CMAA EXAM SCRIPT FINAL PAPER 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS REVIEW
▶ Rapid response team. Answer: used for for complications at the hospital
▶ pulse sites to check in code blue. Answer: carotid or femoral
▶ Shockable rhythms. Answer: V fib and V tach (pulseless)
▶ v tach. Answer: Rate: 100-220 beats/min
Rhythm: Regular
P wave: absent
QRS: Wide and bizarre, > 0.12
A run of 3 or more consecutive PVCs (no p wave)
▶ treatment for v tach and v fib. Answer: With a pulse:
(sedate pt first) Synchronized Cardioversion
NO pulse (same tx as V-Fib):
CPR
Defibrillation
Epinephrine or Vasopressin
Amiodarone (antidysrhythmic)
▶ Cardioversion vs Defibrillation. Answer: Cardioversion: in sync with
QRS, used in AFib, atrial flutter, VT w/ a pulse, SVT
Defibrillation: (random shock) - not in sync with QRS, used in VFib and VT
without a pulse
▶ treatment for new onset A-Fib or A-Flutter w/ rate >180 bpm. Answer:
cardioversion
▶ treatment for long-standing Fib/Flutter. Answer: anticoagulation with
Heparin drip or warfarin for 6 weeks before cardioversion
▶ PR interval norm. Answer: 0.12-0.20 secs
3-5 boxes
▶ QRS complex norm. Answer: 0.06 - 0.12 secs
,1 1/2 - 3 boxes
▶ indicated by short PR intervals. Answer: arrhythmias
▶ indicated by long PR intervals. Answer: heart blocks or other
pathological conditions
▶ indicated by ST elevation. Answer: myocardial injury (STEMI)
▶ STEMI. Answer: ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction
▶ NSTEMI. Answer: non-ST elevation myocardial infarction
▶ indicated by abnormal Q wave. Answer: myocardial infarction
▶ what does a prolonged QT interval put you at risk for. Answer:
ventricular dysrhythmias and sudden death
may be caused by electrolyte imbalance (hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia,
hypocalcemia), stroke, hypothermia, or meds
▶ Atrial rate. Answer: count p waves in 6 seconds and multiply by 10
▶ Ventricular rate. Answer: count QRS complexes and multiply by 10
▶ bradycardia treatment. Answer: atropine 0.5-1 mg
(if atropine doesn't work, due to 3rd degree AV block)
temporary pacemaker
▶ supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). Answer: hr 160-240 bpm
regular rhythm
can't measure PR interval, no real p waves
▶ SVT treatment. Answer: adenosine
treat underlying cause
▶ P waves in normal sinus rhythm. Answer: identical and precede each
QRS
, ▶ what electrolyte imbalance in caused by premature ventricular
contraction PVC. Answer: hypokalemia
▶ treatment for a-fib or a-flutter for new onset with rate is <180 bpm.
