2020 ACLS Exam A
1. Which of these tests should be performed for a patient with suspected stroke as soon
as possible but no more than 20 minutes after hospital arrival? - answers Noncontrast
CT scan of the head
2. Which best describes this rhythm? - answers Monomorphic ventricular tachycardia
3. Which is an acceptable method of selecting an appropriately sized oropharyngeal
airway? - answers Measure from the corner of the mouth to the angle of the mandible
You are caring for a patient with a suspected stroke whose symptoms started 2 hours
ago. The CT scan was normal, with no signs of hemorrhage. The patient does not have
any contraindications to fibrinolytic therapy. Which treatment approach is best for this
patient? - answers Give fibrinolytic therapy as soon as possible and consider
endovascular therapy
5. Which is the recommended next step after a defibrillation attempt? - answers
Resume CPR, starting with chest compressions
6. Which of the following signs is a likely indicator of cardiac arrest in an unresponsive
patient? - answers Agonal gasps
7. You are evaluating a 58-year-old man with chest discomfort. His blood pressure is
92/50 mm Hg, his heart rate is 92/min, his nonlabored respiratory rate is 14 breaths per
minute, and his pulse oximetry reading is 97%. Which assessment step is most
important now? - answers Obtaining a 12-lead ECG
8. During post-cardiac arrest care, which is the recommended duration of targeted
temperature management after reaching the correct temperature range? - answers At
least 24 hours
9. Which type of atrioventricular block best describes this rhythm? - answers Second-
degree atrioventricular block type I
10. Your rescue team arrives to find a 59-year-old man lying on the kitchen floor. You
determine that he is unresponsive. Which is the next step in your assessment and
management of this patient? - answers Check the patient's breathing and pulse
Use this scenario to answer the next 6 questions: - answers 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.
11. On the basis of this patient's initial presentation, which condition do you suspect led
to the cardiac arrest? - answers Acute coronary syndrome
12. In addition to defibrillation, which intervention should be performed immediately? -
answers Chest compressions
13. Despite 2 defibrillation attempts, the patient remains in ventricular fibrillation. Which
drug and dose should you administer first to this patient? - answers Epinephrine 1 mg
14. Despite the drug provided above and continued CPR, the patient remains in
ventricular fibrillation. Which other drug should be administered next? - answers
Lidocaine 1 to 1.5 mg/kg
15. The patient has return of spontaneous circulation and is not able to follow
commands. Which post- cardiac arrest care intervention do you choose for this patient?
- answers Initiate targeted temperature management
16. Which would you have done first if the patient had not gone into ventricular
fibrillation? - answers Performed synchronized cardioversion
17. How can you increase chest compression fraction during a code? - answers Charge
the defibrillator 15 seconds before conducting a rhythm check
18. A team member is unable to perform an assigned task because it is beyond the
team member's scope of practice. Which action should the team member take? -
answers Ask for a new task or role
19. In addition to clinical assessment, which is the most reliable method to confirm and
monitor correct placement of an endotracheal tube? - answers Continuous waveform
capnography
20. Your patient is in cardiac arrest and has been intubated. To assess CPR quality,
which should you do? - answers Monitor the patient's PETCO2
21. Three minutes into a cardiac arrest resuscitation attempt, one member of your team
inserts an endotracheal tube while another performs chest compressions. Capnography
shows a persistent waveform and a PETCO2 of 8 mm Hg. What is the significance of
this finding? - answers Chest compressions may not be effective
22. Which best describes this rhythm? - answers Third-degree atrioventricular block
1. Which of these tests should be performed for a patient with suspected stroke as soon
as possible but no more than 20 minutes after hospital arrival? - answers Noncontrast
CT scan of the head
2. Which best describes this rhythm? - answers Monomorphic ventricular tachycardia
3. Which is an acceptable method of selecting an appropriately sized oropharyngeal
airway? - answers Measure from the corner of the mouth to the angle of the mandible
You are caring for a patient with a suspected stroke whose symptoms started 2 hours
ago. The CT scan was normal, with no signs of hemorrhage. The patient does not have
any contraindications to fibrinolytic therapy. Which treatment approach is best for this
patient? - answers Give fibrinolytic therapy as soon as possible and consider
endovascular therapy
5. Which is the recommended next step after a defibrillation attempt? - answers
Resume CPR, starting with chest compressions
6. Which of the following signs is a likely indicator of cardiac arrest in an unresponsive
patient? - answers Agonal gasps
7. You are evaluating a 58-year-old man with chest discomfort. His blood pressure is
92/50 mm Hg, his heart rate is 92/min, his nonlabored respiratory rate is 14 breaths per
minute, and his pulse oximetry reading is 97%. Which assessment step is most
important now? - answers Obtaining a 12-lead ECG
8. During post-cardiac arrest care, which is the recommended duration of targeted
temperature management after reaching the correct temperature range? - answers At
least 24 hours
9. Which type of atrioventricular block best describes this rhythm? - answers Second-
degree atrioventricular block type I
10. Your rescue team arrives to find a 59-year-old man lying on the kitchen floor. You
determine that he is unresponsive. Which is the next step in your assessment and
management of this patient? - answers Check the patient's breathing and pulse
Use this scenario to answer the next 6 questions: - answers 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.
11. On the basis of this patient's initial presentation, which condition do you suspect led
to the cardiac arrest? - answers Acute coronary syndrome
12. In addition to defibrillation, which intervention should be performed immediately? -
answers Chest compressions
13. Despite 2 defibrillation attempts, the patient remains in ventricular fibrillation. Which
drug and dose should you administer first to this patient? - answers Epinephrine 1 mg
14. Despite the drug provided above and continued CPR, the patient remains in
ventricular fibrillation. Which other drug should be administered next? - answers
Lidocaine 1 to 1.5 mg/kg
15. The patient has return of spontaneous circulation and is not able to follow
commands. Which post- cardiac arrest care intervention do you choose for this patient?
- answers Initiate targeted temperature management
16. Which would you have done first if the patient had not gone into ventricular
fibrillation? - answers Performed synchronized cardioversion
17. How can you increase chest compression fraction during a code? - answers Charge
the defibrillator 15 seconds before conducting a rhythm check
18. A team member is unable to perform an assigned task because it is beyond the
team member's scope of practice. Which action should the team member take? -
answers Ask for a new task or role
19. In addition to clinical assessment, which is the most reliable method to confirm and
monitor correct placement of an endotracheal tube? - answers Continuous waveform
capnography
20. Your patient is in cardiac arrest and has been intubated. To assess CPR quality,
which should you do? - answers Monitor the patient's PETCO2
21. Three minutes into a cardiac arrest resuscitation attempt, one member of your team
inserts an endotracheal tube while another performs chest compressions. Capnography
shows a persistent waveform and a PETCO2 of 8 mm Hg. What is the significance of
this finding? - answers Chest compressions may not be effective
22. Which best describes this rhythm? - answers Third-degree atrioventricular block
