CET CET Equipment Operation and Maintenance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An EKG machine displays a 'lead fault' or 'lead off' message. What is the MOST likely cause?
- The paper speed is set incorrectly
- An electrode has detached or has poor skin contact (Correct answer)
- The machine needs recalibration
- The filter is set too high
Correct answer: An electrode has detached or has poor skin contact
A lead fault error indicates the machine cannot detect a signal from one or more electrodes, most often due to detachment or poor contact.
Question 2: What does a 'wandering baseline' artifact on a rhythm strip most commonly indicate regarding equipment?
- The lead wire is broken internally
- The electrode has degraded or lost contact with the skin (Correct answer)
- The machine filter is off
- The paper speed is too fast
Correct answer: The electrode has degraded or lost contact with the skin
Wandering baseline is most commonly caused by an electrode losing secure skin contact due to drying gel or patient movement.
Question 3: When transporting a portable EKG machine between patient rooms, the technician should:
- Drape lead wires over the machine handles for convenience
- Coil and secure lead wires loosely to prevent wire damage and tripping hazards (Correct answer)
- Leave the machine plugged in and push it while the cord drags
- Store electrodes on the machine cart without packaging
Correct answer: Coil and secure lead wires loosely to prevent wire damage and tripping hazards
Properly coiling and securing lead wires prevents internal wire breaks and protects staff and patients from tripping hazards.
Question 4: A technician notices the EKG paper has a pink tint at the edges, indicating it is about to run out. The correct action is to:
- Continue recording and note the issue in the chart
- Replace the paper roll before the next patient recording (Correct answer)
- Photocopy the partial tracing and attach it to the chart
- Reduce paper speed to extend the remaining paper
Correct answer: Replace the paper roll before the next patient recording
The pink or colored edge is a thermal paper indicator signaling the roll is almost depleted; replacing it ensures complete, legible recordings.
Question 5: Which type of EKG paper is used in most modern electrocardiographs?
- Photosensitive paper
- Thermal (heat-sensitive) paper (Correct answer)
- Carbon-copy paper
- Inkjet-printed paper
Correct answer: Thermal (heat-sensitive) paper
Modern EKG machines use thermal paper that produces the tracing by heat rather than ink, eliminating the need for ink cartridges.
Question 6: When should an EKG technician perform a daily equipment check on the machine?
- Only when a quality issue is reported
- At the start of each shift before the first patient (Correct answer)
- Weekly during biomedical rounds
- Before each individual EKG recording
Correct answer: At the start of each shift before the first patient
A pre-shift equipment check ensures the machine is functional, charged, stocked with paper, and producing an accurate calibration pulse before patient use.
CET CET Equipment Operation and Maintenance 2
An EKG machine displays a 'lead fault' or 'lead off' message.
What is the MOST likely cause?