Certified EKG Technician (CET) – Practice Questions with Answers for
National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Exam Preparation
This document contains a comprehensive set of practice questions and answers designed to
prepare for the Certified EKG Technician (CET) exam, administered by the National
Healthcareer Association (NHA). It covers core topics such as cardiac anatomy, lead placement,
EKG interpretation, patient preparation, and safety protocols. Ideal for students and
professionals reviewing for the CET certification or refreshing essential EKG knowledge.
1. An EKG technician should recognize that which of the following blood pressure
readings is within the expected reference range for an adolescent patient?
A. 60/40 mm Hg
B. 78/48 mm Hg
C. 86/60 mm Hg
D. 98/78 mm Hg: 98/78 mm Hg
2. An EKG technician is reviewing the EKG tracing for a patient who has a pacemaker.
The technician should recognize that which of the following alterations is being
recorded on the patient's rhythm strip?
A. Loss of capture
B. Oversensing
C. Failure to pace
D. Undersensing
,3. Which of the following actions should the EKG technician take to resolve the artifact
in the EKG tracing below?
A. Inspect the cables and connections for any damage or exposed wires.
B. Move the patient's bed or exam table away from the wall.
C. Remove tension from the lead wires.
D. Have the patient place their hands under their buttocks, palms down.
4. While performing an exercise stress test on a patient, a technician observes elevated
ST segments. The technician should identify these findings as which of the following?
A. Expected EKG changes as a result of running
B. Expected EKG changes due to hypokalemia
C. Signs of pulmonary embolism
D. Signs of acute myocardial injury: Signs of acute myocardial injury
5. Which of the following statements should an EKG technician make when preparing an
8-year-old patient for a standard 12-lead EKG?
A. "I am going to apply some stickers to your belly, arms, and legs for the test."
B. "I am going to apply these adhesive electrodes to your chest and extremities for the
EKG."
C. "I am going to conduct an electrocardiogram on your heart."
D. "I need you to hold still while I attach these wires to you for the electrocar-diogram.:
"I am going to apply some stickers to your belly, arms, and legs for the test.
,6. An EKG technician is preparing to obtain a patient's blood pressure reading.
The patient reports jogging to the facility "to get some exercise." Which of the following
actions should the technician take?
A. Notify the provider immediately of the elevated blood pressure and docu-ment it in
the EHR.
B. Document in the medical record that the patient's blood pressure is elevat-ed.
C. Have the patient rest before taking the blood pressure reading and docu-ment it in
the EHR.
D. Verify if the patient has a family history of high blood pressure and docu-ment this
finding.: Have the patient rest before taking the blood pressure reading and document it in the
EHR.
7. An EKG technician is entering information about a patient's lifestyle and occupation
into the electronic health record EHR. The technician should enter this information into
which of the following sections of the EHR?
A. Chief complaint
B. Past history
C. Social history
D. Review of systems: Social history
8. Which of the following EKG findings differentiates accelerated idioventricular rhythm
from junctional rhythm?
A. Accelerated idioventricular rhythm has P waves.
, B. The ventricular rate in accelerated idioventricular rhythm is slower than junctional
rhythm.
C. Accelerated idioventricular rhythm is indicated by an irregular rhythm.
D. Accelerated idioventricular rhythm has wide QRS complexes.: Accelerated
idloventricular rhythm has wide QRS complexes.
9. Which of the following artifacts can appear as drifting away from the center on an EKG
tracing?
A. AC interference
B. interrupted baseline
C. Somatic tremor
D. Wandering baseline: Wandering baseline
10. An EKG technician is providing instructions to a patient who is to wear a cardiac
event monitor at home. Which of the following statements by the patient indicates an
understanding of the instructions?
A. "I can take showers while wearing this monitor."
B. "The monitor will keep track of all my daily activities."
C. "I can continue to use my electric blanket while wearing the monitor."
D. "I will continue to do my daily walk to the grocery store.": "I will continue to do my daily
walk to the grocery store."
