EKG Technician Skills and Knowledge Base 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 Skills and Knowledge Base flashcards as text
What does ST segment elevation in two or more contiguous leads typically indicate?
Answer: Acute myocardial infarction or injury
ST elevation in contiguous leads is the hallmark of acute myocardial injury (STEMI) and requires immediate clinical attention.
When recording a 12-lead EKG, the standard paper speed in the United States is:
Answer: 25 mm/sec
Standard EKG paper speed in the US is 25 mm/sec, meaning each small box horizontally equals 0.04 seconds.
A patient's EKG shows a sawtooth baseline at 300 bpm with a ventricular rate of 150 bpm. This rhythm is:
Answer: Atrial flutter with 2:1 block
Atrial flutter typically shows a sawtooth pattern at ~300 bpm; with 2:1 conduction, the ventricular rate is ~150 bpm.
Which artifact on an EKG tracing is most commonly caused by patient movement or muscle tremor?
Answer: Somatic tremor artifact
Somatic tremor artifact, from voluntary or involuntary muscle activity, produces an irregular, fuzzy baseline distortion.
On a standard EKG, the amplitude (voltage) calibration is set so that 1 mV equals:
Answer: 10 mm
Standard EKG calibration is 1 mV = 10 mm (two large boxes) vertically.
Which of the following conditions can cause a prolonged QT interval?
Answer: Hypokalemia
Hypokalemia (low potassium) prolongs ventricular repolarization, extending the QT interval and increasing arrhythmia risk.
The right leg electrode in a standard 12-lead EKG serves as:
Answer: An electrical ground to reduce noise
The right leg (RL) electrode acts as an electrical ground, helping to reduce baseline noise and common-mode interference.