Mixed Deck — All CMT Topics Flashcards

What is the significance of peer review in professional ethics & legal compliance for CMT professionals?

Answer: It promotes accountability, knowledge sharing, and quality improvement

Peer review promotes accountability, knowledge sharing, and quality improvement by allowing CMT professionals to benefit from collective expertise and identify areas for growth.

What is the primary characteristic of bradycardia?

Answer: A heart rate under 60 bpm.

Bradycardia is defined as a heart rate that is abnormally slow, specifically under 60 beats per minute in adults. While some athletes may have a naturally low resting heart rate, symptomatic bradycardia can indicate an issue with the heart's electrical conduction system. A heart rate below this threshold may not adequately pump blood to meet the body's demands, leading to symptoms like fatigue or dizziness.

Which of the following rhythms would be MOST concerning in a patient who is 100% pacemaker-dependent?

Answer: Pacemaker spikes without capture (failure to capture)

In a pacemaker-dependent patient, failure to capture means there is no effective cardiac pacing, which can be immediately life-threatening.

Amiodarone is classified as which class of antiarrhythmic medication?

Answer: Class III

Amiodarone is a Class III antiarrhythmic that primarily blocks potassium channels, prolonging the action potential and refractory period.

The left anterior descending (LAD) artery is most often called the 'widow maker' because it supplies which critical structure?

Answer: Anterior wall of left ventricle and anterior two-thirds of the interventricular septum

The LAD supplies the anterior left ventricular wall and the anterior two-thirds of the interventricular septum, representing a large territory whose occlusion causes massive myocardial infarction.

How should a CMT professional handle a situation where quality assurance & performance improvement protocols conflict with practical constraints?

Answer: Document the conflict and seek guidance from appropriate authorities

When protocols conflict with practical constraints, the professional approach is to document the conflict and seek guidance, ensuring transparency and compliance while working toward a resolution.

What is a common treatment for supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)?

Answer: Medication and electrical cardioversion.

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a rapid heart rhythm originating above the ventricles. Common treatments include vagal maneuvers, which stimulate the vagus nerve to slow the heart rate. If these are ineffective, medications like adenosine can be administered intravenously to interrupt the abnormal electrical pathway. In cases of hemodynamic instability or refractory SVT, electrical cardioversion may be used to reset the heart's rhythm.

The QRS detection threshold on a cardiac monitor is set too high. What problem will most likely occur?

Answer: Small or low-amplitude QRS complexes will be missed, causing falsely low heart rate readings

An overly high detection threshold means low-amplitude QRS complexes won't be recognized, causing the monitor to undercount beats and display falsely low rates.

In Certified Cardiac Monitor Technician, what role does communication & interprofessional collaboration play in ensuring client/stakeholder satisfaction?

Answer: It builds trust through demonstrated competence and consistency

Communication & Interprofessional Collaboration builds trust through demonstrated competence and consistency, which directly contributes to stakeholder satisfaction and confidence in the CMT professional.

The mitral valve is located between which two cardiac chambers?

Answer: Left atrium and left ventricle

The mitral (bicuspid) valve is the atrioventricular valve on the left side of the heart, separating the left atrium from the left ventricle.

How does continuing education relate to communication & interprofessional collaboration for CMT certified professionals?

Answer: It ensures professionals stay current with evolving standards and best practices

Continuing education ensures CMT professionals stay current with evolving standards, technologies, and best practices in communication & interprofessional collaboration, maintaining competency throughout their careers.

Which arrhythmia is defined as three or more consecutive PVCs at a rate greater than 100 bpm?

Answer: Ventricular tachycardia

Ventricular tachycardia is defined as three or more consecutive ventricular beats at a rate exceeding 100 bpm.

Which medication class is first-line for terminating AV nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT)?

Answer: Adenosine

Adenosine transiently blocks AV node conduction, interrupting the reentrant circuit responsible for AVNRT.

Which antiarrhythmic drug is typically used for acute management of stable wide-complex ventricular tachycardia?

Answer: Amiodarone

Amiodarone IV is a first-line agent for stable ventricular tachycardia due to its broad spectrum of antiarrhythmic activity.

The right coronary artery most commonly supplies which of the following structures?

Answer: Sinoatrial node and AV node

The right coronary artery supplies the SA node in about 60% of people and the AV node in about 85-90% of people, making it critical to cardiac conduction.

Which finding on an ECG strip indicates third-degree (complete) AV block?

Answer: P waves and QRS complexes firing independently with no association

In third-degree AV block, atria and ventricles beat independently — P waves and QRS complexes have no consistent relationship.

When a 60-cycle interference (AC interference) artifact appears on the monitor, what is the most appropriate first action?

Answer: Check and replace electrodes, ensure proper grounding

AC interference is first addressed by checking electrode contact quality and ensuring proper grounding, as loose electrodes are the most common cause.

What is the primary reason pre-gelled electrodes have a defined expiration date?

Answer: The conductive gel dries out, increasing skin-electrode impedance and degrading signal quality

The conductive gel in pre-gelled electrodes dries out after the expiration date, significantly increasing impedance and reducing signal quality.

What does a pulse oximeter measure?

Answer: Oxygen saturation levels.

A pulse oximeter is a non-invasive medical device that measures the oxygen saturation levels in a patient's blood. It works by emitting light through a part of the body, typically a fingertip, and detecting the amount of light absorbed by oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin. This provides a quick and continuous reading of how well oxygen is being transported in the blood.

What is a common challenge professionals face when applying evidence-based practice & research methods principles in Certified Cardiac Monitor Technician?

Answer: Balancing theoretical knowledge with practical application

Balancing theoretical knowledge with practical application is a well-recognized challenge, as real-world scenarios often present complexities not covered in standard training.