CET Patient Preparation and Safety Flashcards

What does the term 'baseline wander' refer to on an EKG tracing?

Answer: Slow undulation of the isoelectric line caused by patient movement or breathing

Baseline wander is a low-frequency artifact caused by patient movement, breathing, or poor electrode contact.

Which of the following is the MOST common cause of 60 Hz (AC) interference on an EKG?

Answer: Poor electrode contact or nearby electrical equipment

AC interference (60 Hz hum) typically results from nearby electrical equipment or degraded electrode-skin contact.

A patient with a left arm amputation requires a 12-lead EKG. Where should the LA electrode be placed?

Answer: On the left shoulder or the upper left torso near the amputation site

When a limb is absent, the electrode is placed on the residual limb or the closest available torso location on the same side.

HIPAA regulations require EKG technicians to protect patient health information by:

Answer: Discussing patient information only with authorized care team members

HIPAA mandates that protected health information be shared only with members of the care team directly involved in the patient's treatment.

Which of the following patient conditions would MOST likely require repositioning electrodes rather than using standard limb lead placement?

Answer: Recent abdominal surgery with large dressings

Large surgical dressings over the torso or limbs require electrode repositioning to obtain a usable signal while avoiding contamination of wounds.

Before attaching electrodes, the technician notices the patient has very oily skin. The BEST corrective action is to:

Answer: Clean the sites with an alcohol wipe and allow to dry before electrode application

Cleaning with alcohol removes skin oils that would otherwise prevent adequate electrode adhesion and signal conduction.