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CEN CARDIOVASCULAR EMERGENCIES 2025
UPDATED ACTUAL EXAM WITH CORRECT
SOLUTIONS.
Preload refers to:
a. The volume of blood entering the left side of the heart
b. The volume of blood entering the right side of the heart
c. The pressure in the venous system that the heart must
overcome to pump the blood
d. The pressure in the arterial system that the heart must
overcome to pump the blood - correct answer- b. Preload is the
volume of blood that enters the right side of the heart. This
volume stretches the fibers in the heart prior to contraction.
Preload is commonly measured as atrial pressure.
When suctioning during a cardiac arrest, suctioning should be
limited to which of the following?
a. Less than 5 seconds
b. Less than 10 seconds
c. Less than 20 seconds
d. Less than 30 seconds - correct answer- B. According to the
2010 BLS and ACLS guidelines, suctioning for longer than 10
seconds may result in pulling too much oxygen out of the
airways resulting in hypoxemia.
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You are caring for a 65 year old who collapsed outside of the
hospital and was brought in to the emergency department.
During CPR, quantitative waveform capnography shows a
PETCO2 level < 10 mm HG. Which of the following is the
correct response to this finding?
a. Do nothing; this is normal.
b. Increase the amount of oxygen being delivered.
c. Attempt to improve the quality of CPR.
d. Decrease the amount of oxygen being delivered. - correct
answer- C. Quantitative waveform capnography provides a
good indication of the quality of CPR. Levels < 10 mm HG
indicate either a problem with the quality of CPR or with the
placement of the ETT. EtCO2 levels of ≤10 mmHg predicted
death in adult patients with cardiac arrest. Measurement of
EtCO2 varies directly with the cardiac output produced by chest
compression . Goal is 35-45mmg HG or 5-6% CO2.
You are caring for an 85 year old and are having trouble
establishing an intravenous line. The ED physician asks for an
intraosseous needle to establish an IO line for medication
administration. Which of the following is TRUE about the
intraosseous route of drug administration?
a. It should only be done on children under the age of 16.
b. It is preferred over the IV route of drug administration.
c. It should only be attempted after all other routes have been
attempted.
d. Any drug or fluid can be administered via the IO route. -
correct answer- D. Any drug that can be given via the IV route
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can also be given via the IO route. Although commonly thought
of in reference to pediatric patients, an IO route can be
established on any age person. IO access is the preferred route
over the ETT but not IV route; it is often the easiest route to
establish while CPR is being done.
You have defibrillated the patient in ventricular fibrillation. The
appropriate action to take next is:
a. Do CPR for a 2-minute cycle.
b. Obtain an ECG to determine the rhythm.
c. Defibrillate again at a higher dose.
d. Give IV Epinephrine. - correct answer- A. The 2010 ACLS
guidelines no longer recommend the stacked defibrillation.
Instead, a 2-minute cycle of CPR should be done as the
defibrillator is charging.
A 55-year-old patient is diagnosed with Acute Coronary
Syndrome (ACS). The ED nurse should expect to give
medications to relieve pain and prevent clots. Assuming oxygen
is needed, what is the correct sequence for these frontline
drugs?
a. Oxygen, Aspirin, Nitroglycerin, Morphine
b. Aspirin, Oxygen, Nitroglycerin, Morphine
c. Nitroglycerin, Oxygen, Aspirin, Morphine
d. Aspirin, Oxygen, Morphine, Nitroglycerin - correct answer- A.
Oxygen should be the first drug given for the patient with ACS.
Aspirin is the front line drug for dissolving clots associated with
CEN CARDIOVASCULAR EMERGENCIES 2025
UPDATED ACTUAL EXAM WITH CORRECT
SOLUTIONS.
Preload refers to:
a. The volume of blood entering the left side of the heart
b. The volume of blood entering the right side of the heart
c. The pressure in the venous system that the heart must
overcome to pump the blood
d. The pressure in the arterial system that the heart must
overcome to pump the blood - correct answer- b. Preload is the
volume of blood that enters the right side of the heart. This
volume stretches the fibers in the heart prior to contraction.
Preload is commonly measured as atrial pressure.
When suctioning during a cardiac arrest, suctioning should be
limited to which of the following?
a. Less than 5 seconds
b. Less than 10 seconds
c. Less than 20 seconds
d. Less than 30 seconds - correct answer- B. According to the
2010 BLS and ACLS guidelines, suctioning for longer than 10
seconds may result in pulling too much oxygen out of the
airways resulting in hypoxemia.
,2 | Page
You are caring for a 65 year old who collapsed outside of the
hospital and was brought in to the emergency department.
During CPR, quantitative waveform capnography shows a
PETCO2 level < 10 mm HG. Which of the following is the
correct response to this finding?
a. Do nothing; this is normal.
b. Increase the amount of oxygen being delivered.
c. Attempt to improve the quality of CPR.
d. Decrease the amount of oxygen being delivered. - correct
answer- C. Quantitative waveform capnography provides a
good indication of the quality of CPR. Levels < 10 mm HG
indicate either a problem with the quality of CPR or with the
placement of the ETT. EtCO2 levels of ≤10 mmHg predicted
death in adult patients with cardiac arrest. Measurement of
EtCO2 varies directly with the cardiac output produced by chest
compression . Goal is 35-45mmg HG or 5-6% CO2.
You are caring for an 85 year old and are having trouble
establishing an intravenous line. The ED physician asks for an
intraosseous needle to establish an IO line for medication
administration. Which of the following is TRUE about the
intraosseous route of drug administration?
a. It should only be done on children under the age of 16.
b. It is preferred over the IV route of drug administration.
c. It should only be attempted after all other routes have been
attempted.
d. Any drug or fluid can be administered via the IO route. -
correct answer- D. Any drug that can be given via the IV route
, 3 | Page
can also be given via the IO route. Although commonly thought
of in reference to pediatric patients, an IO route can be
established on any age person. IO access is the preferred route
over the ETT but not IV route; it is often the easiest route to
establish while CPR is being done.
You have defibrillated the patient in ventricular fibrillation. The
appropriate action to take next is:
a. Do CPR for a 2-minute cycle.
b. Obtain an ECG to determine the rhythm.
c. Defibrillate again at a higher dose.
d. Give IV Epinephrine. - correct answer- A. The 2010 ACLS
guidelines no longer recommend the stacked defibrillation.
Instead, a 2-minute cycle of CPR should be done as the
defibrillator is charging.
A 55-year-old patient is diagnosed with Acute Coronary
Syndrome (ACS). The ED nurse should expect to give
medications to relieve pain and prevent clots. Assuming oxygen
is needed, what is the correct sequence for these frontline
drugs?
a. Oxygen, Aspirin, Nitroglycerin, Morphine
b. Aspirin, Oxygen, Nitroglycerin, Morphine
c. Nitroglycerin, Oxygen, Aspirin, Morphine
d. Aspirin, Oxygen, Morphine, Nitroglycerin - correct answer- A.
Oxygen should be the first drug given for the patient with ACS.
Aspirin is the front line drug for dissolving clots associated with
