AHA ACLS Post-test Questions and Answers
For STEMI patients, which best describes the recommended maximum goal time for first
medical contact-to-balloon inflation time for percutaneous coronary intervention?
90 minutes
A patient is being resuscitated in a very noisy environment, A team member thinks he heard an
order for 500 mg of amiodarone IV. Which is the best response from the team member?
"I have an order to give 500 mg of amiodarone IV. Is this correct?"
A team member is unable to perform an assigned task because it is beyond the
team member's scope of practice. What action should the team member take?
Ask for a new task or role
Your patient is in cardiac arrest and has been intubated. To assess CPR quality, which
should you do?
Monitor the patient's PETCO2
Which best describes this rhythm?
Third-degree atrioventricular block
A responder is caring for a patient with a history of congestive heart failure. The patient is
experiencing shortness of breath, a blood pressure of 68/50 mm Hg, and a heart rate of
190/min. The patient's lead II ECG is displayed here, Which best characterizes this
patient's rhythm?
Unstable supraventricular tachycardia
What is the recommended range from which a temperature should be selected and
maintained constantly to achieve targeted temperature management after cardiac arrest?
, 32°C to 36°C
What is the minimum systolic blood pressure one should attempt to achieve with fluid
administration or vasoactive agents in a hypotensive post-cardiac arrest patient who achieves
return of spontaneous
circulation?
90 mm Hg
A 45-year-old man had coronary artery stents placed 2 days ago. Today, he is in severe
distress and is reporting "crushing" chest discomfort. He is pale, diaphoretic, and cool to the
touch. His radial pulse is very weak, blood pressure is 64/40 mm Hg, respiratory rate is 28
breaths per minute, and oxygen saturation is 89% on room air. When applied, the cardiac
monitor initially showed ventricular tachycardia, which then quickly changed to ventricular
fibrillation. On the basis of this patient's initial presentation, which condition do you suspect
led to the cardiac arrest?
Acute coronary syndrome
A 45-year-old man had coronary artery stents placed 2 days ago. Today, he is in severe
distress and is reporting "crushing" chest discomfort. He is pale, diaphoretic, and cool to
the touch. His radial pulse is very weak, blood pressure is 64/40 mm Hg, respiratory rate is
28 breaths per minute, and oxygen saturation is 89% on room air. When applied, the
cardiac monitor initially showed ventricular tachycardia, which then quickly changed to
ventricular fibrillation. In addition to defibrillation, which intervention should be performed
immediately?
Chest compressions
A 45-year-old man had coronary artery stents placed 2 days ago. Today, he is in severe distress
and is reporting "crushing" chest discomfort. He is pale, diaphoretic, and cool to the touch. His
radial pulse is very weak, blood pressure is 64/40 mm Hg, respiratory rate is 28 breaths per
minute, and oxygen saturation is 89% on room air. When applied, the cardiac monitor initially
showed ventricular tachycardia, which then quickly changed to ventricular
For STEMI patients, which best describes the recommended maximum goal time for first
medical contact-to-balloon inflation time for percutaneous coronary intervention?
90 minutes
A patient is being resuscitated in a very noisy environment, A team member thinks he heard an
order for 500 mg of amiodarone IV. Which is the best response from the team member?
"I have an order to give 500 mg of amiodarone IV. Is this correct?"
A team member is unable to perform an assigned task because it is beyond the
team member's scope of practice. What action should the team member take?
Ask for a new task or role
Your patient is in cardiac arrest and has been intubated. To assess CPR quality, which
should you do?
Monitor the patient's PETCO2
Which best describes this rhythm?
Third-degree atrioventricular block
A responder is caring for a patient with a history of congestive heart failure. The patient is
experiencing shortness of breath, a blood pressure of 68/50 mm Hg, and a heart rate of
190/min. The patient's lead II ECG is displayed here, Which best characterizes this
patient's rhythm?
Unstable supraventricular tachycardia
What is the recommended range from which a temperature should be selected and
maintained constantly to achieve targeted temperature management after cardiac arrest?
, 32°C to 36°C
What is the minimum systolic blood pressure one should attempt to achieve with fluid
administration or vasoactive agents in a hypotensive post-cardiac arrest patient who achieves
return of spontaneous
circulation?
90 mm Hg
A 45-year-old man had coronary artery stents placed 2 days ago. Today, he is in severe
distress and is reporting "crushing" chest discomfort. He is pale, diaphoretic, and cool to the
touch. His radial pulse is very weak, blood pressure is 64/40 mm Hg, respiratory rate is 28
breaths per minute, and oxygen saturation is 89% on room air. When applied, the cardiac
monitor initially showed ventricular tachycardia, which then quickly changed to ventricular
fibrillation. On the basis of this patient's initial presentation, which condition do you suspect
led to the cardiac arrest?
Acute coronary syndrome
A 45-year-old man had coronary artery stents placed 2 days ago. Today, he is in severe
distress and is reporting "crushing" chest discomfort. He is pale, diaphoretic, and cool to
the touch. His radial pulse is very weak, blood pressure is 64/40 mm Hg, respiratory rate is
28 breaths per minute, and oxygen saturation is 89% on room air. When applied, the
cardiac monitor initially showed ventricular tachycardia, which then quickly changed to
ventricular fibrillation. In addition to defibrillation, which intervention should be performed
immediately?
Chest compressions
A 45-year-old man had coronary artery stents placed 2 days ago. Today, he is in severe distress
and is reporting "crushing" chest discomfort. He is pale, diaphoretic, and cool to the touch. His
radial pulse is very weak, blood pressure is 64/40 mm Hg, respiratory rate is 28 breaths per
minute, and oxygen saturation is 89% on room air. When applied, the cardiac monitor initially
showed ventricular tachycardia, which then quickly changed to ventricular
