EKG Technician Certification 1 Flashcards
6 cards from real EKG certification Certification practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 EKG Technician Certification 1 flashcards as text
Which of the following correctly describes the normal PR interval on an adult EKG?
Answer: 0.12–0.20 seconds
The normal PR interval ranges from 0.12 to 0.20 seconds (3–5 small squares). A PR interval longer than 0.20 seconds indicates first-degree AV block, while a shorter interval may suggest a pre-excitation syndrome such as Wolff-Parkinson-White.
When applying electrodes for a 12-lead EKG, where should the RA (right arm) limb electrode be placed?
Answer: On the right wrist or anywhere on the right arm
The RA electrode should be placed on the right wrist or anywhere on the right arm, typically avoiding bony prominences. Limb electrodes can be placed anywhere on the respective limb as long as placement is consistent, because they measure potential differences between limbs.
A patient's EKG shows a rhythm with no identifiable P waves and an irregularly irregular ventricular response. What rhythm does this most likely represent?
Answer: Atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is characterized by absent distinct P waves (replaced by chaotic fibrillatory baseline) and an irregularly irregular ventricular response. Atrial flutter typically shows a regular sawtooth pattern, and junctional rhythms usually have retrograde or absent P waves with a regular rate.
What is the correct paper speed used for a standard resting 12-lead EKG?
Answer: 25 mm/sec
The standard paper speed for a resting 12-lead EKG is 25 mm/sec. At this speed, each small square (1 mm) represents 0.04 seconds and each large square (5 mm) represents 0.20 seconds. Some countries use 50 mm/sec for pediatric tracings, but 25 mm/sec is the universal standard for adults.
An EKG tracing shows ST-segment elevation in leads V1 through V4. Which region of the myocardium is most likely affected?
Answer: Anterior wall
Leads V1–V4 are the precordial leads that overlie the anterior surface of the heart. ST elevation in these leads suggests anterior wall myocardial injury or infarction, most commonly due to occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery.
What does the QRS complex on an EKG represent?
Answer: Ventricular depolarization
The QRS complex represents ventricular depolarization — the electrical event that triggers the ventricles to contract and pump blood. Atrial depolarization is represented by the P wave, and ventricular repolarization is represented by the T wave.