ACLS quiz with Complete Solutions
A patient remains in ventricular fibrillation despite 1 shock and 2 minutes of continuous CPR. The next
intervention is to - administer a second shock.
What is the recommended next step after a defibrillation attempt? - Begin CPR, starting with chest
compressions.
Which of the following is the recommended first choice for establishing intravenous access during the
attempted resuscitation of a patient in cardiac arrest? - Antecubital vein
Which finding is a sign of ineffective CPR? - PETCO2 <10 mm Hg
How often should the team leader switch chest compressors during a resuscitation attempt? - . Every 2
minutes
IV/IO drug administration during CPR should be - given rapidly during compressions
What is the recommended first intravenous dose of amiodarone for a patient with refractory ventricular
fibrillation? - 300 mg
A team leader orders 1 mg of epinephrine, and a team member verbally acknowledges when the
medication is administered. What element of effective resuscitation team dynamics does this represent?
- Closed-loop communication
How long should it take to perform a pulse check during the BLS Survey? - 5 to 10 seconds
Your rescue team arrives to find a 59-year-old man lying on the kitchen floor. You determine that he is
unresponsive and notice that he is taking agonal breaths. What is the next step in your assessment and
management of this patient? - Check the patient's pulse.
, An AED advises a shock for a pulseless patient lying in snow. What is the next action? - Administer the
shock immediately and continue as directed by the AED.
Which treatment or medication is appropriate for the treatment of a patient in asystole? - Epinephrine
What is the minimum depth of chest compressions for an adult in cardiac arrest? - 2 inches
A patient with pulseless ventricular tachycardia is defibrillated. What is the next action? - Start chest
compressions at a rate of at least 100/min.
You have completed your first 2-minute period of CPR. You see an organized, nonshockable rhythm on
the ECG monitor. What is the next action? - Have a team member attempt to palpate a carotid pulse.
Emergency medical responders are unable to obtain a peripheral IV for a patient in cardiac arrest. What
is the next most preferred route for drug administration? - Intraosseous (IO)
What is the appropriate rate of chest compressions for an adult in cardiac arrest? - At least 100/min
You are receiving a radio report from an EMS team en route with a patient who may be having an acute
stroke. The hospital CT scanner is not working at this time. What should you do in this situation? - Divert
the patient to a hospital 15 minutes away with CT capabilities.
A 53-year-old man has shortness of breath, chest discomfort, and weakness. The patient's blood
pressure is 102/59 mm Hg, the heart rate is 230/min, the respiratory rate is 16 breaths/min, and the
pulse oximetry reading is 96%. The lead II ECG is displayed below. A patent peripheral IV is in place.
What is the next action? - Vagal maneuvers
A 49-year-old man has retrosternal chest pain radiating into the left arm. The patient is diaphoretic, with
associated shortness of breath. The blood pressure is 130/88 mm Hg, the heart rate is 110/min, the
respiratory rate is 22 breaths/min, and the pulse oximetry value is 95%. The patient's 12-lead ECG shows
ST-segment elevation in the anterior leads. First responders administered 160 mg of aspirin, and there is
a patent peripheral IV. The pain is described as an 8 on a scale of 1 to 10 and is unrelieved after 3 doses
of nitroglycerin. What is the next action? - Administer 2 to 4 mg of morphine by slow IV bolus.
A patient remains in ventricular fibrillation despite 1 shock and 2 minutes of continuous CPR. The next
intervention is to - administer a second shock.
What is the recommended next step after a defibrillation attempt? - Begin CPR, starting with chest
compressions.
Which of the following is the recommended first choice for establishing intravenous access during the
attempted resuscitation of a patient in cardiac arrest? - Antecubital vein
Which finding is a sign of ineffective CPR? - PETCO2 <10 mm Hg
How often should the team leader switch chest compressors during a resuscitation attempt? - . Every 2
minutes
IV/IO drug administration during CPR should be - given rapidly during compressions
What is the recommended first intravenous dose of amiodarone for a patient with refractory ventricular
fibrillation? - 300 mg
A team leader orders 1 mg of epinephrine, and a team member verbally acknowledges when the
medication is administered. What element of effective resuscitation team dynamics does this represent?
- Closed-loop communication
How long should it take to perform a pulse check during the BLS Survey? - 5 to 10 seconds
Your rescue team arrives to find a 59-year-old man lying on the kitchen floor. You determine that he is
unresponsive and notice that he is taking agonal breaths. What is the next step in your assessment and
management of this patient? - Check the patient's pulse.
, An AED advises a shock for a pulseless patient lying in snow. What is the next action? - Administer the
shock immediately and continue as directed by the AED.
Which treatment or medication is appropriate for the treatment of a patient in asystole? - Epinephrine
What is the minimum depth of chest compressions for an adult in cardiac arrest? - 2 inches
A patient with pulseless ventricular tachycardia is defibrillated. What is the next action? - Start chest
compressions at a rate of at least 100/min.
You have completed your first 2-minute period of CPR. You see an organized, nonshockable rhythm on
the ECG monitor. What is the next action? - Have a team member attempt to palpate a carotid pulse.
Emergency medical responders are unable to obtain a peripheral IV for a patient in cardiac arrest. What
is the next most preferred route for drug administration? - Intraosseous (IO)
What is the appropriate rate of chest compressions for an adult in cardiac arrest? - At least 100/min
You are receiving a radio report from an EMS team en route with a patient who may be having an acute
stroke. The hospital CT scanner is not working at this time. What should you do in this situation? - Divert
the patient to a hospital 15 minutes away with CT capabilities.
A 53-year-old man has shortness of breath, chest discomfort, and weakness. The patient's blood
pressure is 102/59 mm Hg, the heart rate is 230/min, the respiratory rate is 16 breaths/min, and the
pulse oximetry reading is 96%. The lead II ECG is displayed below. A patent peripheral IV is in place.
What is the next action? - Vagal maneuvers
A 49-year-old man has retrosternal chest pain radiating into the left arm. The patient is diaphoretic, with
associated shortness of breath. The blood pressure is 130/88 mm Hg, the heart rate is 110/min, the
respiratory rate is 22 breaths/min, and the pulse oximetry value is 95%. The patient's 12-lead ECG shows
ST-segment elevation in the anterior leads. First responders administered 160 mg of aspirin, and there is
a patent peripheral IV. The pain is described as an 8 on a scale of 1 to 10 and is unrelieved after 3 doses
of nitroglycerin. What is the next action? - Administer 2 to 4 mg of morphine by slow IV bolus.
