ACLS FINAL EXAM (4 VERSIONS) NEWEST 2026
(GRADED A+ 100% DETAILED VERIFIED ANSWERS)
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? - ANSWER-Hyperkalemia
A patient is admitted to the emergency department with signs and symptoms of stroke. The
stroke team should complete a comprehensive neurologic assessment and obtain brain
imaging results within what time frame? - ANSWER-Within 20 minutes
The patient is awake and alert. She states that she does not have any medical history and
has never felt like this before. She mentions that she feels like she may pass out. Which of
the following are initial steps of the primary assessment? - ANSWER-Monitor heart rhythm
and VS, assess abc's, 12-lead ECG, establish IV
The patient is placed on a heart monitor. What is her heart rhythm? - ANSWER-Mobitz type II
second degree AV block
Which statement accurately reflects the management of cardiac arrest in a pregnancy of 26
weeks' gestation? - ANSWER-Resuscitative cesarean delivery (RCD) should be performed
within 5 minutes from the time of arrest.
,Assessment of a patient reveals an ETCO2 level of 55 mmHg and an arterial oxygen
saturation (SaO2) level of 88%. The provider would interpret these findings as indicative of
which condition? - ANSWER-Respiratory failure
A 42-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with complaints of fatigue,
shortness of breath, back pain and nausea. A 12-lead ECG is obtained and shows ST-segment
depression in leads II, III, and aVF and intermittent runs of nonsustained ventricular
tachycardia. Cardiac serum markers are elevated. These findings suggest which condition? -
ANSWER-High-risk non-ST-segment elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS)
A 30-year-old patient has been brought to the emergency department in cardiac arrest. The
cardiac monitor shows the following rhythm. Interpretation of this rhythm would suggest
which of the following as a possible precipitating factor? - ANSWER-Electrocution
After cardiac arrest and successful resuscitation, the patient has a return of spontaneous
circulation. The patient is unable to follow verbal commands. Targeted temperature
management is initiated. Which method(s) would be appropriate for the resuscitation team
to use? - ANSWER-Using an endovascular catheter
Giving an ice-cold IV fluid bolus
Applying cooling blankets to the patient's body
Which statements accurately reflect the recommendations for post-cardiac arrest
neuroprognostication? - ANSWER-Post-cardiac arrest neuroprognostication should be
multimodal.
Decision-making related to the continuation or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments
should be delayed until 72 hours after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and
following return to normothermia.
,A patient in the telemetry unit is receiving continuous cardiac monitoring. The patient has a
history of myocardial infarction. The patient's ECG rhythm strip is shown in the following
figure. The provider interprets this strip as indicating which arrhythmia? - ANSWER-Third-
degree AV block
A patient with bradycardia and signs of hemodynamic compromise does not respond to
atropine. Which interventions could the healthcare provider use next? - ANSWER-Epinephrine
or dopamine infusion
Transcutaneous pacing
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? - ANSWER-Tension pneumothorax
Which statements accurately reflect the recommendations for post-cardiac arrest patient
care? - ANSWER-Perfusion should be assessed and maintained to ensure the best outcome
for the post-cardiac arrest patient.
Arterial blood gases may be used to guide ventilation and oxygenation in the post-cardiac
arrest patient.
A patient is in cardiac arrest. The underlying cause is thought to be opioid toxicity. Which
statement accurately describes the use of naloxone for this patient? - ANSWER-Naloxone
, should be administered as soon as possible but is not a priority over high-quality CPR and
AED use.
The ECG rhythm strip of a patient who arrived in the emergency department complaining of
dizziness, syncope and shortness of breath reveals sinus bradycardia. When reviewing the
patient's medication history, the healthcare provider identifies which agent(s) as a potential
cause of the patient's current condition? - ANSWER-Metoprolol
Digoxin
Verapamil
What is the correct technique for performing left uterine displacement (LUD) for a pregnant
patient in cardiac arrest whose fundus is at or above the umbilicus? - ANSWER-Position
yourself on the patient's left side. Reach across the patient, place both hands on the right
side of the uterus and pull the uterus to the left and up.
