BayCare EKG Test Study Guide 2026-2028 | 100 Q&A Practice
Exam | 100% Accuracy Lethal Rhythms (V-Fib, V-Tach, Asystole) |
Rhythm Identification & Measurements | Telemetry & Cardiac
Monitor Tech Competency
NOTE: BayCare requires a 100% score on lethal rhythms (identified with 🚩 below) to
pass.
Introduction
The BayCare EKG Test is a critical competency assessment for nurses, telemetry techs, and cardiac
monitor technicians within the BayCare Health System. To ensure patient safety, BayCare enforces a high
standard for this exam: while an overall score of 85% is required, you must achieve 100% accuracy on all
lethal rhythms. Failure to identify a "life-or-death" strip—such as V-Fib, Asystole, or Pulseless V-Tach—
results in an automatic failure and requires mandatory remediation.
This study guide provides 100 Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) specifically designed to mirror the
BayCare testing environment. It is divided into two focused sections:
1. Section 1: Lethal Rhythms & Ventricular Arrhythmias – The "Must-Pass" section covering V-Fib, V-
Tach, Asystole, PEA, and PVC patterns.
2. Section 2: Atrial, Junctional & Heart Blocks – Focuses on rhythm identification, PR/QRS
measurements, and AV node delays.
Use this guide to master rhythm recognition, understand clinical interventions (like Adenosine for SVT
or Defibrillation for V-Fib), and gain confidence in using calipers for precise EKG measurements.
, Section 1: Lethal Rhythms & Ventricular Arrhythmias (Q1–50)
1. 🚩 Which rhythm is characterized by a "flat line" on the monitor?
A) Fine Ventricular Fibrillation
B) Asystole
C) Third-Degree Heart Block
D) Agonal Rhythm
Asystole is the total absence of electrical activity. Always check the patient and lead
connections immediately to confirm.
2. 🚩 What is the immediate treatment for Pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia?
A) Atropine 0.5mg IV
B) Synchronized Cardioversion
C) Unsynchronized Defibrillation
D) Adenosine 6mg Rapid IV Push
Pulseless V-Tach is treated exactly like V-Fib; the priority is an immediate electrical
shock to "reset" the heart.
3. 🚩 A "coarse, wavy line" with no discernible P, QRS, or T waves describes:
A) Atrial Fibrillation
B) Ventricular Fibrillation
C) Muscle Tremor Artifact
D) Supraventricular Tachycardia
V-Fib is chaotic electrical activity with no coordinated ventricular contraction and zero
cardiac output.
4. 🚩 Torsades de Pointes is a lethal form of:
A) Sinus Tachycardia
B) Atrial Flutter
C) Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
D) Junctional Escape Rhythm
Torsades is identified by QRS complexes that appear to "twist" around the isoelectric
line; it is often caused by low magnesium.
5. 🚩 "Pulseless Electrical Activity" (PEA) occurs when:
A) The monitor shows a flat line
B) The monitor shows an organized rhythm but the patient has no pulse
, C) The heart rate is over 250 bpm
D) The pacemaker fails to capture
In PEA, the electrical "wiring" is working, but the mechanical "pump" has failed or lacks
blood volume.
6. If every second beat is a wide, bizarre QRS complex, the rhythm is:
A) Ventricular Trigeminy
B) Ventricular Bigeminy
C) Ventricular Couplet
D) Ventricular Tachycardia
Bigeminy means every other beat is a Premature Ventricular Complex (PVC).
7. PVCs that look different from one another in the same lead are called:
A) Unifocal
B) Multifocal
C) Interpolated
D) Fusion beats
Multifocal PVCs originate from different irritable sites in the ventricles and indicate
higher cardiac instability.
8. 🚩 An "Agonal Rhythm" typically features:
A) Narrow QRS and rate >100
B) Normal P waves and rate 60-100
C) Wide, slurred QRS and rate <20 bpm
D) Sawtooth waves and rate 150
Agonal rhythm is a dying heart's final electrical effort; it is non-perfusing and requires
immediate ACLS.
9. 🚩 What is the danger of the "R-on-T" phenomenon?
A) It causes sudden hypertension
B) It can trigger Ventricular Fibrillation
C) It indicates the patient is sleeping
D) It slows the heart rate significantly
If a PVC falls on the T-wave (the repolarization phase), it can disrupt the heart's
electrical reset and cause V-Fib.
