Patient Care and Safety Flashcards
6 cards from real CCT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Patient Care and Safety flashcards as text
A Certified Cardiographic Technician (CCT) is preparing a patient for a 12-lead ECG. The patient has a hairy chest. Which of the following is the most appropriate action to ensure good electrode contact and a clear tracing?
Answer: Shave or clip small areas of hair where the electrodes will be placed.
Dense chest hair can interfere with the adhesion of ECG electrodes and the quality of the electrical signal. To ensure a clear and accurate tracing, small areas where the electrodes are to be placed should be clipped or shaved to allow for direct skin contact.
While performing a stress test, the patient suddenly reports severe chest pain and becomes diaphoretic and short of breath. What is the CCT's IMMEDIATE priority?
Answer: Stop the test immediately and notify the supervising physician or nurse.
Patient safety is the top priority. The onset of severe chest pain and other symptoms of cardiac distress during a stress test are indicators to terminate the procedure immediately. The supervising medical professional must be alerted at once to assess the patient and provide emergency care if needed.
Which of the following actions constitutes a violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)?
Answer: Looking up the medical record of a coworker who is not under the technician's direct care.
Accessing the protected health information (PHI) of any individual, including a coworker, out of curiosity or for non-work-related reasons is a common and serious HIPAA violation. Access to patient records is strictly limited to a 'need-to-know' basis for providing care.
To prevent the transmission of infections, which of the following is the most critical and fundamental practice for a CCT to perform before and after every patient encounter?
Answer: Performing thorough hand hygiene.
According to the CDC and standard infection control protocols, performing thorough hand hygiene (either with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer) is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of healthcare-associated infections.
A CCT is seeing an elderly patient who appears unsteady on their feet. To ensure patient safety and prevent a fall, which action is most appropriate?
Answer: Ensure the exam room is free of clutter and provide direct physical assistance or a wheelchair.
Preventing falls is a critical safety measure. The CCT should take proactive steps by ensuring the environment is safe (e.g., clear pathways) and offering direct support, such as walking alongside the patient or providing a mobility aid like a wheelchair, to prevent a fall.
Before performing a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE), the technician must verify that which of the following has been completed?
Answer: A valid, signed informed consent form is in the patient's chart.
Informed consent is a legal and ethical requirement before any invasive or semi-invasive procedure. The CCT must ensure that the patient has been properly informed about the procedure, its risks, benefits, and alternatives, and has voluntarily signed a consent form.