ACLS PHARMACOLOGY EXAM QUESTIONS WITH ACTUAL
CORRECT ANSWERS CURRENTLY TESTING
You are caring for a 66-year-old man with a history of a large intracerebral hemorrhage 2 months ago.
He is being evaluated for another acute stroke. The CT scan is negative for hemorrhage. The patient is
receiving oxygen via nasal cannula at 2 L/min, and an IV has been established. His blood pressure is
180/100 mm Hg. Which drug do you anticipate giving to this patient?
A. aspirin
B. glucose (D50)
C. nicardipine
D. rtPA - ANSWER-A. aspirin
A patient with sinus bradycardia and a heart rate of 42/min has diaphoresis and a blood pressure of
80/60 mm Hg. What is the initial dose of atropine?
A. 0.1 mg
B. 0.5 mg
C. 1 mg
D. 3 mg - ANSWER-B. 0.5 mg
A patient with STEMI has ongoing chest discomfort. Heparin 4000 units IV bolus and a heparin infusion
of 1000 unit per hour are being administered. The patient did not take aspirin because he has a history
of gastritis, which was treated 5 years ago. What is your next action?
A. give aspirin 160 to 325 mg to chew
B. give clopidogrel 300 mg orally
C. give enteric-coated aspirin 75 mg orally
D. give enteric-coated aspirin 325 mg rectally - ANSWER-A. give aspirin 160 to 325 mg to chew
, A patient is in pulseless ventricular tachycardia. Two shocks and 1 dose of epinephrine have been given.
Which drug should be given next?
A. adenosine 6 mg
B. amiodarone 300 mg
C. epinephrine 3 mg
D. lidocaine 0.5 mg/kg - ANSWER-B. amiodarone 300 mg
What is the indication for the us of magnesium in cardiac arrest?
A. ventricular tachycardia associated with a normal QT
interval
B. shock-refractory monomorphic ventricular tachycardia
C. pulseless ventricular tachycardia-associated torsades
de pointes
D. shock-refractory ventricular fibrillation - ANSWER-C. pulseless ventricular tachycardia-associated
torsades de pointes
In which situation does bradycardia require treatment?
A. 12-lead ECG showing a normal sinus rhythm
B. hypotension
C. diastolic blood pressure greater than 90 mm Hg
D. systolic blood pressure greater than 100 mm Hg - ANSWER-B. hypotension
You arrive on the scene with the code team. High-quality CPR is in progress. An AED has previously
advised "no shock indicated." A rhythm check now finds asystole. After resuming high-quality
compressions, which action do you take next?
A. call for a pulse check
CORRECT ANSWERS CURRENTLY TESTING
You are caring for a 66-year-old man with a history of a large intracerebral hemorrhage 2 months ago.
He is being evaluated for another acute stroke. The CT scan is negative for hemorrhage. The patient is
receiving oxygen via nasal cannula at 2 L/min, and an IV has been established. His blood pressure is
180/100 mm Hg. Which drug do you anticipate giving to this patient?
A. aspirin
B. glucose (D50)
C. nicardipine
D. rtPA - ANSWER-A. aspirin
A patient with sinus bradycardia and a heart rate of 42/min has diaphoresis and a blood pressure of
80/60 mm Hg. What is the initial dose of atropine?
A. 0.1 mg
B. 0.5 mg
C. 1 mg
D. 3 mg - ANSWER-B. 0.5 mg
A patient with STEMI has ongoing chest discomfort. Heparin 4000 units IV bolus and a heparin infusion
of 1000 unit per hour are being administered. The patient did not take aspirin because he has a history
of gastritis, which was treated 5 years ago. What is your next action?
A. give aspirin 160 to 325 mg to chew
B. give clopidogrel 300 mg orally
C. give enteric-coated aspirin 75 mg orally
D. give enteric-coated aspirin 325 mg rectally - ANSWER-A. give aspirin 160 to 325 mg to chew
, A patient is in pulseless ventricular tachycardia. Two shocks and 1 dose of epinephrine have been given.
Which drug should be given next?
A. adenosine 6 mg
B. amiodarone 300 mg
C. epinephrine 3 mg
D. lidocaine 0.5 mg/kg - ANSWER-B. amiodarone 300 mg
What is the indication for the us of magnesium in cardiac arrest?
A. ventricular tachycardia associated with a normal QT
interval
B. shock-refractory monomorphic ventricular tachycardia
C. pulseless ventricular tachycardia-associated torsades
de pointes
D. shock-refractory ventricular fibrillation - ANSWER-C. pulseless ventricular tachycardia-associated
torsades de pointes
In which situation does bradycardia require treatment?
A. 12-lead ECG showing a normal sinus rhythm
B. hypotension
C. diastolic blood pressure greater than 90 mm Hg
D. systolic blood pressure greater than 100 mm Hg - ANSWER-B. hypotension
You arrive on the scene with the code team. High-quality CPR is in progress. An AED has previously
advised "no shock indicated." A rhythm check now finds asystole. After resuming high-quality
compressions, which action do you take next?
A. call for a pulse check
