CPFT Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Test Prep Guide

Checking the placement first is crucial when encountering a large amount of artifact from an ECG. Proper electrode placement helps ensure accurate readings and minimizes external interference that can lead to artifacts. If the electrodes are not positioned correctly on the patient's skin or if they are loose, it can result in poor signal capture, leading to misleading data and potential misinterpretation of the patient’s cardiac status.

By verifying and adjusting the electrode placement as needed, you can often reduce or eliminate the artifact, allowing for a clearer and more accurate ECG tracing. This step is essential in clinical practice because artifacts can obscure the diagnosis and monitoring of cardiac conditions, making it imperative to address the source of the problem before considering other solutions.

In contrast, options like replacing the ECG machine or ignoring the artifact would not address the underlying issue, and increasing sensitivity settings could, in fact, exacerbate the problem by amplifying the noise rather than the signal.