Fisdap Cardiology Study Guide Exam Questions With
Answer Graded A+ 2025/2026
If the AED gives a no shock advised message, you should immediately
resume CPR, starting with chest compressions. After 2 minutes of CPR,
reanalyze the
patient's cardiac rhythm and follow the AED voice prompts. You should not
assess for a pulse if the AED gives a no shock message; this will simply
cause an
unnecessary delay in pe1iorming chest compressions. Rarely, if ever, does
CPR alone restore a normal cardiac rhythm and pulse. If the AED
electrodes are
improperly applied, it will not analyze the patient's cardiac rhythm; instead,
you will receive a "check patient" or "check electrodes" message. Continue
CPR,
rhythm analysis every 2 minutes, and defibrillation (if indicated) until ALS
personnel arrive or the patient starts to move.
Which of the following describes pulseless electrical activity (PEA)?
HIDE THIS MENU
A) disorganized, chaotic quivering of the heart muscle that does not
generate a pulse
B) The presence of a palpable pulse in the absence of any electrical activity
in the heart
C) A rapid cardiac rhythm that does not produce a pulse, but responds to
defibrillation
D) Any organized cardiac rhythm, slow or fast, that does not produce a
palpable pulse - D) Any organized cardiac rhythm, slow or fast, that does
not produce a palpable pulse
Pulseless electrical activity (PEA) is a condition in which the heart produces
organized electrical activity (slow or fast), despite the absence of a
palpable
pulse. A disorganized, chaotic quivering of the heart muscle that does not
generate a pulse is called ventricular fibrillation (V- Fib), and is treated with
defibrillation. Defibrillation is not indicated for patients with PEA; it is
indicated only for patients with V-Fib or pulseless ventricular tachycardia
(V-Tach). If
the AED gives a no shock message and the patient is still pulseless, he or
she is either in asystole or PEA, neither of which is a shockable rhythm.
,Which of the following questions would be MOST appropriate to ask when
assessing a patient with chest pain?
A) What does the pain feel like?
B) Does the pain radiate to your arm?
C) Would you describe the pain as sharp?
D) Is the pain worse when you take a deep breath? - B) Does the pain
radiate to your arm?
When questioning any patient about any type of pain, you should avoid
asking leading questions that can simply be answered yes or no. To obtain
the most
reliable assessment, open-ended questions should be asked to allow the
patient to describe the quality of the pain in his or her own words.
What occurs during recoil of the chest in between compressions?
A) Positive pressure accumulates in the thoracic cavity
B) A vacuum is created and blood returns to the heart
C) Excessive amounts of air are expelled from the lungs
D) Forward flow of blood moves to the body's vital organs - B) A vacuum is
created and blood returns to the heart
During CPR, it is critical to allow the chest to fully recoil before providing
the next compression. Recoil of the chest produces a vacuum, which pulls
air into
the lungs and draws more blood back to the heart. If only partial recoil
occurs, positive pressure can accumulate in the chest, which would impair
blood
return to the heart. Forward blood flow and expulsion of air from the lungs
occurs during the downstroke of the compression, not the recoil phase.
You are treating a 60-year-old man in cardiac arrest. After delivering a
shock with the AED and performing CPR for 2 minutes, you achieve
return of spontaneous circulation. Your next action should be to:
A) provide rapid transport to the hospital.
B) reanalyze his rhythm for confirmation.
C) assess his airway and ventilatory status.
D) remove the AED and apply 100% oxygen. - C) assess his airway and
ventilatory status.
,If return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) occurs (eg, a palpable pulse is
restored), your first action should be to reassess the patient's airway and
ventilatory status. If the patient remains apneic, continue rescue breathing
at a rate of 10 breaths/min (one breath every 6 seconds). If the patient is
breathing adequately, administer supplemental oxygen in a concentration
that is sufficient to maintain an oxygen saturation that is between 92% and
98%. After reassessing the airway and breathing, and treating the patient
accordingly, you should prepare for immediate transport. Because of the
high risk that cardiac arrest can recur following resuscitation, you should
not remove the AED pads; simply turn the AED off instead. Analysis of the
patient's cardiac rhythm is not indicated because he now has a pulse.
The myocardium receives its blood supply from the coronary arteries that
branch directly from the:
A) aorta.
B) vena cavae.
C) left atrium.
D) right ventricle. - A) aorta.
