CSC Professional Standards & Competencies 3

Question 1

A cardiac stress lab technologist notes that a patient's blood pressure drops 20 mmHg during treadmill exercise. The supervising physician is unavailable. The technologist should:

Accepted Answer

Immediately stop the test and notify available medical staff

Answer

A significant exercise-induced drop in systolic BP is an absolute contraindication to continuing; the test must be stopped immediately and medical staff notified.

Question 2

Which of the following best defines 'scope of practice' for a cardiac sonographer?

Accepted Answer

Procedures and activities defined by credentialing standards, state law, and employer policy

Answer

Scope of practice is determined by the intersection of professional credentialing standards, applicable state statutes, and institutional policy.

Question 3

A patient undergoing a cardiac MRI asks the technologist to explain the preliminary findings before the radiologist interprets the study. The technologist should:

Accepted Answer

Explain that results will be provided by the interpreting physician after full review

Answer

Interpreting diagnostic images is within the physician's scope of practice; the technologist should direct result inquiries to the responsible clinician.

Question 4

Informed consent for a cardiac catheterization procedure must include which of the following elements?

Accepted Answer

The procedure's purpose, risks, benefits, and available alternatives

Answer

Valid informed consent requires disclosure of the procedure's purpose, material risks, expected benefits, and reasonable alternatives.

Question 5

A cardiac electrophysiology technologist is asked by a supervising physician to perform a task they have not been trained to perform. The appropriate response is to:

Accepted Answer

Decline the task and communicate the lack of training to the physician

Answer

Professionals have an obligation to work within their competency boundaries and must decline tasks for which they lack adequate training even when directed by a physician.

CSC - Cardiac Subspecialty Certification Exam Practice Test

CSC - Cardiac Subspecialty Certification Exam Practice Test

CSC Professional Standards & Competencies 3