National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Exam Preparation
This document contains a comprehensive set of practice questions and answers designed to
prepare for the Certified EKG Technician (CET) exam, administered by the National
Healthcareer Association (NHA). It covers core topics such as cardiac anatomy, lead placement,
EKG interpretation, patient preparation, and safety protocols. Ideal for students and
professionals reviewing for the CET certification or refreshing essential EKG knowledge.
1. An EKG technician should recognize that which of the following blood pressure
readings is within the expected reference range for an adolescent patient?
A. 60/40 mm Hg
B. 78/48 mm Hg
C. 86/60 mm Hg
D. 98/78 mm Hg: 98/78 mm Hg
2. An EKG technician is reviewing the EKG tracing for a patient who has a pacemaker.
The technician should recognize that which of the following alterations is being
recorded on the patient's rhythm strip?
A. Loss of capture
B. Oversensing
C. Failure to pace
D. Undersensing
,3. Which of the following actions should the EKG technician take to resolve the artifact
in the EKG tracing below?
A. Inspect the cables and connections for any damage or exposed wires.
B. Move the patient's bed or exam table away from the wall.
C. Remove tension from the lead wires.
D. Have the patient place their hands under their buttocks, palms down.
4. While performing an exercise stress test on a patient, a technician observes elevated
ST segments. The technician should identify these findings as which of the following?
A. Expected EKG changes as a result of running
B. Expected EKG changes due to hypokalemia
C. Signs of pulmonary embolism
D. Signs of acute myocardial injury: Signs of acute myocardial injury
5. Which of the following statements should an EKG technician make when preparing an
8-year-old patient for a standard 12-lead EKG?
A. "I am going to apply some stickers to your belly, arms, and legs for the test."
B. "I am going to apply these adhesive electrodes to your chest and extremities for the
EKG."
C. "I am going to conduct an electrocardiogram on your heart."
D. "I need you to hold still while I attach these wires to you for the electrocar-diogram.:
"I am going to apply some stickers to your belly, arms, and legs for the test.
,6. An EKG technician is preparing to obtain a patient's blood pressure reading.
The patient reports jogging to the facility "to get some exercise." Which of the following
actions should the technician take?
A. Notify the provider immediately of the elevated blood pressure and docu-ment it in
the EHR.
B. Document in the medical record that the patient's blood pressure is elevat-ed.
C. Have the patient rest before taking the blood pressure reading and docu-ment it in
the EHR.
D. Verify if the patient has a family history of high blood pressure and docu-ment this
finding.: Have the patient rest before taking the blood pressure reading and document it in the
EHR.
7. An EKG technician is entering information about a patient's lifestyle and occupation
into the electronic health record EHR. The technician should enter this information into
which of the following sections of the EHR?
A. Chief complaint
B. Past history
C. Social history
D. Review of systems: Social history
8. Which of the following EKG findings differentiates accelerated idioventricular rhythm
from junctional rhythm?
A. Accelerated idioventricular rhythm has P waves.
, B. The ventricular rate in accelerated idioventricular rhythm is slower than junctional
rhythm.
C. Accelerated idioventricular rhythm is indicated by an irregular rhythm.
D. Accelerated idioventricular rhythm has wide QRS complexes.: Accelerated
idloventricular rhythm has wide QRS complexes.
9. Which of the following artifacts can appear as drifting away from the center on an EKG
tracing?
A. AC interference
B. interrupted baseline
C. Somatic tremor
D. Wandering baseline: Wandering baseline
10. An EKG technician is providing instructions to a patient who is to wear a cardiac
event monitor at home. Which of the following statements by the patient indicates an
understanding of the instructions?
A. "I can take showers while wearing this monitor."
B. "The monitor will keep track of all my daily activities."
C. "I can continue to use my electric blanket while wearing the monitor."
D. "I will continue to do my daily walk to the grocery store.": "I will continue to do my daily
walk to the grocery store."
