Practice Test Geeks(CVT) Cardiovascular Technologist Certification Practice Test
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Patient Care, Safety & Medical Ethics Flashcards

7 cards from real CVT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Patient Care, Safety & Medical Ethics flashcards as text

  1. A patient undergoing a stress echocardiogram develops ST-segment depression and complains of chest pain. What is the FIRST action the CVT should take?

    Answer: Notify the supervising physician immediately

    ST depression with chest pain during stress testing is a primary endpoint requiring immediate physician notification and test termination.

  2. Which principle of medical ethics refers to the obligation to act in the best interest of the patient?

    Answer: Beneficence

    Beneficence is the ethical duty to act in ways that promote patient welfare and best interests.

  3. A CVT notices a colleague using an ultrasound probe that has a visible crack in its housing. The BEST course of action is to:

    Answer: Remove the probe from service and report it to biomedical engineering

    Damaged equipment housings can harbor pathogens and pose electrical hazards, requiring immediate removal from service.

  4. When obtaining informed consent for a cardiac catheterization, the patient states they do not understand the risks. The CVT should:

    Answer: Notify the physician so the patient can receive further clarification

    Informed consent requires the patient to understand the procedure; the physician must address any gaps in understanding before the patient signs.

  5. During an echocardiogram, a patient discloses they are experiencing suicidal thoughts. The CVT is ethically and legally obligated to:

    Answer: Immediately report the disclosure to the supervising provider

    Disclosure of suicidal ideation constitutes an imminent safety risk that overrides standard patient confidentiality and requires immediate escalation.

  6. Which radiation safety principle states that radiation exposure should be kept as low as reasonably achievable?

    Answer: ALARA

    ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) is the guiding radiation protection principle applied in fluoroscopy and nuclear cardiology.

  7. A CVT is performing a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) when the patient's oxygen saturation drops to 88%. The MOST appropriate immediate action is to:

    Answer: Administer supplemental oxygen and notify the physician

    Oxygen desaturation during TEE requires supplemental oxygen and physician notification before considering probe removal or other interventions.