ACLS Written Exam Questions and Answer New Version
2023 Graded A+
You find an unresponsive pt. who is not breathing. After activating the emergency
response system, you determine there is no pulse. What is your next action?
Start chest compressions of at least 100 per min.
You are evaluating a 58-year-old man with chest pain. The blood pressure is 92/50
mm Hg, the heart rate is 92/min, the nonlabored respiratory rate is 14 breaths/min,
and the pulse oximetry reading is 97%. What assessment step is most important
now?
Obtaining a 12 lead ECG.
What is the preferred method of access for epi administration during cardiac
arrest in most pts?
Peripheral IV
An AED does not promptly analyze a rythm. What is your next step?
Begin chest compressions.
You have completed 2 minutes of CPR. The ECG monitor displays the lead II
rhythm below, and the patient has no pulse. Another member of your team
resumes chest compressions, and an IV is in place. What management step is
your next priority?
Administer 1mg of epinephrine
During a pause in CPR, you see this lead II ECG rhythm on the monitor. The
patient has no pulse. What is the next action?
Resume compressions
What is a common but sometimes fatal mistake in cardiac arrest management?
Prolonged interruptions in chest compressions.
Which action is a componant of high-quality chest comressions?
Allowing complete chest recoil
Which action increases the chance of successful conversion of ventricular
fibrillation?
Providing quality compressions immediately before a defibrillation attempt.
Which situation BEST describes pulseless electrical activity?
Sinus rythm without a pulse
What is the BEST strategy for performing high-quality CPR on a patient with an
advanced airway in place?
Provide continuous chest compressions without pauses and 10 ventilations per minute.
Three minutes after witnessing a cardiac arrest, one member of your team inserts
an endotracheal tube while another performs continuous chest compressions.
During subsequent ventilation, you notice the presence of a waveform on the
capnography screen and a PETCO2 level of 8 mm Hg. What is the significance of
this finding?
Chest compressions may not be effective.
The use of quantitative capnography in intubated patients
allows for monitoring of CPR quality.
, For the past 25 minutes, an EMS crew has attempted resuscitation of a patient
who originally presented in ventricular fibrillation. After the first shock, the ECG
screen displayed asystole, which has persisted despite 2 doses of epinephrine, a
fluid bolus, and high-quality CPR. What is your next treatment?
Consider terminating resuscitive efforts after consulting medical control.
Which is a safe and effective practice within the defibrillation sequence?
Be sure oxygen is not blowing over the patient's chest during the shock.
During your assessment, your patient suddenly loses consciousness. After
calling for help and determining that the patient is not breathing, you are unsure
whether the patient has a pulse. What is your next action?
Begin chest compressions.
What is an advantage of using hands-free defibrillation pads instead of
defibrillation paddles?
Hands-free pads allow for a more rapid defibrillation.
What action is recommended to help minimize interruptions in chest
compressions during CPR?
Continue CPR while charging the defibrillator.
Which action is included in the BLS survey?
Early defibrillation
Which drug and dose are recommended for the management of a patient in
refractory ventricular fibrillation?
Amioderone 300mg
What is the appropriate interval for an interruption in chest compressions?
10 seconds or less
Which of the following is a sign of effective CPR?
PETCO2 ≥10 mm Hg
What is the primary purpose of a medical emergency team (MET) or rapid
response team (RRT)?
Identifying and treating early clinical deterioration.
Which action improves the quality of chest compressions delivered during a
resuscitation attempt?
Switch providers about every 2 minutes or every 5 compression cycles.
What is the appropriate ventilation strategy for an adult in respiratory arrest with
a pulse rate of 80/min?
1 breath every 5-6 seconds
A patient presents to the emergency department with new onset of dizziness and
fatigue. On examination, the patient's heart rate is 35/min, the blood pressure is
70/50 mm Hg, the respiratory rate is 22 breaths/min, and the oxygen saturation is
95%. What is the appropriate first medication?
Atropine 0.5mg
A patient with dizziness and shortness of breath with a sinus bradycardia of
40/min. The initial atropine dose was ineffective, and your monitor/defibrillator is
not equipped with a transcutaneous pacemaker. What is the appropriate dose of
dopamine for this patient?
