ACLS EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Your patient is in cardiac arrest and has been intubated. To assess
CPR quality, which should you do?
a. obtain a chest XRAY
b. check the patient's pulse
c. monitor the patient's PETCO2
d. obtain a 12-lead ECG
Answer c. monitor the patient's PETCO2
2. What is an effect of excessive ventilation?
a. decreased intrathoracic pressure
b. increased perfusion pressures
c. decreased cardiac output
d. increased venous return
Answer c. decreased cardiac output
3. In addition to clinical assessment, which is the most reliable
method to confirm and monitor correct placement of an
endotracheal tube?
a. arterial blood gas
,b. continuous waveform capnography
c. chest radiography
d. hemoglobin level
Answer b. continuous waveform capnography
4. Which is the recommended next step after a defibrillation attempt?
a. open the patient's airway
b. determine if a carotid pulse is present
c. resume CPR, starting with chest compressions
d. check the ECG for evidence of a rhythm
Answer c. resume CPR, starting with chest compressions
5. Which is the maximum interval you should allow for an
interruption in chest compressions?
a. 15 seconds
b. 20 seconds
c. 25 seconds
d. 10 seconds
Answer d. 10 seconds
6. A patient has a witnessed loss of
consciousness. The lead II ECG reveals
, this rhythm. Which is the appropriate treatment?
a. administration of epinephrine 1 mg IV push
b. administration of adenosine 6 mg IV push
c. defibrillation
d. synchronized cardioversion
Answer c. defibrillation
7. Three minutes into a cardiac arrest resuscitation attempt, one
member of your team insert an endotracheal tube while another
performs chest compres sions. Capnography shows a persistent
waveform and a PETCO2 of 8 mm Hg. Which is the significance of
this finding?
a. the endotracheal tue is in the esophagus
b. the patient meets the criteria for termination of efforts
1. Your patient is in cardiac arrest and has been intubated. To assess
CPR quality, which should you do?
a. obtain a chest XRAY
b. check the patient's pulse
c. monitor the patient's PETCO2
d. obtain a 12-lead ECG
Answer c. monitor the patient's PETCO2
2. What is an effect of excessive ventilation?
a. decreased intrathoracic pressure
b. increased perfusion pressures
c. decreased cardiac output
d. increased venous return
Answer c. decreased cardiac output
3. In addition to clinical assessment, which is the most reliable
method to confirm and monitor correct placement of an
endotracheal tube?
a. arterial blood gas
,b. continuous waveform capnography
c. chest radiography
d. hemoglobin level
Answer b. continuous waveform capnography
4. Which is the recommended next step after a defibrillation attempt?
a. open the patient's airway
b. determine if a carotid pulse is present
c. resume CPR, starting with chest compressions
d. check the ECG for evidence of a rhythm
Answer c. resume CPR, starting with chest compressions
5. Which is the maximum interval you should allow for an
interruption in chest compressions?
a. 15 seconds
b. 20 seconds
c. 25 seconds
d. 10 seconds
Answer d. 10 seconds
6. A patient has a witnessed loss of
consciousness. The lead II ECG reveals
, this rhythm. Which is the appropriate treatment?
a. administration of epinephrine 1 mg IV push
b. administration of adenosine 6 mg IV push
c. defibrillation
d. synchronized cardioversion
Answer c. defibrillation
7. Three minutes into a cardiac arrest resuscitation attempt, one
member of your team insert an endotracheal tube while another
performs chest compres sions. Capnography shows a persistent
waveform and a PETCO2 of 8 mm Hg. Which is the significance of
this finding?
a. the endotracheal tue is in the esophagus
b. the patient meets the criteria for termination of efforts