A member of the resuscitation team is preparing to administer medications intravenously to
a patient in cardiac arrest. The team member should follow each peripherally administered
drug dose with a normal saline flush. How much would the team member give? - ANSWER-10
to 20 mL
A patient is admitted to the emergency department of a large medical center. The patient is
diagnosed with STEMI. The facility is capable of administering PCI. To achieve the best
outcomes, therapy should be administered to this patient within what time frame? -
ANSWER-Within 90 minutes of the patient's first medical contact
The following capnogram is from a patient experiencing respiratory distress. At which point
in the waveform would the patient's ETCO2 level be measured? - ANSWER-D
(GRADED A+ 100% DETAILED VERIFIED ANSWERS)
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? - ANSWER-Hyperkalemia
A patient is admitted to the emergency department with signs and symptoms of stroke. The
stroke team should complete a comprehensive neurologic assessment and obtain brain
imaging results within what time frame? - ANSWER-Within 20 minutes
The patient is awake and alert. She states that she does not have any medical history and
has never felt like this before. She mentions that she feels like she may pass out. Which of
the following are initial steps of the primary assessment? - ANSWER-Monitor heart rhythm
and VS, assess abc's, 12-lead ECG, establish IV
The patient is placed on a heart monitor. What is her heart rhythm? - ANSWER-Mobitz type II
second degree AV block
Which statement accurately reflects the management of cardiac arrest in a pregnancy of 26
weeks' gestation? - ANSWER-Resuscitative cesarean delivery (RCD) should be performed
within 5 minutes from the time of arrest.
,Assessment of a patient reveals an ETCO2 level of 55 mmHg and an arterial oxygen
saturation (SaO2) level of 88%. The provider would interpret these findings as indicative of
which condition? - ANSWER-Respiratory failure
A 42-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with complaints of fatigue,
shortness of breath, back pain and nausea. A 12-lead ECG is obtained and shows ST-segment
depression in leads II, III, and aVF and intermittent runs of nonsustained ventricular
tachycardia. Cardiac serum markers are elevated. These findings suggest which condition? -
ANSWER-High-risk non-ST-segment elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS)
A 30-year-old patient has been brought to the emergency department in cardiac arrest. The
cardiac monitor shows the following rhythm. Interpretation of this rhythm would suggest
which of the following as a possible precipitating factor? - ANSWER-Electrocution
After cardiac arrest and successful resuscitation, the patient has a return of spontaneous
circulation. The patient is unable to follow verbal commands. Targeted temperature
management is initiated. Which method(s) would be appropriate for the resuscitation team
to use? - ANSWER-Using an endovascular catheter
Giving an ice-cold IV fluid bolus
Applying cooling blankets to the patient's body
Which statements accurately reflect the recommendations for post-cardiac arrest
neuroprognostication? - ANSWER-Post-cardiac arrest neuroprognostication should be
multimodal.
Decision-making related to the continuation or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments
should be delayed until 72 hours after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and
following return to normothermia.
,A patient in the telemetry unit is receiving continuous cardiac monitoring. The patient has a
history of myocardial infarction. The patient's ECG rhythm strip is shown in the following
figure. The provider interprets this strip as indicating which arrhythmia? - ANSWER-Third-
degree AV block
A patient with bradycardia and signs of hemodynamic compromise does not respond to
atropine. Which interventions could the healthcare provider use next? - ANSWER-Epinephrine
or dopamine infusion
Transcutaneous pacing
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? - ANSWER-Tension pneumothorax
Which statements accurately reflect the recommendations for post-cardiac arrest patient
care? - ANSWER-Perfusion should be assessed and maintained to ensure the best outcome
for the post-cardiac arrest patient.
Arterial blood gases may be used to guide ventilation and oxygenation in the post-cardiac
arrest patient.
A patient is in cardiac arrest. The underlying cause is thought to be opioid toxicity. Which
statement accurately describes the use of naloxone for this patient? - ANSWER-Naloxone
, should be administered as soon as possible but is not a priority over high-quality CPR and
AED use.
The ECG rhythm strip of a patient who arrived in the emergency department complaining of
dizziness, syncope and shortness of breath reveals sinus bradycardia. When reviewing the
patient's medication history, the healthcare provider identifies which agent(s) as a potential
cause of the patient's current condition? - ANSWER-Metoprolol
Digoxin
Verapamil
What is the correct technique for performing left uterine displacement (LUD) for a pregnant
patient in cardiac arrest whose fundus is at or above the umbilicus? - ANSWER-Position
yourself on the patient's left side. Reach across the patient, place both hands on the right
side of the uterus and pull the uterus to the left and up.
A member of the resuscitation team is preparing to administer medications intravenously to
a patient in cardiac arrest. The team member should follow each peripherally administered
drug dose with a normal saline flush. How much would the team member give? - ANSWER-10
to 20 mL
A patient is admitted to the emergency department of a large medical center. The patient is
diagnosed with STEMI. The facility is capable of administering PCI. To achieve the best
outcomes, therapy should be administered to this patient within what time frame? -
ANSWER-Within 90 minutes of the patient's first medical contact
The following capnogram is from a patient experiencing respiratory distress. At which point
in the waveform would the patient's ETCO2 level be measured? - ANSWER-D