2 to 10 mcg/kg per minute
2023 Graded A+
You find an unresponsive pt. who is not breathing. After activating the emergency
response system, you determine there is no pulse. What is your next action?
Start chest compressions of at least 100 per min.
You are evaluating a 58-year-old man with chest pain. The blood pressure is 92/50
mm Hg, the heart rate is 92/min, the nonlabored respiratory rate is 14 breaths/min,
and the pulse oximetry reading is 97%. What assessment step is most important
now?
Obtaining a 12 lead ECG.
What is the preferred method of access for epi administration during cardiac
arrest in most pts?
Peripheral IV
An AED does not promptly analyze a rythm. What is your next step?
Begin chest compressions.
You have completed 2 minutes of CPR. The ECG monitor displays the lead II
rhythm below, and the patient has no pulse. Another member of your team
resumes chest compressions, and an IV is in place. What management step is
your next priority?
Administer 1mg of epinephrine
During a pause in CPR, you see this lead II ECG rhythm on the monitor. The
patient has no pulse. What is the next action?
Resume compressions
What is a common but sometimes fatal mistake in cardiac arrest management?
Prolonged interruptions in chest compressions.
Which action is a componant of high-quality chest comressions?
Allowing complete chest recoil
Which action increases the chance of successful conversion of ventricular
fibrillation?
Providing quality compressions immediately before a defibrillation attempt.
Which situation BEST describes pulseless electrical activity?
Sinus rythm without a pulse
What is the BEST strategy for performing high-quality CPR on a patient with an
advanced airway in place?
Provide continuous chest compressions without pauses and 10 ventilations per minute.
Three minutes after witnessing a cardiac arrest, one member of your team inserts
an endotracheal tube while another performs continuous chest compressions.
During subsequent ventilation, you notice the presence of a waveform on the
capnography screen and a PETCO2 level of 8 mm Hg. What is the significance of
this finding?
Chest compressions may not be effective.
The use of quantitative capnography in intubated patients
allows for monitoring of CPR quality.
, For the past 25 minutes, an EMS crew has attempted resuscitation of a patient
who originally presented in ventricular fibrillation. After the first shock, the ECG
screen displayed asystole, which has persisted despite 2 doses of epinephrine, a
fluid bolus, and high-quality CPR. What is your next treatment?
Consider terminating resuscitive efforts after consulting medical control.
Which is a safe and effective practice within the defibrillation sequence?
Be sure oxygen is not blowing over the patient's chest during the shock.
During your assessment, your patient suddenly loses consciousness. After
calling for help and determining that the patient is not breathing, you are unsure
whether the patient has a pulse. What is your next action?
Begin chest compressions.
What is an advantage of using hands-free defibrillation pads instead of
defibrillation paddles?
Hands-free pads allow for a more rapid defibrillation.
What action is recommended to help minimize interruptions in chest
compressions during CPR?
Continue CPR while charging the defibrillator.
Which action is included in the BLS survey?
Early defibrillation
Which drug and dose are recommended for the management of a patient in
refractory ventricular fibrillation?
Amioderone 300mg
What is the appropriate interval for an interruption in chest compressions?
10 seconds or less
Which of the following is a sign of effective CPR?
PETCO2 ≥10 mm Hg
What is the primary purpose of a medical emergency team (MET) or rapid
response team (RRT)?
Identifying and treating early clinical deterioration.
Which action improves the quality of chest compressions delivered during a
resuscitation attempt?
Switch providers about every 2 minutes or every 5 compression cycles.
What is the appropriate ventilation strategy for an adult in respiratory arrest with
a pulse rate of 80/min?
1 breath every 5-6 seconds
A patient presents to the emergency department with new onset of dizziness and
fatigue. On examination, the patient's heart rate is 35/min, the blood pressure is
70/50 mm Hg, the respiratory rate is 22 breaths/min, and the oxygen saturation is
95%. What is the appropriate first medication?
Atropine 0.5mg
A patient with dizziness and shortness of breath with a sinus bradycardia of
40/min. The initial atropine dose was ineffective, and your monitor/defibrillator is
not equipped with a transcutaneous pacemaker. What is the appropriate dose of
dopamine for this patient?
2 to 10 mcg/kg per minute
