A NEW UPDATED VERSION CARDIOLOGY PRACTICE
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES (MOST TESTED QUESTIONS FROM
PAST EXAMS) |ALREADY GRADED A+ (FULL REVISED
EXAM)
Which of the following is the BEST indicator of cardiac output? - ANSWER: Pulse rate
and quality
Switching compressors during two-rescuer CPR - ANSWER: Should occur every 2
minutes throughout arrest
In addition to chest pain or discomfort, a patient experiencing an acute coronary
syndrome would MOST likely present with - ANSWER: Ashen skin color, diaphoresis,
and anxiety
Prior to administering nitroglycerin to a patient with chest pain, you should -
ANSWER: Obtain vital signs to detect hypotension
Which of the following is the MOST appropriate response when a patient with chest
pain asks you if he or she is having a heart attack? - ANSWER: I don't know but we
will take good care of you
A 50-year-old man presents with crushing chest pain that suddenly began about 30
minutes ago. He is diaphoretic and anxious. The EMT should - ANSWER: Administer
chewable aspirin
Aspirin may be contraindicated in patients with - ANSWER: Stomach ulcers
The wall that separates the left and right sides of the heart is called the - ANSWER:
Septum
A 58-year-old man is found unresponsive by his wife. According to his wife, he was
complaining of a "dull ache" in his chest the day before, but refused to allow her to
call 911. His blood pressure is 70/50 mm Hg, his pulse is 120 beats/min and weak,
and his respirations are 28 breaths/min and labored. Further assessment reveals that
his skin is cool, pale, and clammy. You should suspect - ANSWER: Cardiogenic shock
The MOST important initial treatment for a patient whose cardiac arrest was
witnessed - ANSWER: High-quality CPR
Which of the following is an abnormal finding when using the Cincinnati Stroke Scale
to assess a patient who presents with signs of a stroke - ANSWER: One arm drifts
down compared with the other side
, Ischemic heart disease is a condition in which - ANSWER: There is a decrease in
blood flow to one or more portions of the heart muscle
Use of the automated external defibrillator is contraindicated in patients who -
ANSWER: Are apneic and have a weak carotid pulse
A 65-year-old man has generalized weakness and chest pressure. He has a bottle of
prescribed nitroglycerin, but states that he has not taken any of his medication. The
EMT should - ANSWER: Administer up to 325 mg of aspirin if the patient is not
allergic to it
While transporting an elderly woman who was complaining of nausea, vomiting, and
weakness, she suddenly becomes unresponsive. You should - ANSWER: Assess for
signs of breathing and a pulse
A 50-year-old man's implanted defibrillator has fired twice within the last hour. He is
conscious and alert and complains of a "sore chest." Further assessment reveals that
his cheat pain is reproducible to palpation and is localized to the area of his
implanted defibrillator. Treatment for him should include - ANSWER: Prompt
transport with continuous monitoring en route
Sudden cardiac arrest in the adult population is MOST often the result of - ANSWER:
A cardiac dysrhythmia
Treatment for a patient with congestive heart failure and shortness of breath may
include - ANSWER: Up to three doses of sublingual nitroglycerin
Following administration of nitroglycerin to a man with crushing chest pressure, he
experiences a significant increase in his hear rate. This is MOST likely the result of -
ANSWER: A drop in blood pressure
Chest compression effectiveness is MOST effectively assessed by - ANSWER:
Palpating for a carotid pulse with each compression
Which of the following statements regarding ventricular fibrillation (V-Fib) is correct?
- ANSWER: In V-Fib, the heart is not pumping any blood and the patient is pulseless.
