ACLS Exam A 2025
Which of these tests should be performed for a pt with suspected stroke as early as possible but
no more than 20 min after hospital arrival?
Noncontrast CT scan of head
Which best describes this rhythm?
Monomorphic Vent Tach
Which is an acceptable method of selecting an appropriately sized oropharyngeal airway?
Measure from the corner of the mouth to the angle of mandible
You are caring for a pt with a suspected stroke whose symptoms started 2 hours ago. The CT
scan was normal, with no signs of hemorrhage. The pt does not have any contraindications to
fibrinolytic therapy. Which treatment is best for this pt?
Give fibrinolytic therapy as soon as possible and consider endovascular therapy
Which is the recommended next step after a defibrillation attempt?
Resume CPR, starting with chest compressions
Which of the following signs is a likely indicator of cardiac arrest in an unresponsive pt?
Agonal gasps
You are evaluating a 58YO man with chest discomfort. His BP is 92/50 mmHG, his HR is
92/min, his nonlabored RR is 14/min, and his pulse ox is 97%. Which assessment step is most
important now?
Obtaining a 12-lead ECG
During post-cardiac arrest care, which is the recommended duration of targeted temperature
management after reaching the correct temperature range?
At least 24 hours
Your rescue team arrives to find a 59YO man lying on the kitchen floor. You determine that he is
unresponsive. What is the next step in your assessment and management of this pt?
Check the pt's breathing and pulse
(SET) A 45YO man had coronary stents placed 2 days ago. Today he is in severe distress and is
reporting "crushing" chest discomfort. Pale, diaphoretic, cool to touch, weak radial pulse, BP
64/40 mmHg, RR 28/min, 89% RA. VTach changed to VFib.
,On the basis of this pt's initial presentation, which condition do you suspect led to the cardiac
arrest?
Acute Coronary Syndrome
(SET) A 45YO man had coronary stents placed 2 days ago. Today he is in severe distress and is
reporting "crushing" chest discomfort. Pale, diaphoretic, cool to touch, weak radial pulse, BP
64/40 mmHg, RR 28/min, 89% RA. VTach changed to VFib.
In addition to defibrillation, which intervention should be performed immediately?
Chest compressions
(SET) A 45YO man had coronary stents placed 2 days ago. Today he is in severe distress and is
reporting "crushing" chest discomfort. Pale, diaphoretic, cool to touch, weak radial pulse, BP
64/40 mmHg, RR 28/min, 89% RA. VTach changed to VFib.
Despite 2 defib attempts, the pt remains in VFib. Which drug and dose should you administer
FIRST to this pt?
Epi 1mg
(SET) A 45YO man had coronary stents placed 2 days ago. Today he is in severe distress and is
reporting "crushing" chest discomfort. Pale, diaphoretic, cool to touch, weak radial pulse, BP
64/40 mmHg, RR 28/min, 89% RA. VTach changed to VFib.
Despite the drug provided above and continued CPR, the pt remains in VFib. Which other drug
should be administered NEXT?
Lido 1 to 1.5mg/kg
(SET) A 45YO man had coronary stents placed 2 days ago. Today he is in severe distress and is
reporting "crushing" chest discomfort. Pale, diaphoretic, cool to touch, weak radial pulse, BP
64/40 mmHg, RR 28/min, 89% RA. VTach changed to VFib.
The pt has ROSC and is not able to follow commands. Which immediate post-cardiac arrest care
intervention do you choose for this pt?
Initiate targeted temperature management
(SET) A 45YO man had coronary stents placed 2 days ago. Today he is in severe distress and is
reporting "crushing" chest discomfort. Pale, diaphoretic, cool to touch, weak radial pulse, BP
64/40 mmHg, RR 28/min, 89% RA. VTach changed to VFib.
, Which would you have done first if the pt had not gone into VFib?
Performed synchronized cardioversion
How can you increase chest compression fraction during a code?
Charge the defib 15s before conducting a rhythm check
A team member is unable to perform an assigned task because it is beyond the team member's
scope of practice. Which action should the team member take?
Ask for a new task or role
In addition to clinical assessment, which is the most reliable method to confirm and monitor
correct placement of the ET tube?
Continuous waveform capnography
Your pt is in cardiac arrest and has been intubated. To assess CPR quality, which should you do?
Monitor the pt's PETCO2
Three minutes into a cardiac arrest resuscitation attempt, one member of your team inserts an ET
tube while another performs chest compressions. Capnography shows a persistent waveform and
a PETCO2 of 8mmHg. Which is the significance of this finding?
Chest compressions may not be effective
If a team member is about to make a mistake during a resuscitation attempt, which best describes
the action that the Team Leader or other team members should take?
Address the team member immediately
A pt in stable narrow-complex tachycardia with a peripheral IV in place is refractory to the first
dose of adenosine. Which dose would you administer next?
12mg
Which is the primary purpose of a medical emergency team or rapid response team?
Improving pt outcomes by identifying and treating early clinical deterioration
A pt is being resuscitated in a very noisy environment. A team member thinks he heard an order
for 500mg of amiodarone IV. Which is the best response from the team member?
"I have an order to give 500mg of amiodarone. Is this correct?"
Which is the recommended oral dose of aspirin for a pt with a suspected acute coronary
syndrome?
