EKG Technician Roles and Responsibilities Flashcards
7 cards from real CET practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 EKG Technician Roles and Responsibilities flashcards as text
In a stat EKG situation, what is the technician's most critical responsibility?
Answer: Acquiring a high-quality tracing as quickly and safely as possible
In a stat (urgent) situation, speed and accuracy are paramount; the technician must rapidly acquire a quality tracing to support time-sensitive clinical decisions.
What is the correct paper speed for a standard resting 12-lead EKG?
Answer: 25 mm/sec
The standard EKG paper speed is 25 mm per second, which establishes the time scale where each small box equals 0.04 seconds.
An EKG technician notices an implanted pacemaker spike on the tracing. The appropriate action is to:
Answer: Document the finding and note it on the tracing for the interpreting physician
Pacemaker spikes are clinically relevant findings; the technician should document them and ensure the interpreting physician is aware.
Which of the following best describes the EKG technician's role in infection control?
Answer: Performing hand hygiene and using single-use electrodes for each patient
Standard precautions require hand hygiene and single-use disposable electrodes to prevent cross-contamination between patients.
A patient's chart indicates a latex allergy. What should the EKG technician do before applying electrodes?
Answer: Verify that the electrodes and supplies used are latex-free before proceeding
Confirming the latex-free status of all materials before contact is essential to prevent an allergic reaction in a sensitized patient.
What is the role of the EKG technician when a physician is interpreting the tracing at the bedside?
Answer: Remain available to answer questions about acquisition conditions and lead placement
The technician can provide valuable context about acquisition conditions, such as patient movement or lead placement issues, that may affect interpretation.
Which of the following is a correct statement about lead aVR in the 12-lead EKG?
Answer: It is an augmented unipolar limb lead that views the heart from the right shoulder
aVR is an augmented unipolar limb lead that provides a view of cardiac electrical activity from the direction of the right shoulder.