CET CET Patient Preparation and Safety 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of using conductive gel or gel-based electrodes during an EKG?
- To cool the skin and reduce burns
- To reduce skin resistance and improve electrical signal transmission (Correct answer)
- To mark electrode placement for repeat tests
- To prevent the electrodes from peeling off
Correct answer: To reduce skin resistance and improve electrical signal transmission
Conductive gel lowers skin impedance, allowing the EKG machine to detect weak cardiac electrical signals accurately.
Question 2: Which statement about patient consent for a routine EKG is correct?
- Written informed consent is always required
- No consent is needed because EKG is non-invasive
- Implied consent is generally acceptable for routine diagnostic EKGs (Correct answer)
- The patient must sign a HIPAA release specifically for EKG
Correct answer: Implied consent is generally acceptable for routine diagnostic EKGs
Routine non-invasive procedures such as EKGs typically fall under implied consent when the patient cooperates with the procedure.
Question 3: A patient reports chest pain during EKG preparation. What should the EKG technician do?
- Complete the EKG quickly and report findings to the nurse
- Stop the procedure, activate emergency protocols, and notify clinical staff immediately (Correct answer)
- Ask the patient to rate pain and document it on the EKG report
- Continue and ask the patient to remain calm
Correct answer: Stop the procedure, activate emergency protocols, and notify clinical staff immediately
Chest pain is a potential cardiac emergency; the technician must notify clinical staff and activate emergency protocols immediately.
Question 4: To reduce somatic (muscle) artifact on an EKG tracing, the technician should instruct the patient to:
- Breathe deeply and rapidly during the recording
- Hold their breath and remain still during the recording (Correct answer)
- Flex and relax their arms repeatedly
- Sit upright and lean forward
Correct answer: Hold their breath and remain still during the recording
Remaining still and holding a normal breath during recording minimizes skeletal muscle electrical interference.
Question 5: When removing pre-gelled disposable electrodes after an EKG, the technician should:
- Pull quickly in one motion to minimize discomfort
- Peel slowly while supporting the skin, especially in elderly or fragile patients (Correct answer)
- Leave electrodes in place for the next scheduled EKG
- Use alcohol to loosen them before removal
Correct answer: Peel slowly while supporting the skin, especially in elderly or fragile patients
Slow, controlled removal while supporting the skin prevents skin tears, particularly in patients with fragile or elderly skin.
Question 6: Which body landmark is used to locate the V4 precordial electrode placement?
- Second intercostal space, right sternal border
- Fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line (Correct answer)
- Fourth intercostal space, left sternal border
- Fifth intercostal space, left anterior axillary line
Correct answer: Fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line
V4 is placed at the fifth intercostal space at the left midclavicular line, which is a key reference point for precordial lead placement.
CET CET Patient Preparation and Safety 2
What is the purpose of using conductive gel or gel-based electrodes during an EKG?