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 C
Explanation
A. Microvilli: Microvilli are cellular extensions found on the surface of some cells, not inside the cell.
B. Cilia: Cilia are projections on the cell surface and are not located inside the cell.
C. Cytoplasm: The cytoplasm is the gel-like substance inside the cell membrane that contains organelles and other cellular components.
D. Interstitial fluid: Interstitial fluid is found outside the cells, in the spaces between cells, not inside the cell itself.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
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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