Free NHA CET Exam Flashcards

The CET exam has 120 total items: 100 scored questions and 20 unscored pretest items. Pretest items are mixed in, so answer every item seriously.

Candidates have 2 hours for the exam. Timed practice should build steady pacing without rushing patient-safety or lead-placement scenarios.

The passing standard in the local metadata is a scaled score of 390 on a 200 to 500 scale. A scaled score is not a raw percentage.

The local test plan groups CET content into Safety and Compliance, EKG Acquisition, and EKG Analysis and Interpretation. Acquisition is the largest domain.

Before scheduling, confirm the current NHA eligibility pathway, application status, testing rules, and documentation. Administrative readiness is part of exam readiness.

The local metadata states a 30-day wait after a failed attempt and a one-year wait after the third failed attempt. Always confirm current NHA policy before retesting.

Use two approved identifiers before any EKG procedure. Name and date of birth are stronger than room number, bed location, or visual recognition.

A CET acquires quality tracings and reports concerning findings through the correct channel. Diagnosis and treatment decisions belong to licensed providers.

Protect EKG records as health information. Share results only through authorized workflows and avoid discussing patient details in public areas.

Use hand hygiene, PPE when exposure is possible, safe equipment handling, and proper cleaning between patients. Treat each patient encounter as a safety workflow.

If the patient becomes unstable, follow facility emergency protocol, call for help, and prioritize patient safety. Do not keep troubleshooting the tracing while the patient deteriorates.

Inspect cords, electrodes, power status, paper, and machine readiness before acquisition. Faulty equipment can create artifact or delay care.

Use clear, calm instructions before placing leads. Explaining what will happen reduces motion artifact, improves cooperation, and supports patient dignity.

Clean, dry skin and remove barriers such as lotion, sweat, or hair when needed. Good skin contact reduces artifact and improves signal quality.

A standard 12-lead EKG is usually acquired with the patient still, relaxed, and positioned consistently. Document nonstandard positioning when policy requires it.

Place limb electrodes consistently according to facility protocol and avoid switching right and left sides. Lead reversal can mimic or hide important findings.

V1 is placed at the fourth intercostal space at the right sternal border. Accurate chest landmarking matters because small placement errors can alter waveform appearance.

V2 is placed at the fourth intercostal space at the left sternal border. V1 and V2 establish the starting landmarks for the remaining precordial leads.

V4 is placed at the fifth intercostal space at the midclavicular line. Locate V4 before filling in V3 between V2 and V4.

V3 is placed midway between V2 and V4. It should not be guessed before accurate V2 and V4 landmarks are established.

V5 is placed at the anterior axillary line level with V4. V6 is placed at the midaxillary line level with V4 and V5.

Misplaced leads can change ST segments, R-wave progression, axis appearance, and rhythm interpretation. If placement is questionable, correct it before printing a final tracing.

Standard EKG calibration is commonly 10 mm per mV and 25 mm per second. Confirm machine settings and document nonstandard settings if used.

Baseline wander is a slow drifting baseline often caused by movement, breathing, poor electrode contact, or loose leads. Fix the cause before accepting the tracing.

Muscle artifact creates rough, irregular interference from tension, shivering, tremor, or movement. Help the patient relax, stay warm, and remain still.

AC interference often appears as regular fine spikes or fuzz from electrical sources. Check grounding, cable placement, nearby devices, and equipment connections.

Somatic tremor artifact can resemble rhythm irregularity. The technician should reduce motion where possible and avoid treating artifact as a diagnosis.

Unexpected waveform patterns or axis changes can suggest lead reversal. Recheck cable labels and electrode placement before escalating a poor-quality tracing.

Before sending the tracing, check patient identifiers, date and time, calibration, lead quality, artifacts, and whether the recording is complete.

Holter monitoring records cardiac activity over an extended period. Technician duties include correct setup, patient instructions, diary guidance, and return instructions.

During stress testing, the technician follows protocol, monitors tracing quality, reports symptoms or concerning changes, and supports patient safety under supervision.

Normal conduction starts at the SA node, travels through the atria to the AV node, then through the His-Purkinje system to the ventricles.

The P wave represents atrial depolarization. In rhythm review, look for whether P waves are present, consistent, and related to QRS complexes.

The PR interval reflects atrial-to-ventricular conduction time. Abnormal PR patterns can point toward conduction delay or pre-excitation patterns that require provider review.

The QRS complex represents ventricular depolarization. Width, shape, and regularity help distinguish narrow-complex from wide-complex rhythms.

The T wave represents ventricular repolarization. Changes may be clinically important, but a CET should report findings through protocol rather than diagnose independently.

Compare R-R intervals to decide whether the rhythm is regular or irregular. Regularity is one of the first steps before naming a rhythm pattern.

Rate can be estimated from the EKG grid or counted over a defined strip length. Use a consistent method and recheck if the rhythm is irregular.

Sinus rhythm usually has a consistent P wave before each QRS with a regular relationship. Confirm rate and regularity before labeling the rhythm.

Bradycardia is slower than expected and tachycardia is faster than expected. The technician should connect rate findings to symptoms and escalation rules.

Atrial fibrillation is associated with irregularly irregular ventricular rhythm and absent consistent P waves. Report according to protocol, especially with symptoms or new onset.

Atrial flutter often has repetitive flutter waves with a patterned ventricular response. Confirm tracing quality before assuming the pattern is not artifact.

A PVC is an early wide ventricular beat that interrupts the rhythm. Note frequency, pattern, patient symptoms, and reporting requirements.

A sustained wide-complex fast rhythm can be an emergency. The technician should check the patient and activate the appropriate response rather than only print another strip.

AV block review focuses on the relationship between P waves and QRS complexes. Look for PR prolongation, dropped beats, or dissociation patterns.

ST segment changes can be clinically urgent. A CET should recognize concerning changes, verify lead placement and tracing quality, and escalate through protocol.

The QT interval reflects ventricular depolarization and repolarization time. Marked prolongation may be important, but interpretation belongs in the reporting workflow.

Pacemaker spikes should be evaluated for capture and rhythm context. Technician duties include acquiring a clear tracing and reporting abnormal or concerning patterns.

After each missed question, label the cause: lead placement, artifact, safety rule, rhythm clue, documentation, or pacing. Then write the cue you will look for next time.

Final review should mix lead placement, acquisition quality, artifact control, and rhythm basics under time. Read the task before looking at answer choices.