Barkley Emergency/Critical
Care Practice ACTUAL EXAM
ALL QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED
A+. 100% VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
| UPDATED PER LATEST
GUIDELINES | GRADED A+
Questions 1–25: Emergency Assessment & Resuscitation
1. A patient arrives in the ED with severe respiratory distress, cyanosis, and altered mental
status. What is the priority?
A. Obtain a complete medical history
B. Assess and support the airway and breathing
C. Obtain a detailed medication history
D. Order a routine chest radiograph
Answer: B
Rationale: Emergency assessment follows the ABC approach. Immediate threats to airway and
breathing take priority over history and diagnostic testing.
2. Which finding is most concerning for impending airway failure?
,A. Mild sore throat
B. Hoarseness with stridor
C. Nasal congestion
D. Mild cough
Answer: B
Rationale: Stridor and progressive hoarseness can indicate upper-airway obstruction and
require immediate evaluation and intervention.
3. An unresponsive adult has no normal breathing and no palpable pulse. What should
happen first?
A. Obtain a CT scan
B. Begin high-quality CPR
C. Give oral medication
D. Obtain a complete history
Answer: B
Rationale: Cardiac arrest requires immediate high-quality CPR and activation of the
resuscitation system.
4. What is the recommended initial approach to an adult with pulseless ventricular
fibrillation?
A. Defibrillation and CPR
B. Oral amiodarone
C. Synchronized cardioversion
D. Observation
Answer: A
Rationale: VF is a shockable cardiac-arrest rhythm. Immediate defibrillation combined with
high-quality CPR is essential.
5. Which rhythm is considered nonshockable during cardiac arrest?
A. Ventricular fibrillation
B. Pulseless ventricular tachycardia
,C. Asystole
D. Torsades de pointes with no pulse
Answer: C
Rationale: Asystole and pulseless electrical activity are nonshockable rhythms. Management
focuses on CPR, epinephrine, and identifying reversible causes.
6. A patient has pulseless electrical activity. Which intervention is most important?
A. Immediate synchronized cardioversion
B. High-quality CPR and identification of reversible causes
C. Oral beta blocker
D. Adenosine
Answer: B
Rationale: PEA is nonshockable. Clinicians should perform CPR, administer appropriate
medications, and identify reversible causes such as the Hs and Ts.
7. Which is a reversible cause of cardiac arrest?
A. Hypoxia
B. Migraine
C. Osteoarthritis
D. Cataracts
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypoxia is one of the reversible causes of cardiac arrest.
8. Which finding is most consistent with hypovolemic shock?
A. Warm skin with bounding pulses
B. Hypotension, tachycardia, and cool clammy skin
C. Bradycardia with hypertension
D. Isolated hypertension
Answer: B
, Rationale: Reduced circulating volume produces compensatory tachycardia and
vasoconstriction, resulting in cool, clammy skin and hypotension when shock becomes severe.
9. A trauma patient has severe external bleeding. What is the immediate priority?
A. Control hemorrhage
B. Obtain a lipid panel
C. Start oral antibiotics
D. Obtain a detailed family history
Answer: A
Rationale: Life-threatening hemorrhage must be rapidly controlled because uncontrolled
bleeding can cause preventable death.
10. Which intervention is appropriate for severe external hemorrhage?
A. Direct pressure
B. Massage the wound
C. Delay treatment until imaging is completed
D. Apply heat
Answer: A
Rationale: Direct pressure is a fundamental first intervention for external bleeding. Tourniquets
may be required for severe extremity hemorrhage.
11. Which patient should be evaluated first?
A. Patient with a stable ankle sprain
B. Patient with chest pain and diaphoresis
C. Patient requesting medication refill
D. Patient with mild seasonal allergies
Answer: B
Rationale: Chest pain with diaphoresis may represent acute coronary syndrome and requires
immediate assessment.
Care Practice ACTUAL EXAM
ALL QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED
A+. 100% VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
| UPDATED PER LATEST
GUIDELINES | GRADED A+
Questions 1–25: Emergency Assessment & Resuscitation
1. A patient arrives in the ED with severe respiratory distress, cyanosis, and altered mental
status. What is the priority?
A. Obtain a complete medical history
B. Assess and support the airway and breathing
C. Obtain a detailed medication history
D. Order a routine chest radiograph
Answer: B
Rationale: Emergency assessment follows the ABC approach. Immediate threats to airway and
breathing take priority over history and diagnostic testing.
2. Which finding is most concerning for impending airway failure?
,A. Mild sore throat
B. Hoarseness with stridor
C. Nasal congestion
D. Mild cough
Answer: B
Rationale: Stridor and progressive hoarseness can indicate upper-airway obstruction and
require immediate evaluation and intervention.
3. An unresponsive adult has no normal breathing and no palpable pulse. What should
happen first?
A. Obtain a CT scan
B. Begin high-quality CPR
C. Give oral medication
D. Obtain a complete history
Answer: B
Rationale: Cardiac arrest requires immediate high-quality CPR and activation of the
resuscitation system.
4. What is the recommended initial approach to an adult with pulseless ventricular
fibrillation?
A. Defibrillation and CPR
B. Oral amiodarone
C. Synchronized cardioversion
D. Observation
Answer: A
Rationale: VF is a shockable cardiac-arrest rhythm. Immediate defibrillation combined with
high-quality CPR is essential.
5. Which rhythm is considered nonshockable during cardiac arrest?
A. Ventricular fibrillation
B. Pulseless ventricular tachycardia
,C. Asystole
D. Torsades de pointes with no pulse
Answer: C
Rationale: Asystole and pulseless electrical activity are nonshockable rhythms. Management
focuses on CPR, epinephrine, and identifying reversible causes.
6. A patient has pulseless electrical activity. Which intervention is most important?
A. Immediate synchronized cardioversion
B. High-quality CPR and identification of reversible causes
C. Oral beta blocker
D. Adenosine
Answer: B
Rationale: PEA is nonshockable. Clinicians should perform CPR, administer appropriate
medications, and identify reversible causes such as the Hs and Ts.
7. Which is a reversible cause of cardiac arrest?
A. Hypoxia
B. Migraine
C. Osteoarthritis
D. Cataracts
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypoxia is one of the reversible causes of cardiac arrest.
8. Which finding is most consistent with hypovolemic shock?
A. Warm skin with bounding pulses
B. Hypotension, tachycardia, and cool clammy skin
C. Bradycardia with hypertension
D. Isolated hypertension
Answer: B
, Rationale: Reduced circulating volume produces compensatory tachycardia and
vasoconstriction, resulting in cool, clammy skin and hypotension when shock becomes severe.
9. A trauma patient has severe external bleeding. What is the immediate priority?
A. Control hemorrhage
B. Obtain a lipid panel
C. Start oral antibiotics
D. Obtain a detailed family history
Answer: A
Rationale: Life-threatening hemorrhage must be rapidly controlled because uncontrolled
bleeding can cause preventable death.
10. Which intervention is appropriate for severe external hemorrhage?
A. Direct pressure
B. Massage the wound
C. Delay treatment until imaging is completed
D. Apply heat
Answer: A
Rationale: Direct pressure is a fundamental first intervention for external bleeding. Tourniquets
may be required for severe extremity hemorrhage.
11. Which patient should be evaluated first?
A. Patient with a stable ankle sprain
B. Patient with chest pain and diaphoresis
C. Patient requesting medication refill
D. Patient with mild seasonal allergies
Answer: B
Rationale: Chest pain with diaphoresis may represent acute coronary syndrome and requires
immediate assessment.
