Cardiovascular and EKG Exam - MA

Which of the following waves represents atrial depolarization?

• U wave
• Q wave
• T wave
• P wave

Which of the following serves as a conductor of impulses during an EKG?

• Electrocardiograph
• Lead wires
• EKG paper
• Electrolyte gel

Which of the following is the height of a standard calibration box?

• 0.5 mm
• 10 mm
• 15 mm
• 20 mm

Which of the following actions can cause a wandering baseline artifact?

• A disconnected or broken lead wire.
• A patient with lotion or cream on their skin.
• The patient shaking due to anxiety.
• Poor grounding of the machine.

A MA notices frequent, regular spikes on the EKG tracing. Which of the following should the MA take?

• Reattach the faulty electrodes.
• Have the patient hold their breath for 10 seconds.
• Turn off nearby electrical equipment.
• Off the patient a warm blanket.

Which of the following statements made by a MA demonstrates an understanding of patient privacy?

• "Please remove all clothing from the waist up and you can get dressed after the EKG is done."
• "I'll cover your abdomen with a blanket as soon as I'm done placing the EKG electrodes."
• "I'll turn the heat up if you're cold as you'll need to remain unclothed for the duration of the EKG test."
• "You can leave all your clothes on and I'll try to work around them to obtain the EKG."

Which of the following positions is best for performing an EKG?

• Prone
• Supine
• Fowler's
• Left Lateral

Which of the following actions should be taken for a patient experiencing a somatic tremor artifact on their electrocardiogram due to uncontrolled muscle movements?

• Tie the patient's arms to the exam table while conducting the test.
• Ask for assistance to hold the patient's arms still while conducting the procedure.
• Clean the skin and securely tape down the electrodes on the extremities.
• Have the patient lay their hands palms down under their buttocks to reduce muscle movements.

Which of the following should the electrode for lead V2 be placed?

• The right leg
• The left arm
• The left side of the sternum, fourth intercostal space
• The left side of the chest, fifth intercostal space, midaxillary line

Which of the following artifacts is a result of patient movement with breathing?

• 60-cycle interfernce
• Interrupted baseline
• Wandering baseline
• Somatic tremor