Question

While performing an ECG on a patient, electrodes keep falling off. Which of the following should the medical assistant do? (Select the two (2) correct answers).

A. Place tape over the wires of the electrodes.
B. Clean the skin with soap and water.
C. Clean the skin with 70% isopropyl.
D. Reposition the electrode.
E. Ask the patient to sit on her hands.

Answer 1

The correct actions when ECG electrodes fall off are cleaning the skin with 70% isopropyl alcohol and repositioning the electrode for optimal contact and signal recording.

Step-by-step explanation:

When performing an Electrocardiogram (ECG) and electrodes keep falling off, the two correct actions for the medical assistant to take are: Clean the skin with 70% isopropyl alcohol to remove oils and moisture that prevent the electrodes from sticking, and if necessary, Reposition the electrode to ensure proper contact with the skin and signal transmission. It is not recommended to place tape over the wires of the electrodes because this might not solve the adhesion problem and it doesn't address the possible skin contamination. Also, having the patient sit on her hands is not practical as it could interfere with the accurate recording of the ECG.