ACLS EXAM QUESTIONS
ACLS EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
In which situation does bradycardia require treatment? ANS
>> Hypotension
Which intervention is most appropriate for the treatment of a
patient in asystole? ANS >> Epinephrine
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?
ANS >> Establish IV or IO access
A monitored patient in the ICU developed a sudden onset of
narrow-complex tachycardia at a rate of 220/min. The patient's
,ACLS EXAM QUESTIONS
blood pressure is 128/58 mm Hg, the PETCO2 is 38mm Hg, and
the pulse oximetry reading is 98%. There is vascular access in
the left arm, and the patient has not been given any vasoactive
drugs. A 12-lead ECG confirm a supraventricular tachycardia
with no evidence of ischemia or infarction. The heart rate has
not responded to vagal manoeuvres. what is your next action?
ANS >> Administer adenosine 6mg IV push
A patient has sinus bradycardia with a heart rate of 36/min.
Atropine has been administered to a toil does of 3 mg. A
transcutaneous pacemaker has failed to capture. The patient is
confused, and her blood pressure is 88/56 mm Hg. Which
therapy is now indicated? ANS >> Epinephrine 2 to 10
mcg/min
A patient is in cardiac arrest. Ventricular fibrillation has been
refractory to a second shock. Which drug should be
administered first? ANS >> Epinephrine 1 mg IV/IO
A 62-year-old man suddenly experienced difficulty speaking and
left-sided weakness. He meets initial criteria for fibrinolytic
therapy, and a CT scan of the brain is ordered. Which best
describes the guidelines for antiplatelet and fibrinolytic
,ACLS EXAM QUESTIONS
therapy? ANS >> Hold aspirin for at least 24 hours if tap is
administered
A patient is in refractory ventricular fibrillation and has received
multiple appropriate defibrillation shocks, epinephrine 1 mg IV
twice, and an initial dose of amiodarone 300mg IV. The patient
is intubated. Which best describe the recommended second
does of amiodarone for this patient? ANS >> 150 mg IV push
A patient with sinus bradycardia and a heart rate of 42/min has
diaphoresis and a blood pressure of 80/60mm Hg. What is the
initial does of atropine? ANS >> 0.5mg
A 35-year-old woman has palpitations, light-headedness, and a
stable tachycardia. The monitor shows a regular narrow-
complex QRS at a rate of 180/min. Vagal manoeuvres have not
been effective in terminating the rhythm. An IV has been
established. Which drug should be administered? ANS >>
Adenosine 6mg
A patient is in cardiac arrest. Ventricular fibrillation has been
refractory to an initial shock. If no pathway for medication
administration is in place, which method is preferred? ANS >>
IV or IO
, ACLS EXAM QUESTIONS
What is the indication for the use of magnesium in cardiac
arrest? ANS >> Pulseless ventricular tachycardia-associated
torsades de pointes
A patient has a rapid irregular wide-complex tachycardia. The
ventricular rate is 138/min. He is asymptomatic, with a blood
pressure of 110/70 mm Hg. He has a history of angina. What
action is recommended next? ANS >> Seeking expert
consultation
A patient is in cardiac arrest. High-quality chest compressions
are being given. The patient is intubated, and an IV has been
started. The rhythm is asystole. What is the first drug/dose to
administer? ANS >> Epinephrine 1mg IV/IO
A patient is in refractory ventricular fibrillation. High-quality
CPR is in progress. One does of epinephrine was given after the
second shock. An antiarrhythmic drug was given immediately
after the third shock. You are the team leader. Which
medication do you order next. ANS >> Epinephrine 1 mg
ACLS EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
In which situation does bradycardia require treatment? ANS
>> Hypotension
Which intervention is most appropriate for the treatment of a
patient in asystole? ANS >> Epinephrine
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?
ANS >> Establish IV or IO access
A monitored patient in the ICU developed a sudden onset of
narrow-complex tachycardia at a rate of 220/min. The patient's
,ACLS EXAM QUESTIONS
blood pressure is 128/58 mm Hg, the PETCO2 is 38mm Hg, and
the pulse oximetry reading is 98%. There is vascular access in
the left arm, and the patient has not been given any vasoactive
drugs. A 12-lead ECG confirm a supraventricular tachycardia
with no evidence of ischemia or infarction. The heart rate has
not responded to vagal manoeuvres. what is your next action?
ANS >> Administer adenosine 6mg IV push
A patient has sinus bradycardia with a heart rate of 36/min.
Atropine has been administered to a toil does of 3 mg. A
transcutaneous pacemaker has failed to capture. The patient is
confused, and her blood pressure is 88/56 mm Hg. Which
therapy is now indicated? ANS >> Epinephrine 2 to 10
mcg/min
A patient is in cardiac arrest. Ventricular fibrillation has been
refractory to a second shock. Which drug should be
administered first? ANS >> Epinephrine 1 mg IV/IO
A 62-year-old man suddenly experienced difficulty speaking and
left-sided weakness. He meets initial criteria for fibrinolytic
therapy, and a CT scan of the brain is ordered. Which best
describes the guidelines for antiplatelet and fibrinolytic
,ACLS EXAM QUESTIONS
therapy? ANS >> Hold aspirin for at least 24 hours if tap is
administered
A patient is in refractory ventricular fibrillation and has received
multiple appropriate defibrillation shocks, epinephrine 1 mg IV
twice, and an initial dose of amiodarone 300mg IV. The patient
is intubated. Which best describe the recommended second
does of amiodarone for this patient? ANS >> 150 mg IV push
A patient with sinus bradycardia and a heart rate of 42/min has
diaphoresis and a blood pressure of 80/60mm Hg. What is the
initial does of atropine? ANS >> 0.5mg
A 35-year-old woman has palpitations, light-headedness, and a
stable tachycardia. The monitor shows a regular narrow-
complex QRS at a rate of 180/min. Vagal manoeuvres have not
been effective in terminating the rhythm. An IV has been
established. Which drug should be administered? ANS >>
Adenosine 6mg
A patient is in cardiac arrest. Ventricular fibrillation has been
refractory to an initial shock. If no pathway for medication
administration is in place, which method is preferred? ANS >>
IV or IO
, ACLS EXAM QUESTIONS
What is the indication for the use of magnesium in cardiac
arrest? ANS >> Pulseless ventricular tachycardia-associated
torsades de pointes
A patient has a rapid irregular wide-complex tachycardia. The
ventricular rate is 138/min. He is asymptomatic, with a blood
pressure of 110/70 mm Hg. He has a history of angina. What
action is recommended next? ANS >> Seeking expert
consultation
A patient is in cardiac arrest. High-quality chest compressions
are being given. The patient is intubated, and an IV has been
started. The rhythm is asystole. What is the first drug/dose to
administer? ANS >> Epinephrine 1mg IV/IO
A patient is in refractory ventricular fibrillation. High-quality
CPR is in progress. One does of epinephrine was given after the
second shock. An antiarrhythmic drug was given immediately
after the third shock. You are the team leader. Which
medication do you order next. ANS >> Epinephrine 1 mg
