NHA EKG Exam Course Review & Study Guide 2026-2027 | CET Certification Prep
*MODULE: Safety, Compliance, and Coordinated Care*
HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
PHI Protected Heath Information
PHI includes data such as name, DOB, SSN, phone number, marital status, place of employment, and address
An EKG technician releases information about a patient's B) Patient confidentiality
diagnosis to the patient's employer. Which of the following
patient rights was violated? *A patients diagnosis is confidential and may not be shared with an employer*
A) Assignment of benefits
B) Patient confidentiality
C) Access to treatment
D) Power of attorney
Electrocardiograph instrument used to record the electrical activity of the heart
Electrocardiogram A recording of the electrical activity of the heart
What is needed by the patient before performing an EKG? Consent
What type of consent is needed for more extensive cardiac Written consent
testing?
What type of consent is more common for EKGs? Implied consent
supine position lying on back, facing upward
*ideal position for most EKG exams*
When can a chaperone be warranted for an EKG? for teenage patients or on a patient with cognitive deficits or dementia
What should the EKG technician say if a patient asks They may only disclose a confirmation that the EKG was successfully completed
about their results right after the exam? and will be interpreted by the provider
, NHA EKG Exam Course Review & Study Guide 2026-2027 | CET Certification Prep
A patient follows an EKG technician to the examination C) Implied consent
room, voluntarily undresses from the waist up, and lies on
the examination table. *the actions exhibited by the patient in this situation are a form of implied
consent*
Which of the following types of consent is the patient
giving?
A) Expressed written consent
B) Informed consent
C) Implied consent
D) None
Medical asepsis Practice designed to reduce the number and transfer of pathogens (clean
technique)
Surgical asepsis Technique used to destroy all pathogenic organisms (sterile technique)
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration
CDC Centers for Disease Control (and Prevention)
Standard precautions Recommendations that must be followed to prevent transmission of pathogenic
organisms by way of blood and body fluids
HAIs Healthcare associated infections
What is the order of medical asepsis? > Infectious agent
> Reservoir
> Portal of exit
> Mode of transmission
> Portion of entry
> Susceptible host
PPE Personal protective equipment
Why are excess jewelry and long or artificial nails They can harbor pathogens and cause scratches or injuries to the patients
discouraged?
Where do you dispose items that have body fluids? (such Biohazardous container
as blood)
Where do you dispose needles or any other sharp Sharps container
supplies?
Why is it important to avoid using family members as They may not communicate the information of the patient accurately
interpreters?
, NHA EKG Exam Course Review & Study Guide 2026-2027 | CET Certification Prep
What is the order of therapeutic communication? > Sender develops message
> Message encoded into transmutable format
> Message transmitted (oral, written, symbolic, or nonverbal)
> Receiver decodes the message
> Receiver converts message into understanding
> Feedback
Things the technician should communicate with their > How long it takes to run the test
patient: > How many leads will be attached
> How the information transfers through the leads
> The procedure is completely harmless
> Ask if they need to use the bathroom prior to starting the test
> Remind them that they should not move or talk once the leads are connected
What is an appropriate introduction to the patient? "Good morning. My name is Y/N, and I am the EKG technician that will be
performing your electrocardiogram-or EKG- today"
An EKG tech greets a patient, takes the patient to the D) Skilled interviewing
examination room, and asks, "Could you please state your
name?" Which of the following techniques is the technician
using?
A) Reflection
B) Empathy
C) Active listening skills
D) Skilled interviewing
Communication with members of the health care team can A) Electronic health record
be accomplished through which of the following methods? B) Verbal exchange
(Select all that apply)
A) Electronic health record
B) Verbal exchange
C) Text messages between coworkers
What factors can affect vital signs? > Stress
> Food or liquid intake
> Medical conditions
> Age
> Physical activity
What are the vital signs? > Blood pressure
> Heart rate
> Respiration
> Temperature
> Pulse oximetry
Blood pressure Identifies the force of blood circulating through the arteries
What equipment is used to manually determine blood > Sphygmomanometer
pressure? > Blood pressure cuff
> Stethoscope
How is blood pressure measured? Millimeters of mercury (mm Hg)
Systolic pressure The blood pressure generated by the heart during contraction
, NHA EKG Exam Course Review & Study Guide 2026-2027 | CET Certification Prep
Diastolic pressure Occurs when the ventricles are relaxed; the lowest pressure against the walls of an
artery
Korotkoff sounds Distinct sounds that are heard throughout the cardiac cycle
Korotkoff sound phases Phase 1: when the blood begins to surge into the artery that has been occluded by
the inflation of the blood pressure cuff
Phase 2: there's a swishing sound as more blood flows through the artery
Phase 3: sharp tapping sounds are noted as even more blood is surging
Phase 4: sound changes to a soft tapping sound, which begins to muffle
Phase 5: the last sound disappears completely and the blood is flowing freely
Expected BP range Less than 120 (systolic) and less than 80 (diastolic)
Elevated BP range 120-129 (systolic) and less than 80 (diastolic)
High BP (stage 1) 130-139 (systolic) and 80-89 (diastolic)
High BP (stage 2) 140 or greater (systolic) and 90 or greater (diastolic)
Hypertensive crisis 180 or greater (systolic) and 120 or greater (diastolic)
Another name for heart rate Pulse
What is the most common site for measuring an adult Radial pulse
pulse?
Where is the radial pulse located? The thumb side of the wrist
What is the most common site for measuring a pulse in Brachial pulse
children?
Where is the brachial pulse located? Inside the upper arm
What is the most common site for measuring a pulse in Carotid pulse
emergency procedures?
