ACLS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2025
How do interruptions in chest compressions negatively impact survival after
cardiac arrest? -ANSWERDecrease coronary perfusion pressure
What is the only intervention that can restore an organized rhythm in patients
with ventricular fibrillation (VF)? -ANSWEREarly and effective defibrillation
How quickly does the chance of survival decline for every minute of defibrillation
delay in patients with ventricular fibrillation who do receive bystander CPR? -
ANSWER7-10%
What is the advantage of a systematic approach to patient assessment? -
ANSWERReduces the chances of missing important signs and symptoms
What is the first step in the systematic approach to patient assessment? -
ANSWERInitial impression
What is the maximum amount of time you should simultaneously perform pulse
and breathing checks? -ANSWER10 seconds
While performing the BLS Assessment, you initiate high- quality CPR and assist
ventilation with a bag mask device. The AED does not recommend a shock.
Which action in the Primary assessment should you perform first? -
ANSWERDetermine is the patients airway is patent
,The initial assessment reveals a conscious patient. The patients airway is patent
and an advanced airway is not indicated.
Which action in the primary assessment should you perform next? -
ANSWERAdminister oxygen as needed
Which action is part of secondary assessment of a conscious patient? -
ANSWERFormulate a differential diagnosis
Which of the following are the "H's" causes of reversible cardiac arrest? Select all
that apply: -ANSWERHypothermia
Hypoxia
Hyperkalemia/hypokalemia
Hypovolemia
Acidosis
Which of the following are the "T" causes of reversible cardiac arrest? -
ANSWERTension pneumothorax
Toxins
Cardiac tamponade
Pulmonary thrombosis
Coronary thrombosis
What is the only intervention that can restore an organized rhythm in patients
with ventricular fibrillation (VF)? -ANSWEREarly and effective defibrillation
,What is the most common symptom of myocardial ischemia and infarction? -
ANSWERRetrosternal chest pain
Which demographic group experiencing acute coronary syndromes is more likely
to present without chest pain? -ANSWERFemales
Oxygen should be delivered to a patient who has obvious signs of heart failure if
the oxygen saturation is less than? -ANSWER90%
Obtaining a what is the most important assessment tool for a patient displaying
signs and symptoms of acute coronary syndrome? -ANSWER12 lead ekg
What is the time goal for how quickly you should complete a fibrinolytic checklist
once the patient arrives in the emergency department? -ANSWER10 minutes
When should oxygen be administered? -ANSWERIf the patient is dyspneic or
hypoxemic, has obvious signs of heart failure, or has an arterial o2 saturation that
is less than 90% or unknown.
Which is a contraindication to the administration of aspirin for the management
of a patient with acute coronary syndromes? -ANSWERRecent GI bleeding
What are the contraindications of nitroglycerin? -ANSWER-If patient has a
confirmed inferior wall stemi or right ventricular infarction
-avoid nitro if patient has hypotension, bradycardia, or tachycardia
, -if patient recently has taken sildenafil, vardenafil, or tadalafil in the past 24-48
hrs
What is a physiological effect of nitroglycerin? -ANSWERReduces preload
Which clinical findings represents a contraindication to the administration of
nitroglycerin? -ANSWERConfirmed right ventricular infarction
When is morphine indicated? -ANSWERIn STEMI patients with severe chest
discomfort that does not respond to nitrates
What should you always monitor after giving morphine? -ANSWERMonitor BP
and respiratory rate
When should you use caution when giving morphine? -ANSWERUse caution when
patient is in NSTE-ACS because of the association of mortality
If someone starts developing hypotension after giving morphine or nitroglycerin?
