ECG ECG Patient Monitoring and Safety

Question 1

What is the primary purpose of continuous cardiac monitoring in a hospital setting?

Accepted Answer

Early detection of life-threatening arrhythmias

Answer

Measuring blood oxygen levels

Answer

Monitoring respiratory rate

Answer

Tracking blood pressure trends

Question 2

Which organization provides guidelines for in-hospital cardiac monitoring practice in the US?

Accepted Answer

American Heart Association (AHA)

Answer

American Medical Association (AMA)

Answer

Joint Commission (TJC)

Answer

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

Question 3

A patient's ECG alarm is alarming frequently with no clinical change — what is this called?

Accepted Answer

Alarm fatigue

Answer

False positive monitoring

Answer

Threshold desensitization

Answer

Artifact interference

Question 4

What ECG finding in a monitored patient should prompt the nurse to call a rapid response immediately?

Accepted Answer

Sustained ventricular tachycardia with a heart rate of 180 bpm

Answer

Sinus bradycardia at 58 bpm with no symptoms

Answer

PACs with a compensatory pause

Answer

First-degree AV block

Question 5

Which AAMI/IEC standard governs ECG electrode performance requirements in the US?

Accepted Answer

AAMI EC12

Answer

IEC 60601-1

Answer

ANSI/AAMI ES60601

Answer

ISO 13485

Question 6

What is the safe current limit to prevent microshock injury in a patient with an intracardiac catheter?

Accepted Answer

10 microamperes (10 µA)

Answer

1 milliampere (1 mA)

Answer

100 milliamperes (100 mA)

Answer

50 microamperes (50 µA)