ALS/ACLS - Red Cross Final Exam [2021]
The resuscitation team suspects that hyperkalemia is the cause of cardiac arrest in a patient
brought to the emergency department. Which finding on a 12-lead ECG would confirm this
suspicion? - correct answer-Wide-complex ventricular rhythm or tall, pointed T waves
A patient with dyspnea and a change in mental status arrives at the emergency department.
The healthcare team completes the necessary assessments and begins to care for the
patient, including initiating cardiac monitoring, pulse oximetry, supplemental oxygen and
vascular access. The team reviews the patient's ECG rhythm strip, as shown in the following
figure. Which agent would the team most likely administer? - correct answer-Atropine 0.5 mg
every 4 to 5 minutes
A patient experiencing an unstable bradyarrhythmia does not respond to atropine or
transcutaneous pacing. Which intervention would the healthcare provider use next? - correct
answer-Administration of an epinephrine infusion
A patient's ECG reveals a tachyarrhythmia. The patient is hemodynamically stable and has a
heart rate ranging from 120 to 135 beats per minute. Based on the findings of the secondary
assessment, which statement(s) by the patient would the team interpret as a possible
contributing cause? - correct answer-1. "I've had a terrible cold with a horrible cough and
fever the past week."
2. "I've been so anxious lately because I just lost my job."
3. "I've been vomiting for the past 2 days from a gastrointestinal bug."
A patient's ECG reveals a narrow QRS complex with a regular rhythm, indicating a
narrow-complex supraventricular tachyarrhythmia. The patient is hemodynamically stable.
Which intervention would be initiated first? - correct answer-Vagal maneuvers
A patient in the telemetry unit is stable. Cardiac monitoring indicates the patient has
ventricular tachycardia with a pulse. Further assessment reveals that the corrected QT
interval is greater than 0.46 seconds. Which treatment would be appropriate at this time? -
correct answer-Synchronized cardioversion
An ECG strip of a patient in the emergency department reveals the following rhythm. Which
feature would the healthcare provider interpret as indicating atrial fibrillation? - correct
answer-Absence of discrete P waves and presence of irregularly irregular QRS complexes
A patient is brought into the emergency department. The patient does not have a pulse. The
cardiac monitor shows the following rhythm. The team interprets this as which condition? -
correct answer-Ventricular tachycardia
A patient with acute renal failure experiences cardiac arrest. Just before the cardiac arrest,
the patient's ECG showed peaked T waves. What might be causing the patient's cardiac
arrest? - correct answer-Hyperkalemia
, A member of the resuscitation team is preparing to defibrillate a patient in cardiac arrest
using a biphasic defibrillator. The team member would set the energy dose according to the
manufacturer's recommendations, which is usually: - correct answer-120 to 200 joules
A member of the resuscitation team is preparing to administer medications intravenously to a
patient in cardiac arrest. The team member follows each medication administration with a
bolus of fluid. How much would the team member give? - correct answer-10 to 20 mL
A 30-year-old patient has been brought to the emergency department in full cardiac arrest.
The cardiac monitor shows the following rhythm. Interpretation of this rhythm would suggest
which of the following as a possible precipitating factor? - correct answer-Electrocution
Cardiac monitoring of a patient in cardiac arrest reveals ventricular fibrillation. What
intervention would the team perform next? - correct answer-Administer 1 shock.
A patient has experienced return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after cardiac arrest.
The healthcare team is conducting a secondary assessment to determine the possible cause
of the patient's cardiac arrest. Before the arrest, the patient exhibited jugular venous
distension, cyanosis, apnea and hyperresonance on percussion. The patient was also
difficult to ventilate during the response. The team would most likely suspect which condition
as the cause? - correct answer-Tension pneumothorax
A patient in cardiac arrest experiences return of spontaneous circulation. As part of
post-cardiac arrest care, the patient is receiving mechanical ventilation. Which finding(s)
would indicate the need for change in the ventilator settings to optimize the patient's
ventilation and oxygenation? - correct answer-1. SaO2 92%
2. PaCO2 35 mmHg
3. ETCO2 50 mmHg
After cardiac arrest and successful resuscitation, the patient has a return of spontaneous
circulation. The patient is unable to follow verbal commands and has a Glasgow Coma Scale
score of 7. Targeted temperature management is initiated. Which method(s) would be
appropriate for the resuscitation team to use? - correct answer-1. Applying cooling blankets
to the patient's body
2. Giving an ice-cold IV fluid bolus
3. Using an endovascular catheter
A 40-year-old patient in the waiting room of the primary care provider's office approaches a
staff member and says, "I'm having really severe, crushing chest pain that is moving to both
my arms." The patient is diaphoretic and dyspneic. Which action would be appropriate for
the staff member to take? - correct answer-Activate the emergency medical services system.
A patient with suspected acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is placed on a cardiac monitor.
