Monitoring Techniques and Equipment Flashcards
7 cards from real CMT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Monitoring Techniques and Equipment flashcards as text
Which alarm setting on a cardiac monitor alerts staff to an excessively slow heart rate?
Answer: Low rate alarm
The low rate alarm activates when heart rate falls below the set threshold, typically 50-60 bpm, alerting staff to bradycardia.
What is the recommended electrode position for the LL (left leg) electrode in a standard placement?
Answer: Left lower abdomen or left inner thigh
The LL electrode is placed on the left lower abdomen or left inner thigh, positioned to represent the left leg as in a standard 12-lead ECG.
A cardiac monitor alarm for 'leads off' is triggered. What is the FIRST step the monitor technician should take?
Answer: Visually assess the patient and check electrode/lead wire connections
The first step is always patient assessment combined with checking electrode and lead wire connections, as the alarm may be technical or indicate a true emergency.
What is the primary advantage of a central monitoring station (nurse's station monitor) over bedside monitoring alone?
Answer: It allows continuous observation of multiple patients by dedicated monitoring staff
Central monitoring allows trained technicians to simultaneously observe multiple patients' rhythms, improving response to arrhythmias especially when bedside nurses are busy.
Muscle artifact (myopotential interference) on a cardiac monitor is best reduced by:
Answer: Placing electrodes over bony prominences rather than muscle
Placing electrodes over bony prominences minimizes skeletal muscle electrical activity from being picked up as artifact.
In a hardwire monitoring system, the maximum patient mobility is determined by:
Answer: The length of the patient cable connecting the patient to the monitor
Hardwire monitoring physically connects the patient to the monitor, so mobility is limited to the length of the patient cable.
What is the purpose of the artifact filter (or diagnostic vs. monitoring mode) on a cardiac monitor?
Answer: To reduce high-frequency and low-frequency interference while preserving diagnostic quality
Monitor mode applies filters that reduce artifact from muscle and motion interference, while diagnostic mode preserves the full frequency range for accurate ST-segment analysis.