-ANSWERAdminister fluids
Which class of medications commonly given to patients with acute coronary
syndrome may be adversely affected by morphine administration? -ANSWEROral
anti platelet meds
What is the benefit of morphine when given for management of acute coronary
syndrome? -ANSWERCentral nervous system analgesic
How do interruptions in chest compressions negatively impact survival after
cardiac arrest? -ANSWERDecrease coronary perfusion pressure
What is the only intervention that can restore an organized rhythm in patients
with ventricular fibrillation (VF)? -ANSWEREarly and effective defibrillation
How quickly does the chance of survival decline for every minute of defibrillation
delay in patients with ventricular fibrillation who do receive bystander CPR? -
ANSWER7-10%
What is the advantage of a systematic approach to patient assessment? -
ANSWERReduces the chances of missing important signs and symptoms
What is the first step in the systematic approach to patient assessment? -
ANSWERInitial impression
What is the maximum amount of time you should simultaneously perform pulse
and breathing checks? -ANSWER10 seconds
While performing the BLS Assessment, you initiate high- quality CPR and assist
ventilation with a bag mask device. The AED does not recommend a shock.
Which action in the Primary assessment should you perform first? -
ANSWERDetermine is the patients airway is patent
,The initial assessment reveals a conscious patient. The patients airway is patent
and an advanced airway is not indicated.
Which action in the primary assessment should you perform next? -
ANSWERAdminister oxygen as needed
Which action is part of secondary assessment of a conscious patient? -
ANSWERFormulate a differential diagnosis
Which of the following are the "H's" causes of reversible cardiac arrest? Select all
that apply: -ANSWERHypothermia
Hypoxia
Hyperkalemia/hypokalemia
Hypovolemia
Acidosis
Which of the following are the "T" causes of reversible cardiac arrest? -
ANSWERTension pneumothorax
Toxins
Cardiac tamponade
Pulmonary thrombosis
Coronary thrombosis
What is the only intervention that can restore an organized rhythm in patients
with ventricular fibrillation (VF)? -ANSWEREarly and effective defibrillation
,What is the most common symptom of myocardial ischemia and infarction? -
ANSWERRetrosternal chest pain
Which demographic group experiencing acute coronary syndromes is more likely
to present without chest pain? -ANSWERFemales
Oxygen should be delivered to a patient who has obvious signs of heart failure if
the oxygen saturation is less than? -ANSWER90%
Obtaining a what is the most important assessment tool for a patient displaying
signs and symptoms of acute coronary syndrome? -ANSWER12 lead ekg
What is the time goal for how quickly you should complete a fibrinolytic checklist
once the patient arrives in the emergency department? -ANSWER10 minutes
When should oxygen be administered? -ANSWERIf the patient is dyspneic or
hypoxemic, has obvious signs of heart failure, or has an arterial o2 saturation that
is less than 90% or unknown.
Which is a contraindication to the administration of aspirin for the management
of a patient with acute coronary syndromes? -ANSWERRecent GI bleeding
What are the contraindications of nitroglycerin? -ANSWER-If patient has a
confirmed inferior wall stemi or right ventricular infarction
-avoid nitro if patient has hypotension, bradycardia, or tachycardia
, -if patient recently has taken sildenafil, vardenafil, or tadalafil in the past 24-48
hrs
What is a physiological effect of nitroglycerin? -ANSWERReduces preload
Which clinical findings represents a contraindication to the administration of
nitroglycerin? -ANSWERConfirmed right ventricular infarction
When is morphine indicated? -ANSWERIn STEMI patients with severe chest
discomfort that does not respond to nitrates
What should you always monitor after giving morphine? -ANSWERMonitor BP
and respiratory rate
When should you use caution when giving morphine? -ANSWERUse caution when
patient is in NSTE-ACS because of the association of mortality
If someone starts developing hypotension after giving morphine or nitroglycerin?
-ANSWERAdminister fluids
Which class of medications commonly given to patients with acute coronary
syndrome may be adversely affected by morphine administration? -ANSWEROral
anti platelet meds
What is the benefit of morphine when given for management of acute coronary
syndrome? -ANSWERCentral nervous system analgesic
