EKG Technician Skills and Knowledge Base Flashcards

A pacemaker spike followed by a wide QRS complex most likely indicates:

Answer: Ventricular pacing

A pacemaker spike immediately preceding a wide QRS indicates ventricular pacing, as the stimulus directly activates ventricular muscle.

Which precordial lead provides the best view of right ventricular activity?

Answer: V1

V1, placed over the right side of the sternum at the 4th ICS, is closest to the right ventricle and best reflects its electrical activity.

Before performing an EKG on a patient with a temporary transvenous pacemaker, the technician should:

Answer: Verify the pacemaker settings and inform the supervising clinician

The technician should document the pacemaker's presence and settings, inform clinical staff, and proceed with standard technique without altering the device.

The T wave on an EKG represents:

Answer: Ventricular repolarization

The T wave reflects ventricular repolarization, the process by which ventricular cells return to their resting electrical state.

A patient's EKG shows a short PR interval and a delta wave at the beginning of the QRS. This pattern is consistent with:

Answer: Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome

WPW syndrome is characterized by a short PR interval and delta wave caused by an accessory conduction pathway bypassing the AV node.

When measuring the QT interval, the measurement should be taken from:

Answer: The beginning of the Q wave to the end of the T wave

The QT interval is measured from the onset of the QRS complex to the end of the T wave, representing total ventricular electrical activity.

Which of the following best describes the proper technique for applying limb electrodes to a patient with an amputated right arm?

Answer: Place the right arm electrode on the right shoulder or upper right torso

When a limb is amputated, the corresponding electrode is placed on the closest remaining portion of that limb or the adjacent torso area.