CET EKG Technician practice questions with answers

Answer: C) Two identifiers

• AIncorrect. This is unreliable.
• BIncorrect. Room numbers are not identifiers.
• CCorrect. Use name and date of birth (or another approved identifier).
• DIncorrect. This is not an identifier.

Answer: B) Severe aortic stenosis that causes exertional chest pain or fainting

Symptomatic severe aortic stenosis is an absolute contraindication to exercise stress testing because exertion can trigger syncope, arrhythmias, or death. Moderate valve stenosis, high-grade AV block, and severe hypertension are relative contraindications.

• AIncorrect. Moderate stenotic valve disease is a relative contraindication. The test may go ahead if the expected benefit outweighs the risk.
• BCorrect. Symptomatic severe aortic stenosis is an absolute contraindication. Exercise can cause syncope, dangerous ventricular arrhythmias, and sudden death.
• CIncorrect. High-grade AV block is listed as a relative contraindication, not an absolute one.
• DIncorrect. Severe resting hypertension (systolic over 200 or diastolic over 110 mm Hg) is a relative contraindication that the provider weighs before testing.

Answer: A) Let the patient finish speaking, then restate the concern in your own words to confirm you understood it

Active listening means letting the patient finish and then confirming you understood the concern. False reassurance, closed questions, and jargon all get in the way of good communication.

• ACorrect. Active listening means paying full attention, letting the patient express the concern, and checking your understanding before you respond. This matches guidance to listen carefully and understand the patient's concerns.
• BIncorrect. This is false reassurance. It brushes aside the patient's concern instead of exploring it, so it shuts down communication.
• CIncorrect. Closed questions limit what the patient can share. Open-ended questions are recommended because they bring out the patient's concerns and beliefs.
• DIncorrect. Medical jargon can confuse patients, especially those with low health literacy, and it does not address the concern the patient raised.

Answer: A) Apply the pediatric dose-attenuating pads and follow the AED prompts

When pediatric dose-attenuating pads are available, use them on young children (8 or younger, or under 25 kg). Never delay a shock or cut pads, and don't let pads touch.

• ACorrect. For children aged 8 or younger or under 25 kg, an AED with a pediatric dose attenuator is used when one is available.
• BIncorrect. Delaying defibrillation because child equipment is missing is not recommended. A shock should not be delayed when an AED is available.
• CIncorrect. Defibrillator pads must not be cut to fit the patient. If only adult pads are available, place them front-to-back (anterior-posterior) instead.
• DIncorrect. The pads must not touch each other. Pediatric pads are preferred here, and adult pads on a small child go front-to-back so they don't overlap.

Answer: B) That it's outside their scope, but they'll tell the provider

• AIncorrect. That's outside scope.
• BCorrect. Device changes need qualified staff.
• CIncorrect. They sometimes do.
• DIncorrect. That isn't possible.

Answer: B) A copy stays available to resend if the transmission fails or is interrupted

Saving a tracing in the machine before transmitting keeps a backup copy that can be resent if the upload fails. It does not change the tracing's quality, the identity checks, or the need for provider interpretation.

• AIncorrect. Saving does not improve signal quality. Major artifact is fixed by addressing its cause (patient movement, poor electrode contact) and recording again.
• BCorrect. Keeping the tracing in memory means it is not lost if the network or upload fails. It can be resent without recording the patient again.
• CIncorrect. Two patient identifiers must still be verified so the tracing goes to the right patient's chart, whether or not it was saved first.
• DIncorrect. A machine-generated interpretation is preliminary. Saving it does not replace review by a qualified provider.

Answer: A) To confirm the unit's internal systems are working properly before patient use

An electrocardiograph runs a power-on self-test to check that its internal functions work before it is used on a patient. Calibration pulses, lead-off alerts and skin preparation are separate parts of getting a good tracing.