The aorta, which is the largest artery in the human body, originates
immediately from the left ventricle. The coronary arteries branch directly off
of the
ascending aorta, thus allowing the myocardium to receive blood that has
the highest concentration of oxygen. The vena cavae (superior and inferior)
return
oxygen-poor blood from the body back to the right atrium, where it is
pumped to the right ventricle and then to the lungs. The left atrium receives
freshly
oxygenated blood from the lungs and then pumps it to the left ventricle,
through the aorta, and to the body.
A 45-year-old woman calls EMS because of severe chest pain. When you
arrive, she advises you that she has taken two of her husband's
nitroglycerin tablets without relief. Her BP is 110/60 mm Hg, her pulse is
100 beats/min, her respirations are 16 breaths/min, and her
oxygen saturation is 95%. You should:
A) attach the AED, administer 100% oxygen, and contact medical control
for advice.
B) transport the patient without delay and monitor her blood pressure en
route.
, C) Call medical control and request permission to assist the patient with
one more NTG tablet.
D) Apply oxygen, assess the patient's blood pressure, and give a third and
final NTG tablet. - B) transport the patient without delay and monitor her
blood pressure en route.
Do not administer, or assist a patient with, a medication that is not
prescribed to him or her. In this case, the best course of action is to
transport the patient
without delay and monitor her blood pressure en route. Additionally, if she
has no drug allergies, you should administer up to 325 mg of chewable
aspirin.
Oxygen is not indicated for this patient; there is no evidence of respiratory
compromise and her oxygen saturation is greater than 94%. The AED is
applied
only to patients who are in cardiac arrest; the patient in this scenario is not
in cardiac arrest.
The middle, muscular layer of the heart is called the:
A) epicardium.
B) pericardium.
C) myocardium.
D) endocardium. - C) myocardium.
The heart has four layers. The inner layer is called the endocardium, the
middle layer is composed of muscle and is called the myocardium (myo =
muscle),
and the outer layer of the heart itself is called the epicardium. The
pericardium, which is a thin, fibrous membrane, encapsulates the entire
heart.
Which of the following statements regarding ventricular fibrillation (V-Fib) is
correct?
A) Loss of consciousness occurs within minutes after the onset ofV-Fib.
B) In V-Fib, the heart is not pumping any blood and the patient is pulseless.
C) Patients in V-Fib should be defibrillated after every 60 seconds of CPR.
D) Any patient in V-Fib must receive CPR for 2 minutes prior to
defibrillation. - B) In V-Fib, the heart is not pumping any blood and the
patient is pulseless.
Answer Graded A+ 2025/2026
If the AED gives a no shock advised message, you should immediately
resume CPR, starting with chest compressions. After 2 minutes of CPR,
reanalyze the
patient's cardiac rhythm and follow the AED voice prompts. You should not
assess for a pulse if the AED gives a no shock message; this will simply
cause an
unnecessary delay in pe1iorming chest compressions. Rarely, if ever, does
CPR alone restore a normal cardiac rhythm and pulse. If the AED
electrodes are
improperly applied, it will not analyze the patient's cardiac rhythm; instead,
you will receive a "check patient" or "check electrodes" message. Continue
CPR,
rhythm analysis every 2 minutes, and defibrillation (if indicated) until ALS
personnel arrive or the patient starts to move.
Which of the following describes pulseless electrical activity (PEA)?
HIDE THIS MENU
A) disorganized, chaotic quivering of the heart muscle that does not
generate a pulse
B) The presence of a palpable pulse in the absence of any electrical activity
in the heart
C) A rapid cardiac rhythm that does not produce a pulse, but responds to
defibrillation
D) Any organized cardiac rhythm, slow or fast, that does not produce a
palpable pulse - D) Any organized cardiac rhythm, slow or fast, that does
not produce a palpable pulse
Pulseless electrical activity (PEA) is a condition in which the heart produces
organized electrical activity (slow or fast), despite the absence of a
palpable
pulse. A disorganized, chaotic quivering of the heart muscle that does not
generate a pulse is called ventricular fibrillation (V- Fib), and is treated with
defibrillation. Defibrillation is not indicated for patients with PEA; it is
indicated only for patients with V-Fib or pulseless ventricular tachycardia
(V-Tach). If
the AED gives a no shock message and the patient is still pulseless, he or
she is either in asystole or PEA, neither of which is a shockable rhythm.
,Which of the following questions would be MOST appropriate to ask when
assessing a patient with chest pain?
A) What does the pain feel like?
B) Does the pain radiate to your arm?
C) Would you describe the pain as sharp?
D) Is the pain worse when you take a deep breath? - B) Does the pain
radiate to your arm?
When questioning any patient about any type of pain, you should avoid
asking leading questions that can simply be answered yes or no. To obtain
the most
reliable assessment, open-ended questions should be asked to allow the
patient to describe the quality of the pain in his or her own words.
