Final answer:
The requirement for a patient to be placed in a supine position for an ECG despite symptoms of dyspnea and orthopnea is false. Alternative positions should be considered to ensure patient comfort and accurate ECG readings.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "The patient must be placed in the supine position for an ECG, even if the person has the symptoms of dyspnea and orthopnea," is false. Patients experiencing dyspnea (shortness of breath) or orthopnea (difficulty breathing when lying flat) may find it uncomfortable or even harmful to lie in a supine position. For an electrocardiogram (ECG), the patient needs to be still to ensure accurate readings, but alternative positions can and should be used if the supine position exacerbates these symptoms. The healthcare provider can adjust the patient's position to semi-reclining or another comfortable posture that allows the patient to breathe more easily while still obtaining a reliable ECG.
A body that is lying down is described as either prone or supine. Prone describes a face-down orientation, and supine describes a face-up orientation. This terminology is important for accurately describing patient positioning during various medical procedures.