Final answer:
The medical assistant should instruct the patient to keep the 24-hour Holter monitor dry and avoid getting it wet. They should also avoid exercising rigorously, but sleeping is allowed. By following these instructions, the patient can ensure accurate data collection.
Step-by-step explanation:
When teaching a patient about wearing a 24-hour Holter monitor, the medical assistant should instruct the patient to keep the monitor dry. This is because the monitor is a device that continuously records the heart's electrical activity, and moisture can damage it and affect its accuracy.
Other instructions the medical assistant should provide include:
- Avoid getting the monitor wet, which means the patient should not take a shower while wearing it. However, they can clean around the monitor using a damp cloth.
- Avoid exercising rigorously, as excessive sweating can damage the monitor or make it come off. However, patients can engage in mild or moderate exercise as long as they don't get the monitor wet.
- Patients can sleep while wearing the monitor, but they should avoid any activities that could damage the device.
By following these instructions, the patient can ensure that the 24-hour Holter monitor captures accurate data about their heart's activity.