Certified EkG technician (CET) Practice Exam

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When the QRS complex is too tall on EKG paper, what adjustment should the technician make?

Decrease the speed of the paper
Change the gain control to 5mm/mV
Increase the gain to 10mm/mV
Switch to a different lead configuration

The correct answer is: Change the gain control to 5mm/mV

When the QRS complex appears too tall on EKG paper, it indicates that the amplitude of the electrical activity of the heart is being represented excessively on the graph. To rectify this issue, the technician should adjust the gain control. Setting the gain control to 5mm/mV will ensure that the voltage of the electrical signals is accurately represented. A higher gain setting would mean that each millivolt of electrical activity would move the stylus more on the EKG paper, which can exaggerate the appearance of the QRS complex. Reducing the gain to 5mm/mV provides a more standardized representation, allowing for better assessment and interpretation without the distortion of excessively tall complexes. This adjustment is essential because accurate measurement of heart activity is crucial for diagnosing potential cardiac conditions. By ensuring the gain is at an appropriate level, the EKG results can be interpreted correctly, facilitating appropriate medical decisions and interventions.