NTA NTA Telemetry Equipment and Technology 2

Question 1

What is the most important skin preparation step before applying telemetry electrodes?

Accepted Answer

Clean and dry the skin, clipping hair if necessary

Answer

Cleaning and drying the skin, and clipping chest hair if present, maximizes electrode adhesion and produces the clearest signal.

Question 2

Which monitoring lead is preferred for detecting bundle branch blocks in telemetry patients?

Accepted Answer

MCL1 (V1 equivalent)

Answer

MCL1, which approximates lead V1, best demonstrates QRS morphology changes characteristic of right and left bundle branch blocks.

Question 3

What is the purpose of alarm threshold settings on a telemetry monitor?

Accepted Answer

To alert staff when heart rate or rhythm exceeds defined safe limits

Answer

Alarm thresholds are customized upper and lower heart rate limits that trigger an alert when the patient's rhythm moves outside the safe range.

Question 4

What is the typical transmission range of most hospital telemetry systems?

Accepted Answer

Approximately 300–1000 feet depending on the system

Answer

Most hospital telemetry systems are designed with a 300–1000 foot range, sufficient to cover a typical inpatient nursing unit.

Question 5

What does a slowly wandering baseline on a telemetry strip most commonly indicate?

Accepted Answer

Poor electrode contact or patient respiratory movement

Answer

A wandering baseline is caused by poor electrode adhesion, patient movement, or respiratory motion shifting the baseline up and down slowly.

NTA - National Telemetry Association Practice Test