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.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Tilt the head back slightly: Tilting the head back slightly is not the standard technique for administering ear drops to adolescents and adults.
B. Gently pull the pinna up and back: Pulling the pinna (outer ear) up and back helps to straighten the ear canal in adolescents and adults, allowing the drops to reach the eardrum more effectively.
C. Tilt the head slightly forward: Tilting the head slightly forward is not the correct position for administering ear drops.
D. Gently pull the pinna down and back: Pulling the pinna down and back is used for children under 3 years old, not for older children or adults
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Assist the patient into the prone position: The prone position (lying face down) is not suitable for eye irrigation and may make the procedure more difficult.
B. Position the patient with their head turned toward the affected side: Turning the patient’s head toward the affected side helps to ensure that the irrigation fluid drains away from the unaffected eye and is more effective in flushing out debris or irritants.
C. Flush the patient's eye from the outer to the inner canthus: Flushing from the inner to the outer canthus is preferred to prevent contaminating the unaffected eye and to ensure effective irrigation.
D. Instruct the patient to hold their affected eye open: The patient should be instructed to keep their eye open, but it is more important to ensure proper positioning and technique during the irrigation.
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