ACLS EXAM QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED CORRECT
ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2024
Which of the following statements about the use of magnesium in cardiac arrest
is most accurate?
Magnesium is indicated for VF/pulseless VT associated with torsades de pointes.
A patient with ST-segment elevation MI has ongoing chest discomfort.
Fibrinolytic therapy has
been ordered. Heparin 4000 units IV bolus was administered, and a heparin
infusion of 1000 units per hour is
being administered. Aspirin was not taken by the patient because he had a
history of gastritis treated 5 years
ago. Your next action is to:
Give aspirin 160 to 325 mg chewed immediately.
A patient has sinus bradycardia with a heart rate of 36/min. Atropine has been
administered to a
total of 3 mg. A transcutaneous pacemaker has failed to capture. The patient is
confused, and her blood pressure
is 110/60 mm Hg. Which of the following is now indicated?
Start epinephrine 2 to 10 mcg/min.
A 62-year-old man suddenly experienced difficulty speaking and left-side
weakness. He was
brought to the emergency department. He meets initial criteria for fibrinolytic
therapy, and a CT scan of the
brain is ordered. What are the guidelines for antiplatelet and fibrinolytic therapy
Do not give aspirin for at least 24 hours if rtPA is administered
A patient with possible ST-segment elevation MI has ongoing chest discomfort.
Which of the
following would be a contraindication to the administration of nitrates?
Use of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor within 12 hours
, A patient is in cardiac arrest. Ventricular fibrillation has been refractory to a
second shock. Of the
following, which drug and dose should be administered first by the IV/IO route?
Epinephrine 1 mg
: A 35-year-old woman has palpitations, light-headedness, and a stable
tachycardia. The monitor
shows a regular narrow-complex QRS at a rate of 180/min. Vagal maneuvers have
not been effective in
terminating the rhythm. An IV has been established. What drug should be
administered IV?
Adenosine 6 mg
A patient with sinus bradycardia and heart rate of 42/min has diaphoresis and a
blood pressure of
80/60 mm Hg. What is the initial dose of atropine?
0.5 mg
A patient is in refractory ventricular fibrillation and has received multiple
appropriate
defibrillation shocks, epinephrine 1 mg IV twice, and an initial dose of 300 mg
amiodarone IV. The patient is
intubated. A second dose of amiodarone is now called for. The recommended
second dose of amiodarone is
150 mg IV push
A patient with a possible acute coronary syndrome has ongoing chest discomfort
unresponsive to
3 sublingual nitroglycerin tablets. There are no contraindications, and 4 mg of
morphine sulfate was
administered. Shortly afterward, blood pressure falls to 88/60 mm Hg, and the
patient has increased chest
discomfort. You should
Give normal saline 250 mL to 500 mL fluid bolus
ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2024
Which of the following statements about the use of magnesium in cardiac arrest
is most accurate?
Magnesium is indicated for VF/pulseless VT associated with torsades de pointes.
A patient with ST-segment elevation MI has ongoing chest discomfort.
Fibrinolytic therapy has
been ordered. Heparin 4000 units IV bolus was administered, and a heparin
infusion of 1000 units per hour is
being administered. Aspirin was not taken by the patient because he had a
history of gastritis treated 5 years
ago. Your next action is to:
Give aspirin 160 to 325 mg chewed immediately.
A patient has sinus bradycardia with a heart rate of 36/min. Atropine has been
administered to a
total of 3 mg. A transcutaneous pacemaker has failed to capture. The patient is
confused, and her blood pressure
is 110/60 mm Hg. Which of the following is now indicated?
Start epinephrine 2 to 10 mcg/min.
A 62-year-old man suddenly experienced difficulty speaking and left-side
weakness. He was
brought to the emergency department. He meets initial criteria for fibrinolytic
therapy, and a CT scan of the
brain is ordered. What are the guidelines for antiplatelet and fibrinolytic therapy
Do not give aspirin for at least 24 hours if rtPA is administered
A patient with possible ST-segment elevation MI has ongoing chest discomfort.
Which of the
following would be a contraindication to the administration of nitrates?
Use of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor within 12 hours
, A patient is in cardiac arrest. Ventricular fibrillation has been refractory to a
second shock. Of the
following, which drug and dose should be administered first by the IV/IO route?
Epinephrine 1 mg
: A 35-year-old woman has palpitations, light-headedness, and a stable
tachycardia. The monitor
shows a regular narrow-complex QRS at a rate of 180/min. Vagal maneuvers have
not been effective in
terminating the rhythm. An IV has been established. What drug should be
administered IV?
Adenosine 6 mg
A patient with sinus bradycardia and heart rate of 42/min has diaphoresis and a
blood pressure of
80/60 mm Hg. What is the initial dose of atropine?
0.5 mg
A patient is in refractory ventricular fibrillation and has received multiple
appropriate
defibrillation shocks, epinephrine 1 mg IV twice, and an initial dose of 300 mg
amiodarone IV. The patient is
intubated. A second dose of amiodarone is now called for. The recommended
second dose of amiodarone is
150 mg IV push
A patient with a possible acute coronary syndrome has ongoing chest discomfort
unresponsive to
3 sublingual nitroglycerin tablets. There are no contraindications, and 4 mg of
morphine sulfate was
administered. Shortly afterward, blood pressure falls to 88/60 mm Hg, and the
patient has increased chest
discomfort. You should
Give normal saline 250 mL to 500 mL fluid bolus
