker spikes

Distinct vertical marks on an EKG tracing caused by an electronic pacing device.

Ischemia, injury, and infarction

Pathological states identified by variances in EKG waveform characteristics and segments.

Life-threatening arrhythmias

Critical rhythm disturbances such as ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia.