NHA Certified EKG
Technician (CET) Exam 2025
– Verified Questions with
100% Correct Answers | First
Attempt Pass
Question 1
In which of the following locations should an EKG technician place the electrode for lead
V5?
A. On the left midaxillary line, horizontal to lead V4 B. On the left anterior axillary line,
horizontal to lead V4 C. On the left midclavicular line, fifth intercostal space D. On the left
posterior axillary line, horizontal to lead V6
Rationale: Lead V5 is a precordial lead positioned on the left anterior axillary line at the same
horizontal level as V4 to capture lateral wall activity of the left ventricle. Accurate placement
ensures reliable EKG interpretation for detecting ischemia or infarction, while improper
positioning can lead to artifact and misdiagnosis, compromising patient safety in cardiac
monitoring.
Question 2
Which of the following EKG machine functions should an EKG technician use to control
and regulate the height of EKG waveforms on the tracing?
A. Speed B. Output display C. Artifact filter D. Gain
Rationale: The gain control adjusts the amplitude (height) of the EKG waveforms, typically set
to 10 mm/mV for standard tracings, ensuring clear visualization of P, QRS, and T waves for
accurate rhythm interpretation. Proper gain settings enhance cardiac monitoring quality and
patient safety by preventing obscured details that could delay identification of abnormalities.
Question 3
,An EKG technician notes periods of sinus arrest on a patient's EKG tracing. The
technician should consider the sinus arrest to be a medical emergency when the arrest
reaches which of the following durations?
A. 2 seconds B. 6 seconds C. 4 seconds D. 8 seconds
Rationale: Sinus arrest exceeding 6 seconds indicates significant SA node dysfunction,
potentially leading to hemodynamic instability or syncope, requiring immediate intervention.
Timely recognition in cardiac monitoring ensures rapid notification to healthcare providers,
prioritizing patient safety and preventing adverse outcomes like asystole.
Question 4
Which of the following methods should an EKG technician use when removing hair from
electrode placement sites for telemetry monitoring?
A. Dry shave B. Wet shave C. Tape D. Clippers
Rationale: Clippers provide a safe, non-abrasive method to remove hair, reducing skin irritation
and infection risk while ensuring good electrode-skin contact for accurate telemetry signals. This
practice upholds patient safety standards in cardiac monitoring by minimizing artifacts from poor
adhesion and promoting infection control.
Question 5
For which of the following reasons should an EKG technician recognize that resting tab
electrodes should not be used for more than two consecutive EKG tracings?
A. They cause skin breakdown B. They dry out and lose adhesion C. They interfere with rhythm
analysis D. They increase electrical noise
Rationale: Tab electrodes dry out after two uses, leading to poor adhesion and signal quality,
which can produce artifacts mimicking arrhythmias. Replacing them maintains reliable EKG
interpretation and cardiac monitoring integrity, safeguarding patient safety by avoiding false
alarms or missed diagnoses.
Question 6
What action should the technician instruct the patient to take if any electrodes become
loose during at-home use of an ambulatory monitor?
A. Ignore if no symptoms B. Apply surgical tape to the electrodes to keep them in place C.
Remove and reapply later D. Call the technician immediately
, Rationale: Applying tape secures loose electrodes, preserving continuous ambulatory
monitoring data for accurate rhythm analysis over 24-48 hours. This instruction enhances patient
safety by ensuring uninterrupted cardiac monitoring and preventing data loss that could delay
detection of critical arrhythmias.
Question 7
Which leads record activity of the inferior wall of the left ventricle?
A. V1, V2 B. I, aVL C. II, III, aVF D. V5, V6
Rationale: Leads II, III, and aVF view the inferior heart wall, crucial for identifying inferior
myocardial infarction via ST elevation. Precise lead knowledge supports accurate EKG
interpretation, enabling timely interventions in cardiac monitoring to improve patient safety and
outcomes.
Question 8
What rhythm is characterized by absent P waves, wide QRS complexes, and a ventricular
rate between 20-40/min?
A. Atrial fibrillation B. Idioventricular rhythm C. Supraventricular tachycardia D. Second-degree
AV block
Rationale: Idioventricular rhythm arises from ventricular pacemakers, showing no P waves and
wide QRS at 20-40 bpm, indicating potential escape rhythm post-arrest. Recognizing this in
EKG interpretation prompts urgent cardiac monitoring and treatment to restore perfusion,
prioritizing patient safety.
Question 9
An EKG technician is performing a stress test for a patient. What instructions should the
technician include regarding footwear?
A. Wear open-toed shoes B. Avoid wearing shoes with high heels for this test C. Use sandals
only D. Go barefoot
Rationale: High heels can cause imbalance and falls during treadmill stress testing, increasing
injury risk. This safety instruction ensures stable patient positioning for accurate cardiac
monitoring and EKG interpretation, preventing complications and maintaining focus on ischemia
detection.
