What action should a technician take if a patient’s pacemaker shows signs of failure to capture?

When a pacemaker shows signs of failure to capture, it indicates that the pacemaker's electrical impulses are not successfully causing the heart to contract or beat as expected. This failure can occur due to a number of factors, including improper positioning of the electrodes that deliver electrical impulses to the heart.

Checking electrode positioning is a crucial first step because if the electrodes are not correctly placed, or if there is a dislodgment, it can prevent the pacemaker from effectively stimulating cardiac activity. Ensuring that the electrodes are optimally positioned allows the technician to determine whether the issue is with placement or if there are other underlying problems, such as lead malfunction or battery failure.

Other options, although seemingly relevant, do not address the immediate need to assess the physical cause of the failure of capture. For example, while increasing the heart rate or administering emergency medications could be considered in a clinical setting, these actions do not resolve the critical issue at hand regarding the pacemaker's functionality. Similarly, replacing the pacemaker is a more drastic measure that would typically only be considered after confirming that the current device is malfunctioning and that repositioning the electrodes hasn't resolved the issue.