ACLS PRACTICE EXAM GUIDE
1. What is the appropriate interval for an interruption in chest compressions?
Answer: 10 seconds or less
2. Which of the following is a sign of effective CPR?
Answer: PETCO2 e10 mm Hg
3. What is the primary purpose of a medical emergency team (MET) or rapidresponse team
(RRT)?
Answer: Identifying and treating early clinical deterioration.
4. Which action improves the quality of chest compressions delivered duringa resuscitation
attempt?
Answer: Switch providers about every 2 minutes or every 5 compression cycles.
5. What is the appropriate ventilation strategy for an adult in respiratoryarrest with a pulse
rate of 80/min?
Answer: 1 breath every 5-6 seconds
6. A patient presents to the emergency department with new onset of dizziness and fatigue.
On examination, the patient's heart rate is 35/min, the bloodpressure is 70/50 mm Hg, the
respiratory rate is 22 breaths/min, and the oxygen saturation is 95%. What is the appropriate
first medication?
Answer: Atropine0.5mg
7. A patient with dizziness and shortness of breath with a sinus bradycardia of 40/min. The
initial atropine dose was ineffective, and your monitor/defibrillator is not equipped with a
transcutaneous pacemaker.What is the appropriatedose of dopamine for this patient?
Answer: 2 to 10 mcg/kg per minute
8. A patient has sudden onset of dizziness.The patient's heart rate is 180/min,blood pressure is
110/70 mm Hg, respiratory rate is 18 breaths/min, and pulseoximetry reading is 98% on room
air. The lead II ECG is shown below:
Answer: Vagal manuever.
9. A monitored patient in the ICU developed a sudden onset of narrow-com-plex
tachycardia at a rate of 220/min. The patient's blood pressure is 128/58 mm Hg, the PETCO2
is 38 mm Hg, and the pulse oximetry reading is 98%. There is vascular access at the left internal
jugular vein, and the patient has notbeen given any vasoactive drugs. A 12-lead ECG confirms a
supraventriculartachycardia with no evidence of ischemia or infarction.The heart rate has not
responded to vagal maneuvers.What is the next recommended intervention?-
Answer: Adenosine 6mg IV push
10. You are receiving a radio report from an EMS team en route with a patient who may be
, having an acute stroke. The hospital CT scanner is not working atthis time. What should you do
in this situation?
Answer: Divert the patient to a hospital15 minutes away with CT capabilities.
11. Choose an appropriate indication to stop or withhold resuscitative efforts.-
Answer: Evidence of rigor mortis.
12. A 49-year-old woman arrives in the emergency department with persistent epigastric pain.
She had been taking oral antacids for the past 6 hours becauseshe thought she had heartburn. The
initial blood pressure is 118/72 mm
Hg, the heart rate is 92/min and regular, the nonlabored respiratory rate is 14 breaths/min, and
the pulse oximetry reading is 96%. Which is the most appropriate intervention to perform
next?
Answer: Obtain a 12 lead ECG.
13. A patient in respiratory failure becomes apneic but continues to have a strong pulse.The
heart rate is dropping rapidly and now shows a sinus brady-cardia at a rate of 30/min. What
intervention has the highest priority?
Answer: Simpleairway manuevers and assisted ventilations.
14. What is the appropriate procedure for endotracheal tube suctioning after the appropriate
catheter is selected?
Answer: Suction during withdrawal but for no longerthan 10 seconds.
15. While treating a patient with dizziness, a blood pressure of 68/30 mm Hg,and cool,
clammy skin, you see this lead II ECG rhythm:What is the first intervention ?
Answer: Atropine 0.5mg
16. A 68-year-old woman experienced a sudden onset of right arm weakness.EMS personnel
measure a blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg, a heart rate of 78/min, a nonlabored respiratory
rate of 14 breaths/min, and a pulse oximetryreading of 97%. The lead II ECG displays sinus
rhythm. What is the most appropriate action for the EMS team to perform next?
Answer: Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale assessment
17. EMS is transporting a patient with a positive prehospital stroke assessment. Upon arrival
in the emergency department, the initial blood pressure is 138/78 mm Hg, the pulse rate is
80/min, the respiratory rate is 12 breaths/min, and the pulse oximetry reading is 95% on room
air. The lead II ECG displays sinus rhythm. The blood glucose level is within normal limits.
What intervention should you perform next?
Answer: Head CT scan
18. What is the proper ventilation rate for a patient in cardiac arrest who hasan advanced
airway in place?