Which of these tests should be performed for a pt with suspected stroke as early as possible but
no more than 20 min after hospital arrival?
Noncontrast CT scan of head
Which best describes this rhythm?
Monomorphic Vent Tach
Which is an acceptable method of selecting an appropriately sized oropharyngeal airway?
Measure from the corner of the mouth to the angle of mandible
You are caring for a pt with a suspected stroke whose symptoms started 2 hours ago. The CT
scan was normal, with no signs of hemorrhage. The pt does not have any contraindications to
fibrinolytic therapy. Which treatment is best for this pt?
Give fibrinolytic therapy as soon as possible and consider endovascular therapy
Which is the recommended next step after a defibrillation attempt?
Resume CPR, starting with chest compressions
Which of the following signs is a likely indicator of cardiac arrest in an unresponsive pt?
Agonal gasps
You are evaluating a 58YO man with chest discomfort. His BP is 92/50 mmHG, his HR is
92/min, his nonlabored RR is 14/min, and his pulse ox is 97%. Which assessment step is most
important now?
Obtaining a 12-lead ECG
During post-cardiac arrest care, which is the recommended duration of targeted temperature
management after reaching the correct temperature range?
At least 24 hours
Your rescue team arrives to find a 59YO man lying on the kitchen floor. You determine that he is
unresponsive. What is the next step in your assessment and management of this pt?
Check the pt's breathing and pulse
(SET) A 45YO man had coronary stents placed 2 days ago. Today he is in severe distress and is
reporting "crushing" chest discomfort. Pale, diaphoretic, cool to touch, weak radial pulse, BP
64/40 mmHg, RR 28/min, 89% RA. VTach changed to VFib.
,On the basis of this pt's initial presentation, which condition do you suspect led to the cardiac
arrest?
Acute Coronary Syndrome
(SET) A 45YO man had coronary stents placed 2 days ago. Today he is in severe distress and is
reporting "crushing" chest discomfort. Pale, diaphoretic, cool to touch, weak radial pulse, BP
64/40 mmHg, RR 28/min, 89% RA. VTach changed to VFib.
In addition to defibrillation, which intervention should be performed immediately?
Chest compressions
(SET) A 45YO man had coronary stents placed 2 days ago. Today he is in severe distress and is
reporting "crushing" chest discomfort. Pale, diaphoretic, cool to touch, weak radial pulse, BP
64/40 mmHg, RR 28/min, 89% RA. VTach changed to VFib.
Despite 2 defib attempts, the pt remains in VFib. Which drug and dose should you administer
FIRST to this pt?
Epi 1mg
(SET) A 45YO man had coronary stents placed 2 days ago. Today he is in severe distress and is
reporting "crushing" chest discomfort. Pale, diaphoretic, cool to touch, weak radial pulse, BP
64/40 mmHg, RR 28/min, 89% RA. VTach changed to VFib.
Despite the drug provided above and continued CPR, the pt remains in VFib. Which other drug
should be administered NEXT?
Lido 1 to 1.5mg/kg
(SET) A 45YO man had coronary stents placed 2 days ago. Today he is in severe distress and is
reporting "crushing" chest discomfort. Pale, diaphoretic, cool to touch, weak radial pulse, BP
64/40 mmHg, RR 28/min, 89% RA. VTach changed to VFib.
The pt has ROSC and is not able to follow commands. Which immediate post-cardiac arrest care
intervention do you choose for this pt?
Initiate targeted temperature management
(SET) A 45YO man had coronary stents placed 2 days ago. Today he is in severe distress and is
reporting "crushing" chest discomfort. Pale, diaphoretic, cool to touch, weak radial pulse, BP
64/40 mmHg, RR 28/min, 89% RA. VTach changed to VFib.
, Which would you have done first if the pt had not gone into VFib?
Performed synchronized cardioversion
How can you increase chest compression fraction during a code?
Charge the defib 15s before conducting a rhythm check
A team member is unable to perform an assigned task because it is beyond the team member's
scope of practice. Which action should the team member take?
Ask for a new task or role
In addition to clinical assessment, which is the most reliable method to confirm and monitor
correct placement of the ET tube?
Continuous waveform capnography
Your pt is in cardiac arrest and has been intubated. To assess CPR quality, which should you do?
Monitor the pt's PETCO2
Three minutes into a cardiac arrest resuscitation attempt, one member of your team inserts an ET
tube while another performs chest compressions. Capnography shows a persistent waveform and
a PETCO2 of 8mmHg. Which is the significance of this finding?
Chest compressions may not be effective
If a team member is about to make a mistake during a resuscitation attempt, which best describes
the action that the Team Leader or other team members should take?
Address the team member immediately
A pt in stable narrow-complex tachycardia with a peripheral IV in place is refractory to the first
dose of adenosine. Which dose would you administer next?
12mg
Which is the primary purpose of a medical emergency team or rapid response team?
Improving pt outcomes by identifying and treating early clinical deterioration
A pt is being resuscitated in a very noisy environment. A team member thinks he heard an order
for 500mg of amiodarone IV. Which is the best response from the team member?
"I have an order to give 500mg of amiodarone. Is this correct?"
Which is the recommended oral dose of aspirin for a pt with a suspected acute coronary
syndrome?
