Question

An EKG technician is preparing a patient for Holter monitoring placement. Which of the following actions should the technician take to reduce the chance of artifacts on the tracings?

a) Apply the electrodes over bony prominences
b) Instruct the patient to limit movement as much as possible
c) Ensure that the electrodes are placed close to the heart
d) Use adhesive skin prep on the patient's skin before applying electrodes

Answer 1

To reduce artifacts on EKG tracings during Holter monitoring, an EKG technician should use adhesive skin prep before applying electrodes to ensure good contact and minimize the chance of dislodgment.

Step-by-step explanation:

An EKG technician preparing a patient for Holter monitor placement should take specific actions to reduce artifacts on the tracings, which can affect the accuracy of the recordings. One of these actions is d) Use adhesive skin prep on the patient's skin before applying electrodes. This helps ensure that the electrodes have good contact with the skin and are less likely to be dislodged. Artifacts can also be minimized by avoiding electrode placement over bony prominences, as this could interfere with the accurate recording of the electrical activity of the heart. Instead, electrodes should be placed on areas of the body where there is less movement and more soft tissue, close to the heart but not necessarily directly on top of the heart. The patient should also be instructed on activities that could disrupt the recording, and determine ways to minimize excessive movement during the monitoring period.