Question

A medical assistant is monitoring a patient during a stress test. The patient becomes increasingly short of breath and tachycardic. Abnormalities appear in his EKG rhythm. Which of the following actions should the assistant take first?

A) Stop the stress test
B) Administer oxygen
C) Check blood pressure
D) Increase the speed of the treadmill

Answer 1

The first action a medical assistant should take when a patient exhibits signs of distress during a stress test is to stop the test to prevent further cardiac strain.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a patient becomes increasingly short of breath and tachycardia with abnormalities appearing on their EKG during a stress test, the first action a medical assistant should take is to stop the stress test immediately. This is essential to prevent further strain on the patient's heart and to reduce the risk of a serious cardiac event. Once the test is stopped, further assessments and interventions, such as checking the patient's blood pressure and administering oxygen, can be considered based on the patient's condition.