Question 10
Technician (CET) Exam 2025
– Verified Questions with
100% Correct Answers | First
Attempt Pass
Question 1
In which of the following locations should an EKG technician place the electrode for lead
V5?
A. On the left midaxillary line, horizontal to lead V4 B. On the left anterior axillary line,
horizontal to lead V4 C. On the left midclavicular line, fifth intercostal space D. On the left
posterior axillary line, horizontal to lead V6
Rationale: Lead V5 is a precordial lead positioned on the left anterior axillary line at the same
horizontal level as V4 to capture lateral wall activity of the left ventricle. Accurate placement
ensures reliable EKG interpretation for detecting ischemia or infarction, while improper
positioning can lead to artifact and misdiagnosis, compromising patient safety in cardiac
monitoring.
Question 2
Which of the following EKG machine functions should an EKG technician use to control
and regulate the height of EKG waveforms on the tracing?
A. Speed B. Output display C. Artifact filter D. Gain
Rationale: The gain control adjusts the amplitude (height) of the EKG waveforms, typically set
to 10 mm/mV for standard tracings, ensuring clear visualization of P, QRS, and T waves for
accurate rhythm interpretation. Proper gain settings enhance cardiac monitoring quality and
patient safety by preventing obscured details that could delay identification of abnormalities.
Question 3
,An EKG technician notes periods of sinus arrest on a patient's EKG tracing. The
technician should consider the sinus arrest to be a medical emergency when the arrest
reaches which of the following durations?
A. 2 seconds B. 6 seconds C. 4 seconds D. 8 seconds
Rationale: Sinus arrest exceeding 6 seconds indicates significant SA node dysfunction,
potentially leading to hemodynamic instability or syncope, requiring immediate intervention.
Timely recognition in cardiac monitoring ensures rapid notification to healthcare providers,
prioritizing patient safety and preventing adverse outcomes like asystole.
Question 4
Which of the following methods should an EKG technician use when removing hair from
electrode placement sites for telemetry monitoring?
A. Dry shave B. Wet shave C. Tape D. Clippers
Rationale: Clippers provide a safe, non-abrasive method to remove hair, reducing skin irritation
and infection risk while ensuring good electrode-skin contact for accurate telemetry signals. This
practice upholds patient safety standards in cardiac monitoring by minimizing artifacts from poor
adhesion and promoting infection control.
Question 5
For which of the following reasons should an EKG technician recognize that resting tab
electrodes should not be used for more than two consecutive EKG tracings?
A. They cause skin breakdown B. They dry out and lose adhesion C. They interfere with rhythm
analysis D. They increase electrical noise
Rationale: Tab electrodes dry out after two uses, leading to poor adhesion and signal quality,
which can produce artifacts mimicking arrhythmias. Replacing them maintains reliable EKG
interpretation and cardiac monitoring integrity, safeguarding patient safety by avoiding false
alarms or missed diagnoses.
Question 6
What action should the technician instruct the patient to take if any electrodes become
loose during at-home use of an ambulatory monitor?
A. Ignore if no symptoms B. Apply surgical tape to the electrodes to keep them in place C.
Remove and reapply later D. Call the technician immediately
, Rationale: Applying tape secures loose electrodes, preserving continuous ambulatory
monitoring data for accurate rhythm analysis over 24-48 hours. This instruction enhances patient
safety by ensuring uninterrupted cardiac monitoring and preventing data loss that could delay
detection of critical arrhythmias.
Question 7
Which leads record activity of the inferior wall of the left ventricle?
A. V1, V2 B. I, aVL C. II, III, aVF D. V5, V6
Rationale: Leads II, III, and aVF view the inferior heart wall, crucial for identifying inferior
myocardial infarction via ST elevation. Precise lead knowledge supports accurate EKG
interpretation, enabling timely interventions in cardiac monitoring to improve patient safety and
outcomes.
Question 8
What rhythm is characterized by absent P waves, wide QRS complexes, and a ventricular
rate between 20-40/min?
A. Atrial fibrillation B. Idioventricular rhythm C. Supraventricular tachycardia D. Second-degree
AV block
Rationale: Idioventricular rhythm arises from ventricular pacemakers, showing no P waves and
wide QRS at 20-40 bpm, indicating potential escape rhythm post-arrest. Recognizing this in
EKG interpretation prompts urgent cardiac monitoring and treatment to restore perfusion,
prioritizing patient safety.
Question 9
An EKG technician is performing a stress test for a patient. What instructions should the
technician include regarding footwear?
A. Wear open-toed shoes B. Avoid wearing shoes with high heels for this test C. Use sandals
only D. Go barefoot
Rationale: High heels can cause imbalance and falls during treadmill stress testing, increasing
injury risk. This safety instruction ensures stable patient positioning for accurate cardiac
monitoring and EKG interpretation, preventing complications and maintaining focus on ischemia
detection.
Question 10