Which of the following chambers of the heart has the thickest walls? - ANSWER: Left
ventricle
Which of the following structures is the primary pacemaker, which sets the normal
rate for the heart? - ANSWER: Sinoatrial (SA) node
Which of the following describes pulseless electrical activity (PEA)? - ANSWER: Any
organized cardiac rhythm, slow or fast, that does not produce a palpable pulse
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES (MOST TESTED QUESTIONS FROM
PAST EXAMS) |ALREADY GRADED A+ (FULL REVISED
EXAM)
Which of the following is the BEST indicator of cardiac output? - ANSWER: Pulse rate
and quality
Switching compressors during two-rescuer CPR - ANSWER: Should occur every 2
minutes throughout arrest
In addition to chest pain or discomfort, a patient experiencing an acute coronary
syndrome would MOST likely present with - ANSWER: Ashen skin color, diaphoresis,
and anxiety
Prior to administering nitroglycerin to a patient with chest pain, you should -
ANSWER: Obtain vital signs to detect hypotension
Which of the following is the MOST appropriate response when a patient with chest
pain asks you if he or she is having a heart attack? - ANSWER: I don't know but we
will take good care of you
A 50-year-old man presents with crushing chest pain that suddenly began about 30
minutes ago. He is diaphoretic and anxious. The EMT should - ANSWER: Administer
chewable aspirin
Aspirin may be contraindicated in patients with - ANSWER: Stomach ulcers
The wall that separates the left and right sides of the heart is called the - ANSWER:
Septum
A 58-year-old man is found unresponsive by his wife. According to his wife, he was
complaining of a "dull ache" in his chest the day before, but refused to allow her to
call 911. His blood pressure is 70/50 mm Hg, his pulse is 120 beats/min and weak,
and his respirations are 28 breaths/min and labored. Further assessment reveals that
his skin is cool, pale, and clammy. You should suspect - ANSWER: Cardiogenic shock
The MOST important initial treatment for a patient whose cardiac arrest was
witnessed - ANSWER: High-quality CPR
Which of the following is an abnormal finding when using the Cincinnati Stroke Scale
to assess a patient who presents with signs of a stroke - ANSWER: One arm drifts
down compared with the other side
, Ischemic heart disease is a condition in which - ANSWER: There is a decrease in
blood flow to one or more portions of the heart muscle
Use of the automated external defibrillator is contraindicated in patients who -
ANSWER: Are apneic and have a weak carotid pulse
A 65-year-old man has generalized weakness and chest pressure. He has a bottle of
prescribed nitroglycerin, but states that he has not taken any of his medication. The
EMT should - ANSWER: Administer up to 325 mg of aspirin if the patient is not
allergic to it
While transporting an elderly woman who was complaining of nausea, vomiting, and
weakness, she suddenly becomes unresponsive. You should - ANSWER: Assess for
signs of breathing and a pulse
A 50-year-old man's implanted defibrillator has fired twice within the last hour. He is
conscious and alert and complains of a "sore chest." Further assessment reveals that
his cheat pain is reproducible to palpation and is localized to the area of his
implanted defibrillator. Treatment for him should include - ANSWER: Prompt
transport with continuous monitoring en route
Sudden cardiac arrest in the adult population is MOST often the result of - ANSWER:
A cardiac dysrhythmia
Treatment for a patient with congestive heart failure and shortness of breath may
include - ANSWER: Up to three doses of sublingual nitroglycerin
Following administration of nitroglycerin to a man with crushing chest pressure, he
experiences a significant increase in his hear rate. This is MOST likely the result of -
ANSWER: A drop in blood pressure
Chest compression effectiveness is MOST effectively assessed by - ANSWER:
Palpating for a carotid pulse with each compression
Which of the following statements regarding ventricular fibrillation (V-Fib) is correct?
- ANSWER: In V-Fib, the heart is not pumping any blood and the patient is pulseless.
Which of the following chambers of the heart has the thickest walls? - ANSWER: Left
ventricle
Which of the following structures is the primary pacemaker, which sets the normal
rate for the heart? - ANSWER: Sinoatrial (SA) node
Which of the following describes pulseless electrical activity (PEA)? - ANSWER: Any
organized cardiac rhythm, slow or fast, that does not produce a palpable pulse
