EKG AcquisitionQuestion 56 of 100
A patient with severe shortness of breath cannot tolerate lying flat for a 12-lead EKG. What should the technician do?
a.Refuse to perform the test until the patient can lie flat
b.Lay the patient flat quickly and finish before symptoms worsen
c.Raise the head of the bed to a semi-Fowler position, obtain the tracing, and document the position used
d.Have the patient sit on the edge of the bed and hold the electrodes in place
Explanation
Patient comfort and safety come first, so the head of the bed is raised to a tolerable semi-Fowler position, and the non-standard position is documented on the tracing because it can alter waveform amplitude and axis. Forcing a dyspneic patient flat risks harm. Refusing to test delays care, and holding electrodes by hand introduces motion artifact and unreliable contact.
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