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
A patient refuses a recommended echocardiogram despite understanding the risks of refusal. The CVT should:
Answer: Document the refusal and respect the patient's decision
Competent adults have the right to refuse medical treatment; the refusal should be documented and the care team notified.
Which of the following is the MOST effective method to prevent cross-contamination between patients during echocardiography?
Answer: Performing high-level disinfection of probes between patients
Ultrasound transducers require high-level disinfection between patients to eliminate potential pathogens and prevent cross-contamination.
A patient in the cardiac catheterization lab reports an allergy to iodine. What is the PRIORITY concern for the CVT and care team?
Answer: Alerting the physician because contrast dye is iodine-based
Iodine-based contrast agents are routinely used in cardiac catheterization; the physician must be alerted to consider premedication or alternative imaging.
Under HIPAA, a CVT may share a patient's echocardiogram results with:
Answer: A treating cardiologist involved in the patient's care
HIPAA permits disclosure of protected health information to treating providers involved in a patient's care without separate authorization.
When setting up a crash cart in the cardiac catheterization laboratory, which medication is MOST critical for treating ventricular fibrillation?
Answer: Epinephrine
Epinephrine is the primary vasopressor used during ACLS protocols for ventricular fibrillation and pulseless arrest.
A CVT technologist discovers that a physician has ordered a duplicate echocardiogram that was performed yesterday. The BEST action is to:
Answer: Contact the physician to verify whether a repeat study is clinically indicated
Communicating with the ordering physician about potentially redundant testing prevents unnecessary patient exposure and healthcare resource waste.
During patient transport to the catheterization lab, a patient becomes diaphoretic and unresponsive. After calling for help, the CVT's next step is to:
Answer: Begin assessment using the CAB (Circulation, Airway, Breathing) sequence
Initiating emergency assessment using CAB priorities allows the CVT to identify and address life-threatening conditions while awaiting additional help.