Answer: Amiodarone
Beta blockers
Digoxin
▶ Amiodorone. Answer: Antidysrhythmic
chemical cardioversion
Monitor ECG for prolonged QT interval with use of antidysrhythmic
▶ 1st degree heart block. Answer: This prolongs the PR interval to > 0.20
sec
Rate: 60-100 bpm, rhythm is regular
This may be temporary due to ischemia
Treatment - Observe the patient
▶ 3rd degree heart block. Answer: aka Complete heart block
Tx immediately w/ a pacemaker (any type)
▶ V-fib. Answer: Rate: Cannot be determined
Rhythm: Chaotic
P wave: Not identifiable
QRS: Not identifiable
TREATMENT
Assess Femoral or Carotid pulse
Call for help or push code button
CPR
Defibrillation
Epinephrine 1 mg
Amiodarone 300 mg followed by 150 mg
Followed by continuous infusion
▶ asystole. Answer: do CPR, then give Epinephrine 1 mg every 3-5 min
and intubation
▶ Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA). Answer: This is a rhythm on the
monitor and no pulse (basically asystole)
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS REVIEW
▶ Rapid response team. Answer: used for for complications at the hospital
▶ pulse sites to check in code blue. Answer: carotid or femoral
▶ Shockable rhythms. Answer: V fib and V tach (pulseless)
▶ v tach. Answer: Rate: 100-220 beats/min
Rhythm: Regular
P wave: absent
QRS: Wide and bizarre, > 0.12
A run of 3 or more consecutive PVCs (no p wave)
▶ treatment for v tach and v fib. Answer: With a pulse:
(sedate pt first) Synchronized Cardioversion
NO pulse (same tx as V-Fib):
CPR
Defibrillation
Epinephrine or Vasopressin
Amiodarone (antidysrhythmic)
▶ Cardioversion vs Defibrillation. Answer: Cardioversion: in sync with
QRS, used in AFib, atrial flutter, VT w/ a pulse, SVT
Defibrillation: (random shock) - not in sync with QRS, used in VFib and VT
without a pulse
▶ treatment for new onset A-Fib or A-Flutter w/ rate >180 bpm. Answer:
cardioversion
▶ treatment for long-standing Fib/Flutter. Answer: anticoagulation with
Heparin drip or warfarin for 6 weeks before cardioversion
▶ PR interval norm. Answer: 0.12-0.20 secs
3-5 boxes
▶ QRS complex norm. Answer: 0.06 - 0.12 secs
,1 1/2 - 3 boxes
▶ indicated by short PR intervals. Answer: arrhythmias
▶ indicated by long PR intervals. Answer: heart blocks or other
pathological conditions
▶ indicated by ST elevation. Answer: myocardial injury (STEMI)
▶ STEMI. Answer: ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction
▶ NSTEMI. Answer: non-ST elevation myocardial infarction
▶ indicated by abnormal Q wave. Answer: myocardial infarction
▶ what does a prolonged QT interval put you at risk for. Answer:
ventricular dysrhythmias and sudden death
may be caused by electrolyte imbalance (hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia,
hypocalcemia), stroke, hypothermia, or meds
▶ Atrial rate. Answer: count p waves in 6 seconds and multiply by 10
▶ Ventricular rate. Answer: count QRS complexes and multiply by 10
▶ bradycardia treatment. Answer: atropine 0.5-1 mg
(if atropine doesn't work, due to 3rd degree AV block)
temporary pacemaker
▶ supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). Answer: hr 160-240 bpm
regular rhythm
can't measure PR interval, no real p waves
▶ SVT treatment. Answer: adenosine
treat underlying cause
▶ P waves in normal sinus rhythm. Answer: identical and precede each
QRS
, ▶ what electrolyte imbalance in caused by premature ventricular
contraction PVC. Answer: hypokalemia
▶ treatment for a-fib or a-flutter for new onset with rate is <180 bpm.
Answer: Amiodarone
Beta blockers
Digoxin
▶ Amiodorone. Answer: Antidysrhythmic
chemical cardioversion
Monitor ECG for prolonged QT interval with use of antidysrhythmic
▶ 1st degree heart block. Answer: This prolongs the PR interval to > 0.20
sec
Rate: 60-100 bpm, rhythm is regular
This may be temporary due to ischemia
Treatment - Observe the patient
▶ 3rd degree heart block. Answer: aka Complete heart block
Tx immediately w/ a pacemaker (any type)
▶ V-fib. Answer: Rate: Cannot be determined
Rhythm: Chaotic
P wave: Not identifiable
QRS: Not identifiable
TREATMENT
Assess Femoral or Carotid pulse
Call for help or push code button
CPR
Defibrillation
Epinephrine 1 mg
Amiodarone 300 mg followed by 150 mg
Followed by continuous infusion
▶ asystole. Answer: do CPR, then give Epinephrine 1 mg every 3-5 min
and intubation
▶ Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA). Answer: This is a rhythm on the
monitor and no pulse (basically asystole)