Answer: 8-10 breaths per minute
19. A 62-year-old man in the emergency department says that his heart is beating fast. He
1. What is the appropriate interval for an interruption in chest compressions?
Answer: 10 seconds or less
2. Which of the following is a sign of effective CPR?
Answer: PETCO2 e10 mm Hg
3. What is the primary purpose of a medical emergency team (MET) or rapidresponse team
(RRT)?
Answer: Identifying and treating early clinical deterioration.
4. Which action improves the quality of chest compressions delivered duringa resuscitation
attempt?
Answer: Switch providers about every 2 minutes or every 5 compression cycles.
5. What is the appropriate ventilation strategy for an adult in respiratoryarrest with a pulse
rate of 80/min?
Answer: 1 breath every 5-6 seconds
6. A patient presents to the emergency department with new onset of dizziness and fatigue.
On examination, the patient's heart rate is 35/min, the bloodpressure is 70/50 mm Hg, the
respiratory rate is 22 breaths/min, and the oxygen saturation is 95%. What is the appropriate
first medication?
Answer: Atropine0.5mg
7. A patient with dizziness and shortness of breath with a sinus bradycardia of 40/min. The
initial atropine dose was ineffective, and your monitor/defibrillator is not equipped with a
transcutaneous pacemaker.What is the appropriatedose of dopamine for this patient?
Answer: 2 to 10 mcg/kg per minute
8. A patient has sudden onset of dizziness.The patient's heart rate is 180/min,blood pressure is
110/70 mm Hg, respiratory rate is 18 breaths/min, and pulseoximetry reading is 98% on room
air. The lead II ECG is shown below:
Answer: Vagal manuever.
9. A monitored patient in the ICU developed a sudden onset of narrow-com-plex
tachycardia at a rate of 220/min. The patient's blood pressure is 128/58 mm Hg, the PETCO2
is 38 mm Hg, and the pulse oximetry reading is 98%. There is vascular access at the left internal
jugular vein, and the patient has notbeen given any vasoactive drugs. A 12-lead ECG confirms a
supraventriculartachycardia with no evidence of ischemia or infarction.The heart rate has not
responded to vagal maneuvers.What is the next recommended intervention?-
Answer: Adenosine 6mg IV push
10. You are receiving a radio report from an EMS team en route with a patient who may be
, having an acute stroke. The hospital CT scanner is not working atthis time. What should you do
in this situation?
Answer: Divert the patient to a hospital15 minutes away with CT capabilities.
11. Choose an appropriate indication to stop or withhold resuscitative efforts.-
Answer: Evidence of rigor mortis.
12. A 49-year-old woman arrives in the emergency department with persistent epigastric pain.
She had been taking oral antacids for the past 6 hours becauseshe thought she had heartburn. The
initial blood pressure is 118/72 mm
Hg, the heart rate is 92/min and regular, the nonlabored respiratory rate is 14 breaths/min, and
the pulse oximetry reading is 96%. Which is the most appropriate intervention to perform
next?
Answer: Obtain a 12 lead ECG.
13. A patient in respiratory failure becomes apneic but continues to have a strong pulse.The
heart rate is dropping rapidly and now shows a sinus brady-cardia at a rate of 30/min. What
intervention has the highest priority?
Answer: Simpleairway manuevers and assisted ventilations.
14. What is the appropriate procedure for endotracheal tube suctioning after the appropriate
catheter is selected?
Answer: Suction during withdrawal but for no longerthan 10 seconds.
15. While treating a patient with dizziness, a blood pressure of 68/30 mm Hg,and cool,
clammy skin, you see this lead II ECG rhythm:What is the first intervention ?
Answer: Atropine 0.5mg
16. A 68-year-old woman experienced a sudden onset of right arm weakness.EMS personnel
measure a blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg, a heart rate of 78/min, a nonlabored respiratory
rate of 14 breaths/min, and a pulse oximetryreading of 97%. The lead II ECG displays sinus
rhythm. What is the most appropriate action for the EMS team to perform next?
Answer: Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale assessment
17. EMS is transporting a patient with a positive prehospital stroke assessment. Upon arrival
in the emergency department, the initial blood pressure is 138/78 mm Hg, the pulse rate is
80/min, the respiratory rate is 12 breaths/min, and the pulse oximetry reading is 95% on room
air. The lead II ECG displays sinus rhythm. The blood glucose level is within normal limits.
What intervention should you perform next?
Answer: Head CT scan
18. What is the proper ventilation rate for a patient in cardiac arrest who hasan advanced
airway in place?
Answer: 8-10 breaths per minute
19. A 62-year-old man in the emergency department says that his heart is beating fast. He
