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Level 1Cardiology Office Skills

Stress Test Prep Instructions

Prepare patients for a stress test — clothing, NPO/caffeine, medication-hold awareness, and safety.

Beginner~11 min

Learning Objectives

  • 1.Give accurate stress-test preparation instructions.
  • 2.Know which prep items are provider/protocol-driven.
  • 3.Confirm understanding and flag concerns.

Goal

Good prep prevents cancellations and keeps the test safe and accurate — clothing, fasting/caffeine, and any medication holds per protocol.

Typical instructions (confirm per protocol)

  • •Wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes.
  • •Often NPO for a few hours; no caffeine for ~24 hours (affects some tests).
  • •Bring a medication list; certain meds (e.g., some beta-blockers, caffeine, diabetes meds) may be held per provider/protocol.
  • •Arrive on time; allow extra time.

What NOT to do independently

  • •Don’t decide medication holds yourself — confirm with the provider/protocol and relay.

Scope note

Medication-hold decisions are provider/protocol-driven; you communicate the confirmed plan.

Red flags to flag before the test

  • •Active chest pain, new symptoms, or illness before a stress test — flag to the nurse/provider before proceeding.

Alert

New or active cardiac symptoms before a stress test are reported to the provider first.

Example script

  • •"Wear comfortable shoes, don’t eat for a few hours before, and avoid caffeine the day before. Bring your medication list; the provider will tell you which to hold."

Spanish phrase

Please avoid caffeine and wear comfortable shoes for your stress test.

Por favor evite la cafeína y use zapatos cómodos para su prueba de esfuerzo.

por fah-VOR eh-VEE-teh lah kah-feh-EE-nah ee OO-seh sah-PAH-tos KOH-moh-dos PAH-rah soo PRWEH-bah deh es-FWER-soh

Documentation tips

  • •Note instructions given, med-hold plan source, and teach-back.

Checklist

  • Gave clothing, NPO/caffeine instructions.
  • Confirmed med holds with protocol, not independently.
  • Flagged new symptoms before the test.
  • Confirmed understanding.

Knowledge Check Quiz

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not replace clinical judgment, and is not a substitute for institutional protocols or certified medical interpreters. No patient health information (PHI) should be entered into this application.