ACLS PRE-COURSE SELF ASSESSMENT
1. In which situation does bradycardia require treatment?
Diastolic blood pressure greater than 90 mm Hg12-lead
ECG showing a normal sinus rhythm
Hypotension
Systolic blood pressure greater than 100 mm Hg
Answer: Hypotension
2. What is the indication for the use of magnesium in cardiac arrest?
Shock-refractory monomorphic ventricular tachycardia
Ventricular tachycardia associated with a normal QT interval
Shock-refractory ventricular fibrillation
Pulseless ventricular tachycardia-associated torsades de pointes
Answer: Pulselessventricular tachycardia-associated torsades de pointes
3. You arrive on the scene with the code team. High-quality CPR is in progress. An AED
has previously advised "no shock indicated." A rhythm check now finds asystole. After
resuming high-quality compressions, whichaction do you take next?
Perform endotracheal intubation
Call for a pulse check
Insert a laryngeal airway
Establish IV or IO access
Answer: Establish IV or IO access
4. 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?
Epinephrine 2 to 10 mcg/kg per minute
Lidocaine 1 mg/kg
Atropine 0.5 mg
Adenosine 6 mg
Answer: Adenosine 6 mg
5. A 62-year-old man suddenly experienced difficulty speaking and left-sidedweakness. He
meets initial criteria for fibrinolytic therapy, and a CT scan of the brain is ordered. Which best
describes the guidelines for antiplatelet andfibrinolytic therapy?
Give aspirin 120 mg and clopidogrel 75 mg orally
, Give aspirin 162 to 325 mg to be chewed immediately
Give heparin if the CT scan is negative for hemorrhage
Hold aspirin for at least 24 hours if rtPA is administered
Answer: Hold aspirin for at least24 hours if rtPA is administered
6. How often should you switch chest compressors to avoid fatigue?
About every 2 minutes
About every 4 minutes
About every 5 minutes
About every 3 minutes
Answer: About every 2 minutes
7. 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 isreceiving oxygen
at 4 L/min by nasal cannula, and an IV has been established.What do you administer next?
Dopamine at 2 to 10 mcg/kg per minute
Morphine sulfate 4 mg IV
Atropine 1 mg IV
Glucose 50% IV push
Answer: Atropine 1 mg IV
8. What action minimizes the risk of air entering the victim's stomach duringbag-mask
ventilation?
Ventilating as quickly as you can
Ventilating until you see the chest rise
Squeezing the bag with both hands
Delivering the largest breath you can
Answer: Ventilating until you see the chest rise
9. How does complete chest recoil contribute to effective CPR?
Reduces the risk of rib fractures
Allows maximum blood return to the heart
Reduces rescuer fatigue
Increases the rate of chest compressions
Answer: Allows maximum blood return to theheart
10. A patient's 12-lead ECG is transmitted by the paramedics and shows aSTEMI. When the
patient arrives in the emergency department, the rhythmshown here is seen on the cardiac
1. In which situation does bradycardia require treatment?
Diastolic blood pressure greater than 90 mm Hg12-lead
ECG showing a normal sinus rhythm
Hypotension
Systolic blood pressure greater than 100 mm Hg
Answer: Hypotension
2. What is the indication for the use of magnesium in cardiac arrest?
Shock-refractory monomorphic ventricular tachycardia
Ventricular tachycardia associated with a normal QT interval
Shock-refractory ventricular fibrillation
Pulseless ventricular tachycardia-associated torsades de pointes
Answer: Pulselessventricular tachycardia-associated torsades de pointes
3. You arrive on the scene with the code team. High-quality CPR is in progress. An AED
has previously advised "no shock indicated." A rhythm check now finds asystole. After
resuming high-quality compressions, whichaction do you take next?
Perform endotracheal intubation
Call for a pulse check
Insert a laryngeal airway
Establish IV or IO access
Answer: Establish IV or IO access
4. 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?
Epinephrine 2 to 10 mcg/kg per minute
Lidocaine 1 mg/kg
Atropine 0.5 mg
Adenosine 6 mg
Answer: Adenosine 6 mg
5. A 62-year-old man suddenly experienced difficulty speaking and left-sidedweakness. He
meets initial criteria for fibrinolytic therapy, and a CT scan of the brain is ordered. Which best
describes the guidelines for antiplatelet andfibrinolytic therapy?
Give aspirin 120 mg and clopidogrel 75 mg orally
, Give aspirin 162 to 325 mg to be chewed immediately
Give heparin if the CT scan is negative for hemorrhage
Hold aspirin for at least 24 hours if rtPA is administered
Answer: Hold aspirin for at least24 hours if rtPA is administered
6. How often should you switch chest compressors to avoid fatigue?
About every 2 minutes
About every 4 minutes
About every 5 minutes
About every 3 minutes
Answer: About every 2 minutes
7. 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 isreceiving oxygen
at 4 L/min by nasal cannula, and an IV has been established.What do you administer next?
Dopamine at 2 to 10 mcg/kg per minute
Morphine sulfate 4 mg IV
Atropine 1 mg IV
Glucose 50% IV push
Answer: Atropine 1 mg IV
8. What action minimizes the risk of air entering the victim's stomach duringbag-mask
ventilation?
Ventilating as quickly as you can
Ventilating until you see the chest rise
Squeezing the bag with both hands
Delivering the largest breath you can
Answer: Ventilating until you see the chest rise
9. How does complete chest recoil contribute to effective CPR?
Reduces the risk of rib fractures
Allows maximum blood return to the heart
Reduces rescuer fatigue
Increases the rate of chest compressions
Answer: Allows maximum blood return to theheart
10. A patient's 12-lead ECG is transmitted by the paramedics and shows aSTEMI. When the
patient arrives in the emergency department, the rhythmshown here is seen on the cardiac
