ACLS Exam Questions & Answers
1. Three minutes into a cardiac arrest resuscitation attempt, one member of
your team inserts an endotracheal tube while another performs chest
compressions. Capnography shows a persistent waveform and a PETCO2 of
8 mm Hg. Which is the significance of this finding?
A. Chest compressions may not be effective
B. The endotracheal tube is in the esophagus
C. The patient meets the criteria for termination of efforts
D. The team is ventilating the patient too often (hyperventilation)
ANS A. Chest compressions may not be effective
2. For STEMI patients, which best describes the recommended maximum
goal time for emergency department door-to-balloon inflation time for
percutaneous coronary intervention?
A. 180 minutes
B. 150 minutes
C. 120 minutes
D. 90 minutes
ANS D. 90 minutes
3.During post-cardiac arrest care, which is the recommended duration of
targeted temperature management after reaching the correct
temperature range?
ANS At least 24 hours
4.You are caring for a patient with a suspected stroke whose symptoms
started 2 hours ago. The CT scan was normal, with no signs of hemorrhage.
The patient does not have any contraindications to fibrinolytic therapy.
Which treatment approach is best for this patient?
ANS Start fibrinolytic therapy as soon as possible
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10
, 5.Which is one way to minimize interruptions in chest compressions
during CPR?
ANS Continue CPR while the defibrillator charges
6.Which best describes the length of time it should take to perform a
pulse check during the BLS Assessment?
ANS 5 to 10 seconds
7.You are evaluating a 58 year old man with chest pain. The BP is 92/50 and
a heart rate of 92/min, non-labored respiratory rate is 14 breaths/min and
the pulse O2 is 97%. What assessment step is most important now?
ANS Obtaining a 12-lead ECG
8.A 45yo man had coronary artery stents placed 2 days ago. Today,he
is in severe distress and reporting "crushing" chest discomfort. He is
pale,
diaphoretic, and cool to the touch. His radial pulse is very weak, blood
pres- sure is 64/40 mmHg, respiratory rate is 28 breaths/min, and O2 sat is
89% on room air. When applied, the cardiac monitor initially showed
ventricular tachycardia, which then quickly changed to ventricular
fibrillation. Based on this patient's initial presentation, which condition do
you suspect led to the cardiac arrest?
ANS Acute coronary syndrome
9.A 45yo man had coronary artery stents placed 2 days ago. Today,he
is in severe distress and reporting "crushing" chest discomfort. He is
pale,
diaphoretic, and cool to the touch. His radial pulse is very weak, blood
pres- sure is 64/40 mmHg, respiratory rate is 28 breaths/min, and O2 sat is
89% on room air. When applied, the cardiac monitor initially showed
ventricular
tachycardia, which then quickly changed to ventricular fibrillation. In
addition to defibrillation, which intervention should be performed
2/
10
1. Three minutes into a cardiac arrest resuscitation attempt, one member of
your team inserts an endotracheal tube while another performs chest
compressions. Capnography shows a persistent waveform and a PETCO2 of
8 mm Hg. Which is the significance of this finding?
A. Chest compressions may not be effective
B. The endotracheal tube is in the esophagus
C. The patient meets the criteria for termination of efforts
D. The team is ventilating the patient too often (hyperventilation)
ANS A. Chest compressions may not be effective
2. For STEMI patients, which best describes the recommended maximum
goal time for emergency department door-to-balloon inflation time for
percutaneous coronary intervention?
A. 180 minutes
B. 150 minutes
C. 120 minutes
D. 90 minutes
ANS D. 90 minutes
3.During post-cardiac arrest care, which is the recommended duration of
targeted temperature management after reaching the correct
temperature range?
ANS At least 24 hours
4.You are caring for a patient with a suspected stroke whose symptoms
started 2 hours ago. The CT scan was normal, with no signs of hemorrhage.
The patient does not have any contraindications to fibrinolytic therapy.
Which treatment approach is best for this patient?
ANS Start fibrinolytic therapy as soon as possible
1/
10
, 5.Which is one way to minimize interruptions in chest compressions
during CPR?
ANS Continue CPR while the defibrillator charges
6.Which best describes the length of time it should take to perform a
pulse check during the BLS Assessment?
ANS 5 to 10 seconds
7.You are evaluating a 58 year old man with chest pain. The BP is 92/50 and
a heart rate of 92/min, non-labored respiratory rate is 14 breaths/min and
the pulse O2 is 97%. What assessment step is most important now?
ANS Obtaining a 12-lead ECG
8.A 45yo man had coronary artery stents placed 2 days ago. Today,he
is in severe distress and reporting "crushing" chest discomfort. He is
pale,
diaphoretic, and cool to the touch. His radial pulse is very weak, blood
pres- sure is 64/40 mmHg, respiratory rate is 28 breaths/min, and O2 sat is
89% on room air. When applied, the cardiac monitor initially showed
ventricular tachycardia, which then quickly changed to ventricular
fibrillation. Based on this patient's initial presentation, which condition do
you suspect led to the cardiac arrest?
ANS Acute coronary syndrome
9.A 45yo man had coronary artery stents placed 2 days ago. Today,he
is in severe distress and reporting "crushing" chest discomfort. He is
pale,
diaphoretic, and cool to the touch. His radial pulse is very weak, blood
pres- sure is 64/40 mmHg, respiratory rate is 28 breaths/min, and O2 sat is
89% on room air. When applied, the cardiac monitor initially showed
ventricular
tachycardia, which then quickly changed to ventricular fibrillation. In
addition to defibrillation, which intervention should be performed
2/
10