• ACorrect. The power-on self-test checks the machine's internal functions so that a fault is found before any patient is connected. If it reports an error, take the unit out of service and report it as your facility's policy requires.
• BIncorrect. The standardization (calibration) pulse appears on the printed tracing so readers can check amplitude: 1 mV makes the stylus move 10 mm. It is not the purpose of the power-on self-test.
• CIncorrect. The self-test runs before any patient is connected. Lead-off alerts during acquisition are a separate check, and the technician still has to confirm each electrode is in the right place.
• DIncorrect. Skin impedance depends on how the skin is prepared and how well the electrodes make contact once they are applied. The machine's start-up check does not measure it.

Answer: A) Cover the waveforms

• ACorrect. Tape or labels must not hide data.
• BIncorrect. Labeling is required.
• CIncorrect. Dates are required.
• DIncorrect. Straight mounting is good.

Answer: D) Anterior wall

• AIncorrect. That is V7–V9.
• BIncorrect. That is II, III, aVF.
• CIncorrect. That is I, aVL, V5, V6.
• DCorrect. These are the anterior leads.

Answer: A) Palpate the sternal angle, move to the 2nd rib, and count the intercostal spaces downward

Precordial electrode positions are found with the angle of Louis method. Palpate the sternal angle, which is level with the 2nd rib, then count down to the 4th intercostal space for V1 and V2 and the 5th for V4.

• ACorrect. The angle of Louis (sternal angle) is level with the 2nd rib. Counting down from there finds the 4th intercostal space for V1 and V2 and the 5th for V4.
• BIncorrect. Nipple position varies between patients, especially in women and in people with larger breast tissue, so it is not a reliable landmark. V4 goes in the 5th intercostal space at the midclavicular line.
• CIncorrect. The lower ribs and costal margin are hard to tell apart when palpating, so counting up from the xiphoid often puts leads in the wrong place. The standard reference is the sternal angle.
• DIncorrect. The 1st rib and 1st intercostal space are hard to feel under the clavicle, so this method often leads to miscounting and placing the electrodes too high.

Answer: A) Arm movement and treadmill noise interfere with how the device detects the pulse

Movement and background noise during exercise can disrupt the pulsations or sounds an automated BP monitor relies on. Readings that seem wrong should be confirmed manually with auscultation.

• ACorrect. Automated devices detect pressure pulsations (oscillometric) or Korotkoff sounds. Movement and background noise during exercise can distort these signals, so a questionable reading should be checked manually with auscultation.
• BIncorrect. The BP cuff measures pressure, not electrical signals, and the EKG leads don't throw off its readings. The usual cause of error during exercise is physical motion and noise.
• CIncorrect. BP cuffs don't use skin electrical sensors. Sweat can make a cuff slip, but the main reason for inaccuracy is motion artifact and noise.
• DIncorrect. Cuff size depends on the patient's arm circumference and doesn't change with each exercise stage. The right size is chosen before the test starts.

Answer: A) To match symptoms and activities to the recording

• ACorrect. It helps interpretation.
• BIncorrect. Symptoms and activities matter most.
• CIncorrect. It's for symptoms.
• DIncorrect. It's for symptoms.

Answer: C) Ventricular escape beat

• AIncorrect. PVCs come early.
• BIncorrect. That comes early with a P wave.
• CCorrect. It protects against a long pause.
• DIncorrect. It has no P wave and is wide.

Answer: D) AF with rapid ventricular response

• AIncorrect. AF is irregular.
• BIncorrect. That's under 100.
• CIncorrect. AF has no P waves.
• DCorrect. It may need rate control.

Answer: C) Posterior wall of the left ventricle

ST depression and tall R waves in V1–V3 are the reciprocal (mirror-image) sign of posterior wall injury. Posterior leads V7–V9 can show ST elevation to confirm it.

• AIncorrect. Acute anterior injury typically causes ST elevation in the anterior chest leads, not ST depression with tall R waves.
• BIncorrect. Inferior wall injury appears in limb leads II, III, and aVF, not mainly in V1–V3.
• CCorrect. No standard lead faces the posterior wall directly, so V1–V3 show a mirror image: ST depression and tall R waves instead of ST elevation and Q waves. Posterior leads V7–V9 can confirm it.
• DIncorrect. Lateral wall changes appear in leads I, aVL, V5, and V6, not mainly in V1–V3.