What occurs during recoil of the chest in between compressions?
A) Positive pressure accumulates in the thoracic cavity
B) A vacuum is created and blood returns to the heart
C) Excessive amounts of air are expelled from the lungs
D) Forward flow of blood moves to the body's vital organs - B) A vacuum is
created and blood returns to the heart
During CPR, it is critical to allow the chest to fully recoil before providing
the next compression. Recoil of the chest produces a vacuum, which pulls
air into
the lungs and draws more blood back to the heart. If only partial recoil
occurs, positive pressure can accumulate in the chest, which would impair
blood
return to the heart. Forward blood flow and expulsion of air from the lungs
occurs during the downstroke of the compression, not the recoil phase.
You are treating a 60-year-old man in cardiac arrest. After delivering a
shock with the AED and performing CPR for 2 minutes, you achieve
return of spontaneous circulation. Your next action should be to:
A) provide rapid transport to the hospital.
B) reanalyze his rhythm for confirmation.
C) assess his airway and ventilatory status.
D) remove the AED and apply 100% oxygen. - C) assess his airway and
ventilatory status.
,If return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) occurs (eg, a palpable pulse is
restored), your first action should be to reassess the patient's airway and
ventilatory status. If the patient remains apneic, continue rescue breathing
at a rate of 10 breaths/min (one breath every 6 seconds). If the patient is
breathing adequately, administer supplemental oxygen in a concentration
that is sufficient to maintain an oxygen saturation that is between 92% and
98%. After reassessing the airway and breathing, and treating the patient
accordingly, you should prepare for immediate transport. Because of the
high risk that cardiac arrest can recur following resuscitation, you should
not remove the AED pads; simply turn the AED off instead. Analysis of the
patient's cardiac rhythm is not indicated because he now has a pulse.
The myocardium receives its blood supply from the coronary arteries that
branch directly from the:
A) aorta.
B) vena cavae.
C) left atrium.
D) right ventricle. - A) aorta.
The aorta, which is the largest artery in the human body, originates
immediately from the left ventricle. The coronary arteries branch directly off
of the
ascending aorta, thus allowing the myocardium to receive blood that has
the highest concentration of oxygen. The vena cavae (superior and inferior)
return
oxygen-poor blood from the body back to the right atrium, where it is
pumped to the right ventricle and then to the lungs. The left atrium receives
freshly
oxygenated blood from the lungs and then pumps it to the left ventricle,
through the aorta, and to the body.
A 45-year-old woman calls EMS because of severe chest pain. When you
arrive, she advises you that she has taken two of her husband's
nitroglycerin tablets without relief. Her BP is 110/60 mm Hg, her pulse is
100 beats/min, her respirations are 16 breaths/min, and her
oxygen saturation is 95%. You should:
A) attach the AED, administer 100% oxygen, and contact medical control
for advice.
B) transport the patient without delay and monitor her blood pressure en
route.
, C) Call medical control and request permission to assist the patient with
one more NTG tablet.
D) Apply oxygen, assess the patient's blood pressure, and give a third and
final NTG tablet. - B) transport the patient without delay and monitor her
blood pressure en route.
Do not administer, or assist a patient with, a medication that is not
prescribed to him or her. In this case, the best course of action is to
transport the patient
without delay and monitor her blood pressure en route. Additionally, if she
has no drug allergies, you should administer up to 325 mg of chewable
aspirin.
Oxygen is not indicated for this patient; there is no evidence of respiratory
compromise and her oxygen saturation is greater than 94%. The AED is
applied
only to patients who are in cardiac arrest; the patient in this scenario is not
in cardiac arrest.
The middle, muscular layer of the heart is called the:
A) epicardium.
B) pericardium.
C) myocardium.
D) endocardium. - C) myocardium.
The heart has four layers. The inner layer is called the endocardium, the
middle layer is composed of muscle and is called the myocardium (myo =
muscle),
and the outer layer of the heart itself is called the epicardium. The
pericardium, which is a thin, fibrous membrane, encapsulates the entire
heart.
Which of the following statements regarding ventricular fibrillation (V-Fib) is
correct?
A) Loss of consciousness occurs within minutes after the onset ofV-Fib.
B) In V-Fib, the heart is not pumping any blood and the patient is pulseless.
C) Patients in V-Fib should be defibrillated after every 60 seconds of CPR.
D) Any patient in V-Fib must receive CPR for 2 minutes prior to
defibrillation. - B) In V-Fib, the heart is not pumping any blood and the
patient is pulseless.
