CCT Patient Care & Clinical Safety Standards 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient undergoing a stress ECG suddenly reports chest pressure and becomes diaphoretic. What is the FIRST action the CCT should take?
- Administer sublingual nitroglycerin immediately
- Stop the test and have the patient lie down (Correct answer)
- Increase the treadmill speed to complete the protocol
- Call the physician and wait for further instructions
Correct answer: Stop the test and have the patient lie down
Stopping the test and positioning the patient supine is the immediate priority to prevent hemodynamic compromise.
Question 2: Which universal precaution is MOST important when applying ECG electrodes to a patient with an open skin lesion?
- Double-gloving throughout the procedure
- Wearing gloves and avoiding electrode placement over the lesion (Correct answer)
- Using sterile electrodes only
- Postponing the test until the lesion heals
Correct answer: Wearing gloves and avoiding electrode placement over the lesion
Gloves protect the technician while avoiding electrode placement over lesions prevents patient harm and inaccurate readings.
Question 3: When transferring a post-catheterization patient from the procedure table to a stretcher, the CCT should ensure the patient's femoral access site is:
- Elevated above heart level to reduce bleeding
- Kept flat and observed for hematoma formation (Correct answer)
- Compressed firmly with a sandbag for the transfer
- Covered with an occlusive dressing and ignored during transfer
Correct answer: Kept flat and observed for hematoma formation
Keeping the access site flat and monitoring for hematoma is critical immediately after arterial sheath removal.
Question 4: A patient states they have a latex allergy before a cardiac procedure. The CCT should:
- Proceed normally since most cardiac equipment is latex-free
- Notify the supervising physician and use latex-free supplies throughout (Correct answer)
- Ask the patient to sign a waiver and proceed with standard equipment
- Replace only the gloves with latex-free alternatives
Correct answer: Notify the supervising physician and use latex-free supplies throughout
All latex-containing materials must be identified and replaced, and the care team must be alerted to prevent anaphylaxis.
Question 5: During a Holter monitor hookup, the patient mentions they are claustrophobic. This information is relevant because:
- Claustrophobia has no impact on cardiac monitoring
- Anxiety can produce artifact and affect heart rate variability results (Correct answer)
- The Holter device must be applied in an open area
- Claustrophobic patients are exempt from Holter monitoring
Correct answer: Anxiety can produce artifact and affect heart rate variability results
Anxiety and claustrophobia can elevate heart rate and produce artifact, affecting the validity of the 24-hour recording.
Question 6: What is the correct procedure when a patient's IV access is accidentally dislodged during cardiac monitoring?
- Attempt to reinsert the IV catheter yourself if trained
- Apply pressure to the site, notify the nurse, and document the event (Correct answer)
- Ignore it since IV access is not needed for ECG monitoring
- Remove all monitoring leads immediately and call a code
Correct answer: Apply pressure to the site, notify the nurse, and document the event
Applying pressure, notifying nursing staff, and documenting the event follows proper incident reporting and patient safety protocol.
Question 7: A patient with a pacemaker is scheduled for an ECG. The CCT should:
- Refuse to perform the ECG due to electrical interference risks
- Perform the ECG and note pacemaker presence on the requisition (Correct answer)
- Use half the standard electrode voltage to protect the device
- Skip limb leads and record precordial leads only
Correct answer: Perform the ECG and note pacemaker presence on the requisition
Standard 12-lead ECGs are safe for pacemaker patients; documenting pacemaker presence allows correct interpretation of paced rhythms.
CCT Patient Care & Clinical Safety Standards 2
A patient undergoing a stress ECG suddenly reports chest pressure and becomes diaphoretic.
What is the FIRST action the CCT should take?