EKG certification Certification EKG Safety & Infection Control Protocols 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Before performing an EKG on a patient in airborne precautions, which action is MOST important for the technician?
- Don a fit-tested N95 respirator before entering the room (Correct answer)
- Apply double gloves and a standard surgical mask
- Request that housekeeping clean the room first
- Postpone the EKG until the patient is moved to a negative-pressure room
Correct answer: Don a fit-tested N95 respirator before entering the room
Airborne precautions require an N95 (or higher) respirator because pathogens such as tuberculosis or measles can remain suspended in the air. A standard surgical mask does not provide adequate filtration for airborne particles.
Question 2: Which step in electrode site preparation BEST reduces skin impedance and improves EKG signal quality while also supporting infection control?
- Gently abrading the skin with a dry gauze pad after cleaning with alcohol (Correct answer)
- Applying petroleum jelly to the electrode site before placement
- Shaving all chest hair with a multi-use razor shared between patients
- Leaving the site to air dry for at least 10 minutes after cleaning
Correct answer: Gently abrading the skin with a dry gauze pad after cleaning with alcohol
Light abrasion with gauze removes dead skin cells and sebum, lowering electrical impedance for a cleaner tracing. Alcohol is applied first for antisepsis; disposable razors should be single-patient-use only to prevent cross-contamination.
Question 3: An EKG cable set has visible dried secretions on it after use. What is the correct next step?
- Wipe with a facility-approved disinfectant wipe and allow full contact time before reuse (Correct answer)
- Rinse the cables under running water and immediately reuse them
- Place the cables in an autoclave for sterilization
- Discard the cables as biohazardous waste
Correct answer: Wipe with a facility-approved disinfectant wipe and allow full contact time before reuse
Reusable EKG cables must be cleaned with an EPA-registered, facility-approved disinfectant and allowed the full recommended contact (dwell) time to inactivate pathogens. Autoclaving damages the cables, and discarding reusable equipment is unnecessary if proper disinfection is performed.
Question 4: A technician finishes an EKG and removes the electrodes from the patient. In what order should the technician proceed?
- Remove gloves, perform hand hygiene, then document the procedure (Correct answer)
- Perform hand hygiene first, then remove gloves, then document
- Document the procedure while still gloved, then remove gloves
- Remove gloves, immediately touch the EKG machine to save the tracing, then wash hands
Correct answer: Remove gloves, perform hand hygiene, then document the procedure
The correct sequence is to remove and discard gloves (which are now contaminated), then perform hand hygiene before touching any clean surface or documenting. Touching the machine or documentation while gloved transfers contamination.
Question 5: Which of the following BEST describes why single-use EKG electrodes should never be repositioned and reapplied to a different site on the same patient?
- The adhesive picks up skin flora and debris, increasing infection risk at the new site (Correct answer)
- Single-use electrodes are too expensive to waste by moving them
- The conductive gel dries out instantly, making repositioning unsafe electrically
- Regulatory agencies prohibit repositioning electrodes under any circumstances
Correct answer: The adhesive picks up skin flora and debris, increasing infection risk at the new site
Once a single-use electrode is removed, its adhesive surface carries skin bacteria and cellular debris. Reapplying it transfers that contamination to a new skin site, raising the risk of localized skin infection, especially in immunocompromised patients.
Question 6: A patient with Clostridium difficile (C. diff) requires an EKG. Which hand hygiene method is MOST effective after the procedure?
- Soap and water handwashing for at least 20 seconds (Correct answer)
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizer applied for 15 seconds
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizer followed by a sterile glove change
- Antiseptic wipes rubbed on both hands for 10 seconds
Correct answer: Soap and water handwashing for at least 20 seconds
C. diff produces spores that are resistant to alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Soap and water physically remove spores from the hands and are the recommended hand hygiene method after contact with C. diff patients or their environment.
EKG certification Certification EKG Safety & Infection Control Protocols 1
Before performing an EKG on a patient in airborne precautions, which action is MOST important for the technician?