A medical assistant is applying EKG electrodes to a patient who is sweating profusely and reports chest pain. Which of the following actions should the assists take to acquire an adequate tracing?
Ensure the skin is clean and dry.
Apply conductive gel to the patient's chest.
Shave the electrode sites.
Place the electrodes below the clavicle.
The Correct Answer is A
A. Ensure the skin is clean and dry. This is the correct action. Sweating can interfere with electrode adhesion and signal quality, so the skin should be cleaned and dried to ensure a good contact for accurate EKG readings.
B. Apply conductive gel to the patient's chest. Conductive gel is typically used with certain types of electrodes, but in the case of disposable adhesive EKG electrodes, it is not necessary and may not improve tracing quality.
C. Shave the electrode sites. Shaving may be necessary if the patient has a lot of body hair, but it is not the first step when dealing with sweating. Drying the skin is more immediate and essential.
D. Place the electrodes below the clavicle. Electrode placement should follow standard EKG guidelines, and moving them to non-standard positions like below the clavicle can result in inaccurate readings.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. "This test measures my estrogen serum ratio after menopause." ESR stands for erythrocyte sedimentation rate, not estrogen serum ratio. This is an incorrect interpretation of the test.
B. "This test measures the fluctuation of serum protein." The ESR does not directly measure serum protein levels. It measures the rate at which red blood cells sediment in a period of one hour.
C. "This test measures my hemoglobin levels." Hemoglobin levels are measured by a hemoglobin test, not an ESR. This statement is incorrect.
D. "This test measures the distance my RBCs have dropped." This is the correct understanding. ESR measures the rate at which red blood cells settle at the bottom of a test tube over a specified period, indicating the distance the RBCs have dropped.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Sweating: Sweating is a normal physiological response to exercise and is not an indication to terminate the test.
B. Bradycardia: Bradycardia (abnormally slow heart rate) during an exercise stress test can indicate a serious problem and may require premature termination of the test.
C. Palpitations: Palpitations can occur during exercise, but they are not necessarily a reason to terminate the test unless accompanied by other symptoms or abnormalities.
D. Thirst: Thirst is not a contraindication for continuing an exercise stress test.
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