12 Questions
What should a technician anticipate when a patient is grabbing their chest and reporting chest pain during an EKG preparation?
Cardiac compromise
What is the most likely cause of an EKG tracing that slopes up and down the graph paper?
Wandering baseline artifact
What information must a technician document in a patient's electronic medical record regarding an EKG?
Date and time of the EKG
What is asystole?
Absence of electrical activity in the heart
Where should a technician place a lead on a patient with a right amputation?
Over the right clavicle
Which lead allows the technician to view the patient's anterior wall of the left ventricle?
Lead V5
What is the amplitude of the standard calibration mark on an EKG machine?
1 large box
What is the typical duration of a P-R interval?
0.12 to 0.2 seconds
What should an EKG technician instruct a patient to document in the diary when using a Holter monitor?
symptoms experienced
What should an EKG technician do to increase the amplitude of very small waves on a 12-lead recording?
increase the gain on the machine
What is the purpose of the standard calibration mark on an EKG machine?
to verify the accuracy of the machine
Why should an EKG technician instruct a patient to avoid physical activities while wearing a Holter monitor?
to prevent interference with the signal
Study Notes
EKG Machine Calibration
- A standard calibration mark on an EKG machine should have an amplitude of 10 small boxes.
P-R Interval
- A typical P-R interval is between 0.12 to 0.2 seconds.
Holter Monitor Use
- When instructing a patient about Holter monitor use, the technician should emphasize the importance of documenting symptoms in the diary provided.
Increasing Amplitude on 12-Lead Recording
- To increase the amplitude of very small waves on a 12-lead recording, the EKG technician should increase the gain of the machine.
Patient Preparation for EKG
- If a patient is experiencing chest pain, the technician should anticipate cardiac compromise.
- A patient with a heart rate of 75/min and chest pain may have cardiac compromise.
EKG Tracing Artifacts
- If an EKG tracing slopes up and down the graph paper, it is likely due to a wandering baseline artifact.
EKG Documentation
- The technician should document the date and time of the EKG in the patient's electronic medical record.
Absence of Electrical Activity
- Asystole is described as the absence of electrical activity in the heart.
Placement of Leads on Amputees
- When performing an EKG on a patient with a right amputation, the technician should place a lead over the right clavicle.
- The technician should not place leads directly over V1 and V2, on the left arm, or on the right deltoid.
Test your knowledge of EKG machine calibration and P-R interval duration in this short quiz.
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