Certified EkG technician (CET) Practice Exam

What does a wandering baseline in an EKG tracing indicate?

1. Consistent heart rate

2. Patient is in sinus rhythm

3. The tracing moves up and down

4. Stable cardiac condition

The correct answer is: The tracing moves up and down

A wandering baseline in an EKG tracing indicates that the tracing moves up and down, which can be caused by various factors such as patient movement, changes in respiration, or lead placement issues. This movement of the baseline makes it challenging to accurately assess the electrical activity of the heart, as it can obscure the actual heartbeats that the EKG is meant to capture. In this context, a stable or consistent tracing would not display such fluctuations, and neither would be associated with a sinus rhythm, which is characterized by a regular and identifiable pattern. Therefore, the correct identification of a wandering baseline is critical for proper EKG interpretation and ensuring accurate diagnosis and patient care.