Which of the following formulas should a medical assistant use to determine a patient's pulse rate?
Take the patient's pulse for 5 seconds and multiply by 10.
Take the patient's pulse for 15 seconds and multiply by 2.
Take the patient's pulse for 30 seconds and multiply by 4.
Take the patient's pulse for 30 seconds and multiply by 2.
The Correct Answer is D
A. Take the patient's pulse for 5 seconds and multiply by 10: Measuring for 5 seconds and multiplying by 10 is less accurate due to the short measurement time.
B. Take the patient's pulse for 15 seconds and multiply by 2: While this method is more accurate than taking it for 5 seconds, the recommended practice is to measure for 30 seconds for better accuracy.
C. Take the patient's pulse for 30 seconds and multiply by 4: This would be used to determine a pulse rate per minute from a 15-second measurement, not 30 seconds.
D. Take the patient's pulse for 30 seconds and multiply by 2: This method provides a precise measurement of the pulse rate, as taking the pulse for 30 seconds and then multiplying by 2 gives the number of beats per minute.
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Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Alternating current (AC) interference: AC interference is caused by electrical equipment near the EKG machine and appears as uniform, small, rapid spikes. It is not caused by patient movement.
B. Arrhythmia: An arrhythmia refers to an abnormal heart rhythm and is related to cardiac function, not patient movement.
C. Somatic tremor: Somatic tremor is caused by voluntary or involuntary muscle movement, such as a patient moving their arm, which creates artifact on the EKG tracing that appears as irregular, erratic spikes.
D. Interrupted baseline: An interrupted baseline occurs when the electrical connection is lost, often due to a lead falling off, not due to patient movement.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Speak in a neutral tone: Using a neutral tone helps de-escalate the situation and shows that you are calm and professional, which can help soothe an angry patient.
B. Speak louder than the patient: Speaking louder can escalate the situation further and increase the patient’s frustration.
C. Disregard the patient's mood: Disregarding the patient’s mood can make them feel ignored and may worsen their anger.
D. Ask the patient to reschedule: Asking the patient to reschedule may be appropriate in some cases but does not address the immediate issue of handling their anger effectively.