The patient is complaining of dyspnea and is given supplemental oxygen. The provider
determines that the oxygen is effective based on which SaO2 level? - correct answer-95%
The resuscitation team suspects that hyperkalemia is the cause of cardiac arrest in a patient
brought to the emergency department. Which finding on a 12-lead ECG would confirm this
suspicion? - correct answer-Wide-complex ventricular rhythm or tall, pointed T waves
A patient with dyspnea and a change in mental status arrives at the emergency department.
The healthcare team completes the necessary assessments and begins to care for the
patient, including initiating cardiac monitoring, pulse oximetry, supplemental oxygen and
vascular access. The team reviews the patient's ECG rhythm strip, as shown in the following
figure. Which agent would the team most likely administer? - correct answer-Atropine 0.5 mg
every 4 to 5 minutes
A patient experiencing an unstable bradyarrhythmia does not respond to atropine or
transcutaneous pacing. Which intervention would the healthcare provider use next? - correct
answer-Administration of an epinephrine infusion
A patient's ECG reveals a tachyarrhythmia. The patient is hemodynamically stable and has a
heart rate ranging from 120 to 135 beats per minute. Based on the findings of the secondary
assessment, which statement(s) by the patient would the team interpret as a possible
contributing cause? - correct answer-1. "I've had a terrible cold with a horrible cough and
fever the past week."
2. "I've been so anxious lately because I just lost my job."
3. "I've been vomiting for the past 2 days from a gastrointestinal bug."
A patient's ECG reveals a narrow QRS complex with a regular rhythm, indicating a
narrow-complex supraventricular tachyarrhythmia. The patient is hemodynamically stable.
Which intervention would be initiated first? - correct answer-Vagal maneuvers
A patient in the telemetry unit is stable. Cardiac monitoring indicates the patient has
ventricular tachycardia with a pulse. Further assessment reveals that the corrected QT
interval is greater than 0.46 seconds. Which treatment would be appropriate at this time? -
correct answer-Synchronized cardioversion
An ECG strip of a patient in the emergency department reveals the following rhythm. Which
feature would the healthcare provider interpret as indicating atrial fibrillation? - correct
answer-Absence of discrete P waves and presence of irregularly irregular QRS complexes
A patient is brought into the emergency department. The patient does not have a pulse. The
cardiac monitor shows the following rhythm. The team interprets this as which condition? -
correct answer-Ventricular tachycardia
A patient with acute renal failure experiences cardiac arrest. Just before the cardiac arrest,
the patient's ECG showed peaked T waves. What might be causing the patient's cardiac
arrest? - correct answer-Hyperkalemia
, A member of the resuscitation team is preparing to defibrillate a patient in cardiac arrest
using a biphasic defibrillator. The team member would set the energy dose according to the
manufacturer's recommendations, which is usually: - correct answer-120 to 200 joules
A member of the resuscitation team is preparing to administer medications intravenously to a
patient in cardiac arrest. The team member follows each medication administration with a
bolus of fluid. How much would the team member give? - correct answer-10 to 20 mL
A 30-year-old patient has been brought to the emergency department in full cardiac arrest.
The cardiac monitor shows the following rhythm. Interpretation of this rhythm would suggest
which of the following as a possible precipitating factor? - correct answer-Electrocution
Cardiac monitoring of a patient in cardiac arrest reveals ventricular fibrillation. What
intervention would the team perform next? - correct answer-Administer 1 shock.
A patient has experienced return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after cardiac arrest.
The healthcare team is conducting a secondary assessment to determine the possible cause
of the patient's cardiac arrest. Before the arrest, the patient exhibited jugular venous
distension, cyanosis, apnea and hyperresonance on percussion. The patient was also
difficult to ventilate during the response. The team would most likely suspect which condition
as the cause? - correct answer-Tension pneumothorax
A patient in cardiac arrest experiences return of spontaneous circulation. As part of
post-cardiac arrest care, the patient is receiving mechanical ventilation. Which finding(s)
would indicate the need for change in the ventilator settings to optimize the patient's
ventilation and oxygenation? - correct answer-1. SaO2 92%
2. PaCO2 35 mmHg
3. ETCO2 50 mmHg
After cardiac arrest and successful resuscitation, the patient has a return of spontaneous
circulation. The patient is unable to follow verbal commands and has a Glasgow Coma Scale
score of 7. Targeted temperature management is initiated. Which method(s) would be
appropriate for the resuscitation team to use? - correct answer-1. Applying cooling blankets
to the patient's body
2. Giving an ice-cold IV fluid bolus
3. Using an endovascular catheter
A 40-year-old patient in the waiting room of the primary care provider's office approaches a
staff member and says, "I'm having really severe, crushing chest pain that is moving to both
my arms." The patient is diaphoretic and dyspneic. Which action would be appropriate for
the staff member to take? - correct answer-Activate the emergency medical services system.
A patient with suspected acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is placed on a cardiac monitor.
The patient is complaining of dyspnea and is given supplemental oxygen. The provider
determines that the oxygen is effective based on which SaO2 level? - correct answer-95%