Exam | 100% Accuracy Lethal Rhythms (V-Fib, V-Tach, Asystole) |
Rhythm Identification & Measurements | Telemetry & Cardiac
Monitor Tech Competency
NOTE: BayCare requires a 100% score on lethal rhythms (identified with 🚩 below) to
pass.
Introduction
The BayCare EKG Test is a critical competency assessment for nurses, telemetry techs, and cardiac
monitor technicians within the BayCare Health System. To ensure patient safety, BayCare enforces a high
standard for this exam: while an overall score of 85% is required, you must achieve 100% accuracy on all
lethal rhythms. Failure to identify a "life-or-death" strip—such as V-Fib, Asystole, or Pulseless V-Tach—
results in an automatic failure and requires mandatory remediation.
This study guide provides 100 Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) specifically designed to mirror the
BayCare testing environment. It is divided into two focused sections:
1. Section 1: Lethal Rhythms & Ventricular Arrhythmias – The "Must-Pass" section covering V-Fib, V-
Tach, Asystole, PEA, and PVC patterns.
2. Section 2: Atrial, Junctional & Heart Blocks – Focuses on rhythm identification, PR/QRS
measurements, and AV node delays.
Use this guide to master rhythm recognition, understand clinical interventions (like Adenosine for SVT
or Defibrillation for V-Fib), and gain confidence in using calipers for precise EKG measurements.
, Section 1: Lethal Rhythms & Ventricular Arrhythmias (Q1–50)
1. 🚩 Which rhythm is characterized by a "flat line" on the monitor?
A) Fine Ventricular Fibrillation
B) Asystole
C) Third-Degree Heart Block
D) Agonal Rhythm
Asystole is the total absence of electrical activity. Always check the patient and lead
connections immediately to confirm.
2. 🚩 What is the immediate treatment for Pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia?
A) Atropine 0.5mg IV
B) Synchronized Cardioversion
C) Unsynchronized Defibrillation
D) Adenosine 6mg Rapid IV Push
Pulseless V-Tach is treated exactly like V-Fib; the priority is an immediate electrical
shock to "reset" the heart.
3. 🚩 A "coarse, wavy line" with no discernible P, QRS, or T waves describes:
A) Atrial Fibrillation
B) Ventricular Fibrillation
C) Muscle Tremor Artifact
D) Supraventricular Tachycardia
V-Fib is chaotic electrical activity with no coordinated ventricular contraction and zero
cardiac output.
4. 🚩 Torsades de Pointes is a lethal form of:
A) Sinus Tachycardia
B) Atrial Flutter
C) Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia
D) Junctional Escape Rhythm
Torsades is identified by QRS complexes that appear to "twist" around the isoelectric
line; it is often caused by low magnesium.
5. 🚩 "Pulseless Electrical Activity" (PEA) occurs when:
A) The monitor shows a flat line
B) The monitor shows an organized rhythm but the patient has no pulse
, C) The heart rate is over 250 bpm
D) The pacemaker fails to capture
In PEA, the electrical "wiring" is working, but the mechanical "pump" has failed or lacks
blood volume.
6. If every second beat is a wide, bizarre QRS complex, the rhythm is:
A) Ventricular Trigeminy
B) Ventricular Bigeminy
C) Ventricular Couplet
D) Ventricular Tachycardia
Bigeminy means every other beat is a Premature Ventricular Complex (PVC).
7. PVCs that look different from one another in the same lead are called:
A) Unifocal
B) Multifocal
C) Interpolated
D) Fusion beats
Multifocal PVCs originate from different irritable sites in the ventricles and indicate
higher cardiac instability.
8. 🚩 An "Agonal Rhythm" typically features:
A) Narrow QRS and rate >100
B) Normal P waves and rate 60-100
C) Wide, slurred QRS and rate <20 bpm
D) Sawtooth waves and rate 150
Agonal rhythm is a dying heart's final electrical effort; it is non-perfusing and requires
immediate ACLS.
9. 🚩 What is the danger of the "R-on-T" phenomenon?
A) It causes sudden hypertension
B) It can trigger Ventricular Fibrillation
C) It indicates the patient is sleeping
D) It slows the heart rate significantly
If a PVC falls on the T-wave (the repolarization phase), it can disrupt the heart's
electrical reset and cause V-Fib.
