AHA ACLS WRITTEN TEST
QUESTIONS & UPDATED COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS RATED 100% CORRECT
You find an unresponsive pt. who is not breathing. After activating the emergency
response system, you determine there is no pulse. What is your next action? -
CORRECT ANSWER Start chest compressions of at least 100 per min.
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? - CORRECT ANSWER Obtaining a 12 lead
ECG.
What is the preferred method of access for epi administration during cardiac arrest in
most pts? - CORRECT ANSWER Peripheral IV
An AED does not promptly analyze a rhythm. What is your next step? - CORRECT
ANSWER Begin chest compressions.
You have completed 2 min of CPR. The ECG monitor displays the lead below (PEA)
and the pt. has no pulse. You partner resumes chest compressions and an IV is in
place. What management step is your next priority? - CORRECT ANSWER Administer
1mg of epinephrine
During a pause in CPR, you see a narrow complex rhythm on the monitor. The pt. has
no pulse. What is the next action? - CORRECT ANSWER Resume compressions
What is a common but sometimes fatal mistake in cardiac arrest management? -
CORRECT ANSWER Prolonged interruptions in chest compressions.
Which action is a component of high-quality chest compressions? - CORRECT
ANSWER Allowing complete chest recoil
Which action increases the chance of successful conversion of ventricular fibrillation? -
CORRECT ANSWER Providing quality compressions immediately before a defibrillation
attempt.
Which situation BEST describes PEA? - CORRECT ANSWER Sinus rhythm without a
pulse
, What is the best strategy for performing high-quality CPR on a pt. With an advanced
airway in place? - CORRECT ANSWER Provide continuous chest compressions
without pauses and 10 ventilations per minute.
3 min after witnessing a cardiac arrest, one member of your team inserts an ET tube
while another performs continuous chest compressions. During subsequent ventilations,
you notice the presence of a waveform on the capnogrophy screen and a PETCO2 of 8
mm Hg. What is the significance of this finding? - CORRECT ANSWER Chest
compressions may not be effective.
The use of quantitative capnography in intubated pt's does what? - CORRECT
ANSWER Allows for monitoring CPR quality
For the past 25 min, EMS crews have attempted resuscitation of a pt who originally
presented with V-FIB. After the 1st shock, the ECG screen displayed asystole which
has persisted despite 2 doses of epi, a fluid bolus, and high quality CPR. What is your
next treatment? - CORRECT ANSWER Consider terminating resuscitate efforts after
consulting medical control.
Which is a safe and effective practice within the defibrillation sequence? - CORRECT
ANSWER Be sure O2 is NOT blowing over the pt's chest during shock.
What is an advantage of using hands-free d-fib pads instead of d-fib paddles? -
CORRECT ANSWER Hands-free allows for more rapid d-fib.
During your assessment, your pt suddenly loses consciousness. After calling for help
and determining that the pt. is not breathing, you are unsure whether the pt. has a
pulse. What is your next action? - CORRECT ANSWER Begin chest compressions.
What action is recommended to help minimize interruptions in chest compressions
during CPR? - CORRECT ANSWER Continue CPR while charging the defibrillator.
Which action is included in the BLS survey? - CORRECT ANSWER Early defibrillation
Which drug and dose are recommended for the management of a pt. in refractory V-
FIB? - CORRECT ANSWER Amiodarone 300mg
What is the appropriate interval for an interruption in chest compressions? - CORRECT
ANSWER 10 seconds or less
Which of the following is a sign of effective CPR? - CORRECT ANSWER PETCO2 = or
> 10mm Hg
What is the primary purpose of a medical emergency team or rapid response team? -
CORRECT ANSWER Identifying and treating early clinical deterioration.
QUESTIONS & UPDATED COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS RATED 100% CORRECT
You find an unresponsive pt. who is not breathing. After activating the emergency
response system, you determine there is no pulse. What is your next action? -
CORRECT ANSWER Start chest compressions of at least 100 per min.
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? - CORRECT ANSWER Obtaining a 12 lead
ECG.
What is the preferred method of access for epi administration during cardiac arrest in
most pts? - CORRECT ANSWER Peripheral IV
An AED does not promptly analyze a rhythm. What is your next step? - CORRECT
ANSWER Begin chest compressions.
You have completed 2 min of CPR. The ECG monitor displays the lead below (PEA)
and the pt. has no pulse. You partner resumes chest compressions and an IV is in
place. What management step is your next priority? - CORRECT ANSWER Administer
1mg of epinephrine
During a pause in CPR, you see a narrow complex rhythm on the monitor. The pt. has
no pulse. What is the next action? - CORRECT ANSWER Resume compressions
What is a common but sometimes fatal mistake in cardiac arrest management? -
CORRECT ANSWER Prolonged interruptions in chest compressions.
Which action is a component of high-quality chest compressions? - CORRECT
ANSWER Allowing complete chest recoil
Which action increases the chance of successful conversion of ventricular fibrillation? -
CORRECT ANSWER Providing quality compressions immediately before a defibrillation
attempt.
Which situation BEST describes PEA? - CORRECT ANSWER Sinus rhythm without a
pulse
, What is the best strategy for performing high-quality CPR on a pt. With an advanced
airway in place? - CORRECT ANSWER Provide continuous chest compressions
without pauses and 10 ventilations per minute.
3 min after witnessing a cardiac arrest, one member of your team inserts an ET tube
while another performs continuous chest compressions. During subsequent ventilations,
you notice the presence of a waveform on the capnogrophy screen and a PETCO2 of 8
mm Hg. What is the significance of this finding? - CORRECT ANSWER Chest
compressions may not be effective.
The use of quantitative capnography in intubated pt's does what? - CORRECT
ANSWER Allows for monitoring CPR quality
For the past 25 min, EMS crews have attempted resuscitation of a pt who originally
presented with V-FIB. After the 1st shock, the ECG screen displayed asystole which
has persisted despite 2 doses of epi, a fluid bolus, and high quality CPR. What is your
next treatment? - CORRECT ANSWER Consider terminating resuscitate efforts after
consulting medical control.
Which is a safe and effective practice within the defibrillation sequence? - CORRECT
ANSWER Be sure O2 is NOT blowing over the pt's chest during shock.
What is an advantage of using hands-free d-fib pads instead of d-fib paddles? -
CORRECT ANSWER Hands-free allows for more rapid d-fib.
During your assessment, your pt suddenly loses consciousness. After calling for help
and determining that the pt. is not breathing, you are unsure whether the pt. has a
pulse. What is your next action? - CORRECT ANSWER Begin chest compressions.
What action is recommended to help minimize interruptions in chest compressions
during CPR? - CORRECT ANSWER Continue CPR while charging the defibrillator.
Which action is included in the BLS survey? - CORRECT ANSWER Early defibrillation
Which drug and dose are recommended for the management of a pt. in refractory V-
FIB? - CORRECT ANSWER Amiodarone 300mg
What is the appropriate interval for an interruption in chest compressions? - CORRECT
ANSWER 10 seconds or less
Which of the following is a sign of effective CPR? - CORRECT ANSWER PETCO2 = or
> 10mm Hg
What is the primary purpose of a medical emergency team or rapid response team? -
CORRECT ANSWER Identifying and treating early clinical deterioration.
