CEN PRACTICE TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
REAL QUIZ
Preload refers to:
a. The volume of blood entering the left side of the heart
b. The volume of blood entering the right side of the heart
c. The pressure in the venous system that the heart must overcome to pump the blood
d. The pressure in the arterial system that the heart must overcome to pump the blood Correct
Answer: b. The volume of blood entering the right side of the heart
Preload is the volume of blood that enters the right side of the heart. This volume stretches the fibers
in the heart prior to contraction. Preload is commonly measured as atrial pressure.
The patient is brought to the ED with an anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). You are
assessing him for possible administration of fibrinolytics. An absolute contraindication for this
treatment is:
a. The patient's pain is not relieved by medications.
b. Symptoms began 36 hours before arrival.
c. The patient has received aspirin in the last 2 hours.
d. The patient had a previous MI 6 years ago. Correct Answer: b. Symptoms began 36 hours before
arrival.
Fibrinolytic therapy is generally NOT recommended for patients whose symptoms began more than
12 hours before arrival. Fibrinolytics should not be given if the onset of symptoms was more than 24
hours before arrival UNLESS a posterior MI is diagnosed. In this case, the MI was anterior.
The team is performing CPR on a patient. The rhythm that will respond to an electrical shock is:
a. Asystole
b. PEA
c. Ventricular fibrillation
d. SVT Correct Answer: c. Ventricular fibrillation
Ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia are the two rhythms that are considered
to be "shockable" cardiac arrest rhythms. Although asystole and PEA are cardiac arrest rhythms, they
will not respond to electrical shock.
When suctioning during a cardiac arrest, suctioning should be limited to which of the following?
a. Less than 5 seconds
b. Less than 10 seconds
c. Less than 20 seconds
d. Less than 30 seconds Correct Answer: b. Less than 10 seconds
, According to the 2010 BLS and ACLS guidelines, suctioning for longer than 10 seconds may result in
pulling too much oxygen out of the airways resulting in hypoxemia.
Possible causes of cardiac arrest include all of the following EXCEPT:
a. Hypervolemia
b. Hypoxia
c. Hypokalemia
d. Tension Pneumothorax Correct Answer: a. Hypervolemia
Common causes of cardiac arrest are known as the H's and T's and include: hypovolemia (NOT
hypervolemia), hypoxia, hydrogen ion excess (acidosis), hypo or hyperkalemia, hypothermia, tension
pneumothorax, tamponade, toxins, and thrombosis (pulmonary or coronary). Correction of these
causes can often reverse a cardiac arrest.
You are providing ventilations using a Bag-mask device. Suddenly, you do not see the patient's chest
rise with the ventilation. You reposition the patient to ensure an open airway. When you attempt to
ventilate, you do not see his chest rise. The most likely cause of this is:
a. The bag-mask device is faulty
b. Airway obstruction
c. The patient has suffered an MI
d. Cardiac tamponade Correct Answer: b. Airway obstruction
The most likely cause of the failure of the chest to rise during ventilations is an airway obstruction.
Although a faulty bag-mask device is a possibility, it is unlikely that it would fail in the middle of
providing ventilations.
According to American Heart Association ACLS guidelines, cricoid pressure during intubation:
a. Should be done in all cases.
b. Is no longer recommended.
c. Should only be done on children.
d. None of the above. Correct Answer: b. Is no longer recommended.
According to the most current AHA guidelines, cricoid pressure may delay or prevent placement of an
advanced airway so is no longer recommended.
You are providing positive pressure ventilation through an ET tube to a patient in respiratory distress.
Indications that you are ventilating too fast include all of the following EXCEPT:
a. Increasing waveform capnography readings
b. Stomach insufflation
c. Tension pneumothorax
d. Aspiration Correct Answer: a. Increasing waveform capnography readings
Latrogenic effects of hyperventilation through an ET tube include aspiration, stomach insufflation, and
tension pneumothorax. Increasing waveform capnography readings are an indication of efficient
CPR.