*MODULE: Safety, Compliance, and Coordinated Care*
HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
PHI Protected Heath Information
PHI includes data such as name, DOB, SSN, phone number, marital status, place of employment, and address
An EKG technician releases information about a patient's B) Patient confidentiality
diagnosis to the patient's employer. Which of the following
patient rights was violated? *A patients diagnosis is confidential and may not be shared with an employer*
A) Assignment of benefits
B) Patient confidentiality
C) Access to treatment
D) Power of attorney
Electrocardiograph instrument used to record the electrical activity of the heart
Electrocardiogram A recording of the electrical activity of the heart
What is needed by the patient before performing an EKG? Consent
What type of consent is needed for more extensive cardiac Written consent
testing?
What type of consent is more common for EKGs? Implied consent
supine position lying on back, facing upward
*ideal position for most EKG exams*
When can a chaperone be warranted for an EKG? for teenage patients or on a patient with cognitive deficits or dementia
What should the EKG technician say if a patient asks They may only disclose a confirmation that the EKG was successfully completed
about their results right after the exam? and will be interpreted by the provider
, NHA EKG Exam Course Review & Study Guide 2026-2027 | CET Certification Prep
A patient follows an EKG technician to the examination C) Implied consent
room, voluntarily undresses from the waist up, and lies on
the examination table. *the actions exhibited by the patient in this situation are a form of implied
consent*
Which of the following types of consent is the patient
giving?
A) Expressed written consent
B) Informed consent
C) Implied consent
D) None
Medical asepsis Practice designed to reduce the number and transfer of pathogens (clean
technique)
Surgical asepsis Technique used to destroy all pathogenic organisms (sterile technique)
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration
CDC Centers for Disease Control (and Prevention)
Standard precautions Recommendations that must be followed to prevent transmission of pathogenic
organisms by way of blood and body fluids
HAIs Healthcare associated infections
What is the order of medical asepsis? > Infectious agent
> Reservoir
> Portal of exit
> Mode of transmission
> Portion of entry
> Susceptible host
PPE Personal protective equipment
Why are excess jewelry and long or artificial nails They can harbor pathogens and cause scratches or injuries to the patients
discouraged?
Where do you dispose items that have body fluids? (such Biohazardous container
as blood)
Where do you dispose needles or any other sharp Sharps container
supplies?
Why is it important to avoid using family members as They may not communicate the information of the patient accurately
interpreters?
, NHA EKG Exam Course Review & Study Guide 2026-2027 | CET Certification Prep
What is the order of therapeutic communication? > Sender develops message
> Message encoded into transmutable format
> Message transmitted (oral, written, symbolic, or nonverbal)
> Receiver decodes the message
> Receiver converts message into understanding
> Feedback
Things the technician should communicate with their > How long it takes to run the test
patient: > How many leads will be attached
> How the information transfers through the leads
> The procedure is completely harmless
> Ask if they need to use the bathroom prior to starting the test
> Remind them that they should not move or talk once the leads are connected
What is an appropriate introduction to the patient? "Good morning. My name is Y/N, and I am the EKG technician that will be
performing your electrocardiogram-or EKG- today"
An EKG tech greets a patient, takes the patient to the D) Skilled interviewing
examination room, and asks, "Could you please state your
name?" Which of the following techniques is the technician
using?
A) Reflection
B) Empathy
C) Active listening skills
D) Skilled interviewing
Communication with members of the health care team can A) Electronic health record
be accomplished through which of the following methods? B) Verbal exchange
(Select all that apply)
A) Electronic health record
B) Verbal exchange
C) Text messages between coworkers
What factors can affect vital signs? > Stress
> Food or liquid intake
> Medical conditions
> Age
> Physical activity
What are the vital signs? > Blood pressure
> Heart rate
> Respiration
> Temperature
> Pulse oximetry
Blood pressure Identifies the force of blood circulating through the arteries
What equipment is used to manually determine blood > Sphygmomanometer
pressure? > Blood pressure cuff
> Stethoscope
How is blood pressure measured? Millimeters of mercury (mm Hg)
Systolic pressure The blood pressure generated by the heart during contraction
, NHA EKG Exam Course Review & Study Guide 2026-2027 | CET Certification Prep
Diastolic pressure Occurs when the ventricles are relaxed; the lowest pressure against the walls of an
artery
Korotkoff sounds Distinct sounds that are heard throughout the cardiac cycle
Korotkoff sound phases Phase 1: when the blood begins to surge into the artery that has been occluded by
the inflation of the blood pressure cuff
Phase 2: there's a swishing sound as more blood flows through the artery
Phase 3: sharp tapping sounds are noted as even more blood is surging
Phase 4: sound changes to a soft tapping sound, which begins to muffle
Phase 5: the last sound disappears completely and the blood is flowing freely
Expected BP range Less than 120 (systolic) and less than 80 (diastolic)
Elevated BP range 120-129 (systolic) and less than 80 (diastolic)
High BP (stage 1) 130-139 (systolic) and 80-89 (diastolic)
High BP (stage 2) 140 or greater (systolic) and 90 or greater (diastolic)
Hypertensive crisis 180 or greater (systolic) and 120 or greater (diastolic)
Another name for heart rate Pulse
What is the most common site for measuring an adult Radial pulse
pulse?
Where is the radial pulse located? The thumb side of the wrist
What is the most common site for measuring a pulse in Brachial pulse
children?
Where is the brachial pulse located? Inside the upper arm
What is the most common site for measuring a pulse in Carotid pulse
emergency procedures?
