ACLS Questions and Answers 2023/2024 Guide
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 BP is
92/50 and a heart rate of 92/min, non-labored respiratory rate is 14
breaths/min and the pulse O2 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 min of CPR. The ECG monitor displays the
lead below (PEA) and the pt. has no pulse. You partner resumes
chest compressions and an IV is in place. What management step is
your next priority?
Administer 1mg of epinepherine
During a pause in CPR, you see a narrow complex rythm on the
monitor. The pt. 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 PEA?
Sinus rhythm without a pulse
, What is the best strategy for perfoming high-quality CPR on a
pt.with an advanced airway in place?
Provide continuous chest compressions without pauses and 10 ventilations
per minute.
3 min after witnessing a cardiac arrest, one memeber of your team
inserts an ET tube while another performs continuous chest
comressions. During subsequent ventilation, you notice the
presence of a wavefom on the capnogrophy screen and a PETCO2 of
8 mm Hg. What is the significance of this finding?
Chest compressions may not be effective.
The use of quantitative capnography in intubated pt's does what?
Allows for monitoring CPR quality
For the past 25 min, EMS crews have attempted resuscitation of a pt
who originally presented with V-FIB. After the 1st shock, the ECG
screen displayed asystole which has persisted despite 2 doses of
epi, 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 O2 is NOT blowing over the pt's chest during shock.
During your assessment, your pt suddenly loses consciousness.
After calling for help and determining that the pt. is not breathing,
you are unsure whether the pt. has a pulse. What is your next
action?
Begin chest compressions.
What is an advantage of using hands-free d-fib pads instead of d-fib
paddles?
Hands-free allows for more rapid d-fib.
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
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 BP is
92/50 and a heart rate of 92/min, non-labored respiratory rate is 14
breaths/min and the pulse O2 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 min of CPR. The ECG monitor displays the
lead below (PEA) and the pt. has no pulse. You partner resumes
chest compressions and an IV is in place. What management step is
your next priority?
Administer 1mg of epinepherine
During a pause in CPR, you see a narrow complex rythm on the
monitor. The pt. 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 PEA?
Sinus rhythm without a pulse
, What is the best strategy for perfoming high-quality CPR on a
pt.with an advanced airway in place?
Provide continuous chest compressions without pauses and 10 ventilations
per minute.
3 min after witnessing a cardiac arrest, one memeber of your team
inserts an ET tube while another performs continuous chest
comressions. During subsequent ventilation, you notice the
presence of a wavefom on the capnogrophy screen and a PETCO2 of
8 mm Hg. What is the significance of this finding?
Chest compressions may not be effective.
The use of quantitative capnography in intubated pt's does what?
Allows for monitoring CPR quality
For the past 25 min, EMS crews have attempted resuscitation of a pt
who originally presented with V-FIB. After the 1st shock, the ECG
screen displayed asystole which has persisted despite 2 doses of
epi, 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 O2 is NOT blowing over the pt's chest during shock.
During your assessment, your pt suddenly loses consciousness.
After calling for help and determining that the pt. is not breathing,
you are unsure whether the pt. has a pulse. What is your next
action?
Begin chest compressions.
What is an advantage of using hands-free d-fib pads instead of d-fib
paddles?
Hands-free allows for more rapid d-fib.
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