REAL QUIZ
Preload refers to:
a. The volume of blood entering the left side of the heart
b. The volume of blood entering the right side of the heart
c. The pressure in the venous system that the heart must overcome to pump the blood
d. The pressure in the arterial system that the heart must overcome to pump the blood Correct
Answer: b. The volume of blood entering the right side of the heart
Preload is the volume of blood that enters the right side of the heart. This volume stretches the fibers
in the heart prior to contraction. Preload is commonly measured as atrial pressure.
The patient is brought to the ED with an anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). You are
assessing him for possible administration of fibrinolytics. An absolute contraindication for this
treatment is:
a. The patient's pain is not relieved by medications.
b. Symptoms began 36 hours before arrival.
c. The patient has received aspirin in the last 2 hours.
d. The patient had a previous MI 6 years ago. Correct Answer: b. Symptoms began 36 hours before
arrival.
Fibrinolytic therapy is generally NOT recommended for patients whose symptoms began more than
12 hours before arrival. Fibrinolytics should not be given if the onset of symptoms was more than 24
hours before arrival UNLESS a posterior MI is diagnosed. In this case, the MI was anterior.
The team is performing CPR on a patient. The rhythm that will respond to an electrical shock is:
a. Asystole
b. PEA
c. Ventricular fibrillation
d. SVT Correct Answer: c. Ventricular fibrillation
Ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia are the two rhythms that are considered
to be "shockable" cardiac arrest rhythms. Although asystole and PEA are cardiac arrest rhythms, they
will not respond to electrical shock.
When suctioning during a cardiac arrest, suctioning should be limited to which of the following?
a. Less than 5 seconds
b. Less than 10 seconds
c. Less than 20 seconds
d. Less than 30 seconds Correct Answer: b. Less than 10 seconds
, According to the 2010 BLS and ACLS guidelines, suctioning for longer than 10 seconds may result in
pulling too much oxygen out of the airways resulting in hypoxemia.
Possible causes of cardiac arrest include all of the following EXCEPT:
a. Hypervolemia
b. Hypoxia
c. Hypokalemia
d. Tension Pneumothorax Correct Answer: a. Hypervolemia
Common causes of cardiac arrest are known as the H's and T's and include: hypovolemia (NOT
hypervolemia), hypoxia, hydrogen ion excess (acidosis), hypo or hyperkalemia, hypothermia, tension
pneumothorax, tamponade, toxins, and thrombosis (pulmonary or coronary). Correction of these
causes can often reverse a cardiac arrest.
You are providing ventilations using a Bag-mask device. Suddenly, you do not see the patient's chest
rise with the ventilation. You reposition the patient to ensure an open airway. When you attempt to
ventilate, you do not see his chest rise. The most likely cause of this is:
a. The bag-mask device is faulty
b. Airway obstruction
c. The patient has suffered an MI
d. Cardiac tamponade Correct Answer: b. Airway obstruction
The most likely cause of the failure of the chest to rise during ventilations is an airway obstruction.
Although a faulty bag-mask device is a possibility, it is unlikely that it would fail in the middle of
providing ventilations.
According to American Heart Association ACLS guidelines, cricoid pressure during intubation:
a. Should be done in all cases.
b. Is no longer recommended.
c. Should only be done on children.
d. None of the above. Correct Answer: b. Is no longer recommended.
According to the most current AHA guidelines, cricoid pressure may delay or prevent placement of an
advanced airway so is no longer recommended.
You are providing positive pressure ventilation through an ET tube to a patient in respiratory distress.
Indications that you are ventilating too fast include all of the following EXCEPT:
a. Increasing waveform capnography readings
b. Stomach insufflation
c. Tension pneumothorax
d. Aspiration Correct Answer: a. Increasing waveform capnography readings
Latrogenic effects of hyperventilation through an ET tube include aspiration, stomach insufflation, and
tension pneumothorax. Increasing waveform capnography readings are an indication of efficient
CPR.
