AHA ACLS 2025 Pre-Test Questions and Answers
A 35-year-old woman has palpitations, light-headedness, and a stable tachycardia. The
monitor shows a regular narrow-complex QRS at a rate of 180/min. Vagal maneuvers
have not been effective in terminating the rhythm. An IV has been established. Which
drug should be administered?
adenosine 6 mg
A patient with possible STEMI has ongoing chest discomfort. What is a
contraindication to nitrate administration?
use of phosphodiesterase inhibitor within the previous 24 hours
In which situation does bradycardia require treatment?
hypotension
A patient is in refractory ventricular fibrillation. High-quality CPR is in progress. One
dose of epinephrine was given after the second shock. An antiarrhythmic drug was
given immediately after the third shock. You are the team leader. Which
medication do you order next?
epinephrine 1 mg
A patient with STEMI has ongoing chest discomfort. Heparin 4000 units IV bolus and a
heparin infusion of 1000 units per hour are being administered. The patient did not
take aspirin because he has a history of gastritis, which was treated 5 years ago. What
is your next action?
, give aspirin 162-325 mg to chew
Which intervention is most appropriate for the treatment of a patient in asystole?
epinephrine
A patient is in cardiac arrest. Ventricular fibrillation has been refractory to a
second shock. Which drug should be administered first?
epinephrine 1 mg iv/io
A 57-year-old woman has palpitations, chest discomfort, and tachycardia. The
monitor shows a regular wide-complex QRS at a rate of 180/min. She becomes
diaphoretic, and her blood pressure is 80/60 mm Hg. Which action do you take next?
perform electrical cardioversion
Your patient is a 56-year-old woman with a history of type 2 diabetes who reports feeling
dizzy. She is pale and diaphoretic. Her blood pressure is 80/60 mm Hg. The cardiac
monitor documents the rhythm shown here. She is receiving oxygen at 4 L/min by nasal
cannula, and an IV has been established. What do you administer next?
atropine 1 mg IV
What is the indication for the use of magnesium in cardiac arrest?
pulseless ventricular tachycardia-associated with torsades de pointes
A patient has sinus bradycardia with a heart rate of 36/min. Atropine has been
administered to a total dose of 3 mg. A transcutaneous pacemaker has failed to
capture. The patient is confused, and her blood pressure is 88/56 mm Hg.
Which therapy is now indicated?
epinephrine 2 to 10 mcg/min
A 35-year-old woman has palpitations, light-headedness, and a stable tachycardia. The
monitor shows a regular narrow-complex QRS at a rate of 180/min. Vagal maneuvers
have not been effective in terminating the rhythm. An IV has been established. Which
drug should be administered?
adenosine 6 mg
A patient with possible STEMI has ongoing chest discomfort. What is a
contraindication to nitrate administration?
use of phosphodiesterase inhibitor within the previous 24 hours
In which situation does bradycardia require treatment?
hypotension
A patient is in refractory ventricular fibrillation. High-quality CPR is in progress. One
dose of epinephrine was given after the second shock. An antiarrhythmic drug was
given immediately after the third shock. You are the team leader. Which
medication do you order next?
epinephrine 1 mg
A patient with STEMI has ongoing chest discomfort. Heparin 4000 units IV bolus and a
heparin infusion of 1000 units per hour are being administered. The patient did not
take aspirin because he has a history of gastritis, which was treated 5 years ago. What
is your next action?
, give aspirin 162-325 mg to chew
Which intervention is most appropriate for the treatment of a patient in asystole?
epinephrine
A patient is in cardiac arrest. Ventricular fibrillation has been refractory to a
second shock. Which drug should be administered first?
epinephrine 1 mg iv/io
A 57-year-old woman has palpitations, chest discomfort, and tachycardia. The
monitor shows a regular wide-complex QRS at a rate of 180/min. She becomes
diaphoretic, and her blood pressure is 80/60 mm Hg. Which action do you take next?
perform electrical cardioversion
Your patient is a 56-year-old woman with a history of type 2 diabetes who reports feeling
dizzy. She is pale and diaphoretic. Her blood pressure is 80/60 mm Hg. The cardiac
monitor documents the rhythm shown here. She is receiving oxygen at 4 L/min by nasal
cannula, and an IV has been established. What do you administer next?
atropine 1 mg IV
What is the indication for the use of magnesium in cardiac arrest?
pulseless ventricular tachycardia-associated with torsades de pointes
A patient has sinus bradycardia with a heart rate of 36/min. Atropine has been
administered to a total dose of 3 mg. A transcutaneous pacemaker has failed to
capture. The patient is confused, and her blood pressure is 88/56 mm Hg.
Which therapy is now indicated?
epinephrine 2 to 10 mcg/min
