ICU EXAM STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS. VERIFIED 2026.
Normal PR interval - ANS 0.12-0.20 seconds
Normal QRS duration - ANS Less than 0.12 seconds
Normal QT interval - ANS Less than 0.44 seconds in men and less than 0.46 seconds in
women
Normal cardiac conduction pathway - ANS SA node → AV node → Bundle of His → bundle
branches → Purkinje fibers
What does the P wave represent? - ANS Atrial depolarization
What does the QRS complex represent? - ANS Ventricular depolarization
What does the T wave represent? - ANS Ventricular repolarization
First-line medication for PEA or asystole - ANS Epinephrine
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, First-line medication for SVT - ANS Adenosine
First-line treatment for ventricular fibrillation - ANS Defibrillation plus epinephrine and
amiodarone
First-line medication for Torsades de Pointes - ANS Magnesium sulfate
First-line medication for symptomatic bradycardia - ANS Atropine
Difference between defibrillation and cardioversion - ANS Defibrillation is unsynchronized for
pulseless rhythms; cardioversion is synchronized for patients with a pulse
What are the two shockable rhythms? - ANS Ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular
tachycardia
Initial ACS interventions - ANS MONA: Morphine, Oxygen, Nitroglycerin, Aspirin
Effect of pain and anxiety on vital signs - ANS Increased heart rate, blood pressure,
respiratory rate, and oxygen consumption
Hemodynamic compensatory mechanisms in shock - ANS Tachycardia, vasoconstriction,
RAAS activation, ADH release
Hypertensive emergency criteria - ANS Blood pressure greater than 180/120 with end-organ
damage
Organs affected by hypertensive crisis - ANS Brain, heart, kidneys, eyes, aorta
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
AND ANSWERS. VERIFIED 2026.
Normal PR interval - ANS 0.12-0.20 seconds
Normal QRS duration - ANS Less than 0.12 seconds
Normal QT interval - ANS Less than 0.44 seconds in men and less than 0.46 seconds in
women
Normal cardiac conduction pathway - ANS SA node → AV node → Bundle of His → bundle
branches → Purkinje fibers
What does the P wave represent? - ANS Atrial depolarization
What does the QRS complex represent? - ANS Ventricular depolarization
What does the T wave represent? - ANS Ventricular repolarization
First-line medication for PEA or asystole - ANS Epinephrine
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, First-line medication for SVT - ANS Adenosine
First-line treatment for ventricular fibrillation - ANS Defibrillation plus epinephrine and
amiodarone
First-line medication for Torsades de Pointes - ANS Magnesium sulfate
First-line medication for symptomatic bradycardia - ANS Atropine
Difference between defibrillation and cardioversion - ANS Defibrillation is unsynchronized for
pulseless rhythms; cardioversion is synchronized for patients with a pulse
What are the two shockable rhythms? - ANS Ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular
tachycardia
Initial ACS interventions - ANS MONA: Morphine, Oxygen, Nitroglycerin, Aspirin
Effect of pain and anxiety on vital signs - ANS Increased heart rate, blood pressure,
respiratory rate, and oxygen consumption
Hemodynamic compensatory mechanisms in shock - ANS Tachycardia, vasoconstriction,
RAAS activation, ADH release
Hypertensive emergency criteria - ANS Blood pressure greater than 180/120 with end-organ
damage
Organs affected by hypertensive crisis - ANS Brain, heart, kidneys, eyes, aorta
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
