PCT EKG Practice Questions | Most Tested Questions &
100% Correct Answers | 2026 Update
1. For which of the following patients might a physician order a right-side 12-
lead ECG?
A patient in a permanent fetal position
A pregnant patient
A geriatric patient
A patient with dextrocardia
2. In which of the following locations should a patient care technician place the
V5 lead?
Inform the patient to expect minor shocks.
At the anterior axillary line on the same horizontal level as V4
Halfway between V2 and V4
At the fourth intercostal space, to the right of the sternal border
3. Describe what a dysrhythmia indicates in the context of an EKG monitoring
procedure.
A dysrhythmia is an artifact caused by external interference.
A dysrhythmia is a normal variation in heart rhythm.
A dysrhythmia refers to the placement of leads on the patient's body.
A dysrhythmia indicates an abnormal heart rhythm that can affect
the heart's ability to pump effectively.
4. Describe the significance of asystole in a patient and the immediate response
required by a patient care technician.
, Asystole is a temporary condition that resolves on its own.
Asystole indicates the heart is beating too fast and needs medication.
Asystole indicates a lack of electrical activity in the heart, requiring
immediate CPR and emergency assistance.
Asystole is a normal heart rhythm that requires monitoring.
5. Which structure in the cardiac conduction system is responsible for initiating
the heartbeat?
Bundle of His
Purkinje fibers
Atrioventricular (AV) node
Sinoatrial (SA) node
6. Why is proper lead placement critical in EKG procedures?
Proper lead placement is necessary for administering medication.
Proper lead placement ensures accurate readings of the heart's
electrical activity.
Proper lead placement prevents patient discomfort during the
procedure.
Proper lead placement helps in diagnosing respiratory issues.
7. Describe the importance of proper lead placement in EKG procedures.
Proper lead placement is only necessary for patients with heart
disease.
Proper lead placement is only important during emergency situations.
, Proper lead placement is crucial for accurate readings of the heart's
electrical activity.
Proper lead placement does not affect the EKG results.
8. What is the first step a patient care technician should take when replacing the
paper on an EKG machine?
Turn off the EKG machine.
Remove the old paper.
Clean the machine.
Load the new paper.
9. What component of the EKG machine is responsible for adjusting the
amplitude of the waveforms?
Paper speed
Lead selector
Calibration switch
Gain control
10. What is the standard reference used to compare cardiac complexes during
an EKG tracing?
The T wave
The P wave
The isoelectric line
The QRS complex
11. The nurse cares for the client diagnosed with a recent MI involving the left
ventricle. Which assessment findings might alert the nurse that the client is
, developing left ventricular failure?
Weight loss
Jugular vein distention
Pulmonary crackles
Edema
12. What is an artifact?
The data gathered as a result of the EKG
Something that creates interference on an EKG
An old EKG tracing stored in a patient's file
An EKG machine that is more than 25 years old
13. Describe the significance of the isoelectric line in EKG interpretation.
The isoelectric line serves as a baseline for measuring the
electrical activity of the heart during an EKG.
The isoelectric line indicates the heart rate of the patient.
The isoelectric line is used to determine the patient's blood pressure.
The isoelectric line represents the contraction of the heart muscle.
14. Describe the significance of observing P waves without QRS complexes in
an EKG reading.
It indicates that the atria are contracting, but the ventricles are not
responding appropriately.
It shows that the heart is functioning normally.
It suggests a rapid heartbeat with no atrial activity.
100% Correct Answers | 2026 Update
1. For which of the following patients might a physician order a right-side 12-
lead ECG?
A patient in a permanent fetal position
A pregnant patient
A geriatric patient
A patient with dextrocardia
2. In which of the following locations should a patient care technician place the
V5 lead?
Inform the patient to expect minor shocks.
At the anterior axillary line on the same horizontal level as V4
Halfway between V2 and V4
At the fourth intercostal space, to the right of the sternal border
3. Describe what a dysrhythmia indicates in the context of an EKG monitoring
procedure.
A dysrhythmia is an artifact caused by external interference.
A dysrhythmia is a normal variation in heart rhythm.
A dysrhythmia refers to the placement of leads on the patient's body.
A dysrhythmia indicates an abnormal heart rhythm that can affect
the heart's ability to pump effectively.
4. Describe the significance of asystole in a patient and the immediate response
required by a patient care technician.
, Asystole is a temporary condition that resolves on its own.
Asystole indicates the heart is beating too fast and needs medication.
Asystole indicates a lack of electrical activity in the heart, requiring
immediate CPR and emergency assistance.
Asystole is a normal heart rhythm that requires monitoring.
5. Which structure in the cardiac conduction system is responsible for initiating
the heartbeat?
Bundle of His
Purkinje fibers
Atrioventricular (AV) node
Sinoatrial (SA) node
6. Why is proper lead placement critical in EKG procedures?
Proper lead placement is necessary for administering medication.
Proper lead placement ensures accurate readings of the heart's
electrical activity.
Proper lead placement prevents patient discomfort during the
procedure.
Proper lead placement helps in diagnosing respiratory issues.
7. Describe the importance of proper lead placement in EKG procedures.
Proper lead placement is only necessary for patients with heart
disease.
Proper lead placement is only important during emergency situations.
, Proper lead placement is crucial for accurate readings of the heart's
electrical activity.
Proper lead placement does not affect the EKG results.
8. What is the first step a patient care technician should take when replacing the
paper on an EKG machine?
Turn off the EKG machine.
Remove the old paper.
Clean the machine.
Load the new paper.
9. What component of the EKG machine is responsible for adjusting the
amplitude of the waveforms?
Paper speed
Lead selector
Calibration switch
Gain control
10. What is the standard reference used to compare cardiac complexes during
an EKG tracing?
The T wave
The P wave
The isoelectric line
The QRS complex
11. The nurse cares for the client diagnosed with a recent MI involving the left
ventricle. Which assessment findings might alert the nurse that the client is
, developing left ventricular failure?
Weight loss
Jugular vein distention
Pulmonary crackles
Edema
12. What is an artifact?
The data gathered as a result of the EKG
Something that creates interference on an EKG
An old EKG tracing stored in a patient's file
An EKG machine that is more than 25 years old
13. Describe the significance of the isoelectric line in EKG interpretation.
The isoelectric line serves as a baseline for measuring the
electrical activity of the heart during an EKG.
The isoelectric line indicates the heart rate of the patient.
The isoelectric line is used to determine the patient's blood pressure.
The isoelectric line represents the contraction of the heart muscle.
14. Describe the significance of observing P waves without QRS complexes in
an EKG reading.
It indicates that the atria are contracting, but the ventricles are not
responding appropriately.
It shows that the heart is functioning normally.
It suggests a rapid heartbeat with no atrial activity.
