ACLS EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Rate of chest compressions for adults: 100-120 compressions per minute
2. Ratio of compressions to breaths in adults: 30:2
3. Rate of bag valve mask ventilation for adults in respiratory arrest: Once
every 5-6 seconds or 10-12 times per minute
4. Treatments for hypotension following cardiac arrest: IV dopamine infusion, IV
epinephrine infusion
IV Ringer's lactate, IV normal saline
5. *The leader in team resuscitation must be able to perform all the skills if
needed.*:
6. Recommended ED door-to-balloon inflation time for a STEMI patient: No
longer than 90 minutes
7. Ways to estimate effectiveness of CPR: Arterial diastolic blood pressure, quan-
titative waveform capnography, central venous oxygen saturation
8. Best drug used for narrow complex supraventricular tachycardia: Adenosine
9. Drug used for pulseless electrical activity: Epinephrine
10. Sequence of basic life support: Compressions, airway, breathing (CAB)
11. Initial dose of adenosine for treatment of supraventricular tachycardia: 6
mg IV
12. Heart rate at which tachycardia usually becomes symptomatic: 150 bpm
13. Longest duration for pulse check: 10 seconds
14. Recommended initial dosage of atropine for symptomatic bradycardia: 0.5
mg IV
15. Recommended dose of oxygen during CPR: 100%
16. Goal for initiation of fibrinolytic therapy in stroke patients: Within 1 hour of
ED arrival
17. Common reversible causes of cardiac arrest ("H's and T's"): Hypotension,
hypoxia, hypothermia, hydrogen ions (acidosis), hypo-/hyperkalemia
Tension pneumothorax, tamponade, thrombosis (coronary), thrombosis (pul-
monary), toxins
18. Best option for treatment of STEMI diagnosed in ambulance via 12-lead
ECG: Transport to PCI-capable hospital
1/5
, 19. Components of Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (CPSS): Facial droop,
arm drift, speech abnormality
20. Asystole should be treated with all of the following EXCEPT:
CPR
Ventilations
2/5
1. Rate of chest compressions for adults: 100-120 compressions per minute
2. Ratio of compressions to breaths in adults: 30:2
3. Rate of bag valve mask ventilation for adults in respiratory arrest: Once
every 5-6 seconds or 10-12 times per minute
4. Treatments for hypotension following cardiac arrest: IV dopamine infusion, IV
epinephrine infusion
IV Ringer's lactate, IV normal saline
5. *The leader in team resuscitation must be able to perform all the skills if
needed.*:
6. Recommended ED door-to-balloon inflation time for a STEMI patient: No
longer than 90 minutes
7. Ways to estimate effectiveness of CPR: Arterial diastolic blood pressure, quan-
titative waveform capnography, central venous oxygen saturation
8. Best drug used for narrow complex supraventricular tachycardia: Adenosine
9. Drug used for pulseless electrical activity: Epinephrine
10. Sequence of basic life support: Compressions, airway, breathing (CAB)
11. Initial dose of adenosine for treatment of supraventricular tachycardia: 6
mg IV
12. Heart rate at which tachycardia usually becomes symptomatic: 150 bpm
13. Longest duration for pulse check: 10 seconds
14. Recommended initial dosage of atropine for symptomatic bradycardia: 0.5
mg IV
15. Recommended dose of oxygen during CPR: 100%
16. Goal for initiation of fibrinolytic therapy in stroke patients: Within 1 hour of
ED arrival
17. Common reversible causes of cardiac arrest ("H's and T's"): Hypotension,
hypoxia, hypothermia, hydrogen ions (acidosis), hypo-/hyperkalemia
Tension pneumothorax, tamponade, thrombosis (coronary), thrombosis (pul-
monary), toxins
18. Best option for treatment of STEMI diagnosed in ambulance via 12-lead
ECG: Transport to PCI-capable hospital
1/5
, 19. Components of Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (CPSS): Facial droop,
arm drift, speech abnormality
20. Asystole should be treated with all of the following EXCEPT:
CPR
Ventilations
2/5
