EKG Safety & Infection Control Protocols 1 Flashcards
6 cards from real EKG certification Certification practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 EKG Safety & Infection Control Protocols 1 flashcards as text
Before performing an EKG on a patient in airborne precautions, which action is MOST important for the technician?
Answer: Don a fit-tested N95 respirator before entering the room
Airborne precautions require an N95 (or higher) respirator because pathogens such as tuberculosis or measles can remain suspended in the air. A standard surgical mask does not provide adequate filtration for airborne particles.
Which step in electrode site preparation BEST reduces skin impedance and improves EKG signal quality while also supporting infection control?
Answer: Gently abrading the skin with a dry gauze pad after cleaning with alcohol
Light abrasion with gauze removes dead skin cells and sebum, lowering electrical impedance for a cleaner tracing. Alcohol is applied first for antisepsis; disposable razors should be single-patient-use only to prevent cross-contamination.
An EKG cable set has visible dried secretions on it after use. What is the correct next step?
Answer: Wipe with a facility-approved disinfectant wipe and allow full contact time before reuse
Reusable EKG cables must be cleaned with an EPA-registered, facility-approved disinfectant and allowed the full recommended contact (dwell) time to inactivate pathogens. Autoclaving damages the cables, and discarding reusable equipment is unnecessary if proper disinfection is performed.
A technician finishes an EKG and removes the electrodes from the patient. In what order should the technician proceed?
Answer: Remove gloves, perform hand hygiene, then document the procedure
The correct sequence is to remove and discard gloves (which are now contaminated), then perform hand hygiene before touching any clean surface or documenting. Touching the machine or documentation while gloved transfers contamination.
Which of the following BEST describes why single-use EKG electrodes should never be repositioned and reapplied to a different site on the same patient?
Answer: The adhesive picks up skin flora and debris, increasing infection risk at the new site
Once a single-use electrode is removed, its adhesive surface carries skin bacteria and cellular debris. Reapplying it transfers that contamination to a new skin site, raising the risk of localized skin infection, especially in immunocompromised patients.
A patient with Clostridium difficile (C. diff) requires an EKG. Which hand hygiene method is MOST effective after the procedure?
Answer: Soap and water handwashing for at least 20 seconds
C. diff produces spores that are resistant to alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Soap and water physically remove spores from the hands and are the recommended hand hygiene method after contact with C. diff patients or their environment.