CEN Cardiovascular Emergencies LATEST VERSION 101 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH STUDY GUIDE DETAILED AND VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED PASS,
LATEST UPDATE 2025
You are caring for a 65 year old who collapsed outside of the hospital
and was brought in to the emergency department. During CPR,
quantitative waveform capnography shows a PETCO2 level < 10 mm
HG. Which of the following is the correct response to this finding?
a. Do nothing; this is normal.
b. Increase the amount of oxygen being delivered.
c. Attempt to improve the quality of CPR.
d. Decrease the amount of oxygen being delivered. - CORRECT
ANSWER C. Quantitative waveform capnography provides a good
indication of the quality of CPR. Levels < 10 mm HG indicate either a
problem with the quality of CPR or with the placement of the ETT.
EtCO2 levels of ≤10 mmHg predicted death in adult patients with
cardiac arrest. Measurement of EtCO2 varies directly with the cardiac
output produced by chest compression . Goal is 35-45mmg HG or 5-
6% CO2.
You are caring for an 85 year old and are having trouble establishing
an intravenous line. The ED physician asks for an intraosseous
needle to establish an IO line for medication administration. Which of
the following is TRUE about the intraosseous route of drug
administration?
a. It should only be done on children under the age of 16.
b. It is preferred over the IV route of drug administration.
c. It should only be attempted after all other routes have been
attempted.
d. Any drug or fluid can be administered via the IO route. - CORRECT
ANSWER D. Any drug that can be given via the IV route can also
be given via the IO route. Although commonly thought of in reference
to pediatric patients, an IO route can be established on any age
person. IO access is the preferred route over the ETT but not IV route;
it is often the easiest route to establish while CPR is being done.
You have defibrillated the patient in ventricular fibrillation. The
appropriate action to take next is:
a. Do CPR for a 2-minute cycle.
,b. Obtain an ECG to determine the rhythm.
c. Defibrillate again at a higher dose.
d. Give IV Epinephrine. - CORRECT ANSWER A. The 2010 ACLS
guidelines no longer recommend the stacked defibrillation. Instead, a
2-minute cycle of CPR should be done as the defibrillator is charging.
A 55-year-old patient is diagnosed with Acute Coronary Syndrome
(ACS). The ED nurse should expect to give medications to relieve pain
and prevent clots. Assuming oxygen is needed, what is the correct
sequence for these frontline drugs?
a. Oxygen, Aspirin, Nitroglycerin, Morphine
b. Aspirin, Oxygen, Nitroglycerin, Morphine
c. Nitroglycerin, Oxygen, Aspirin, Morphine
d. Aspirin, Oxygen, Morphine, Nitroglycerin - CORRECT ANSWER
A. Oxygen should be the first drug given for the patient with ACS.
Aspirin is the front line drug for dissolving clots associated with ACS.
Nitroglycerine is typically readily available and should be
administered third. Finally, for continued pain, morphine may be
necessary. During the initial assessment phase, the following steps
should be accomplished for any patient at significant risk for ACS:
•Airway, breathing, and circulation assessed
•Preliminary history and examination obtained
•12-lead ECG interpreted
•Resuscitation equipment brought to the bedside
•Cardiac monitor attached to patient
•Oxygen given
•IV access and blood work obtained
•Aspirin 162 to 325 mg given
•Nitrates and morphine given (unless contraindicated)
A 75-year-old patient has the rhythm on the right. He is short of
breath, lethargic and has a systolic blood pressure of 80 mm Hg.
What is the most appropriate first step in treatment for this patient?
a. Obtain an EKG to determine the rhythm.
b. Give Adenosine 6 mg IV rapid push.
c. Perform immediate synchronized cardioversion.
d. Give Amiodarone 150 mg over 10 minutes. - CORRECT ANSWER
C. The rhythm is tachycardia and can be further classified as unstable
due to the fact that the patient is short of breath and lethargic with a
, low blood pressure. A patient with unstable tachycardia should be
immediately cardioverted in a synchronized mode.
A 76-year-old man is brought in by EMS with distended neck veins,
tracheal deviation and asymmetrical chest expansion. What should
immediately be suspected?
a. Pulmonary embolus
b. Tension pneumothorax
c. Second degree heart block
d. Asthma - CORRECT ANSWER B. Tension pneumothorax
occurs when a lung is fully or partially deflated. Lung deflation will
change the pressures in the chest causing the trachea to deviate and
the chest to expand only on the unaffected side.
When performing carotid massage, all of the following are true
EXCEPT:
a. The massage should be done on both sides of the neck at the same
time.
b. Carotid massage should not exceed 10 seconds.
c. Emergency equipment should be available.
d. Asystole may result from carotid massage. - CORRECT ANSWER
A. Carotid massage should only be done on side of the neck at a time.
Before doing this procedure, the physician should auscultate both
sides of the neck for bruits that might indicate atherosclerotic plaque
in the artery.
Which of the following is the antiarrhythmic drug of choice for the
patient with a ventricular dysrhythmia after cardiac arrest?
a. Lidocaine
b. Magnesium
c. Amiodarone
d. Procainamide - CORRECT ANSWER C. Although the other
drugs may be given for ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular
tachycardia, amiodarone is the antiarrhythmic of choice.
A 76-year-old man comes to the emergency department complaining
of sudden severe, tearing type pain in his anterior chest that radiates
to his upper abdomen. He is experiencing severe dyspnea and
syncope. The pulses in his legs are not palpable. His pain is not
ANSWERS WITH STUDY GUIDE DETAILED AND VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED PASS,
LATEST UPDATE 2025
You are caring for a 65 year old who collapsed outside of the hospital
and was brought in to the emergency department. During CPR,
quantitative waveform capnography shows a PETCO2 level < 10 mm
HG. Which of the following is the correct response to this finding?
a. Do nothing; this is normal.
b. Increase the amount of oxygen being delivered.
c. Attempt to improve the quality of CPR.
d. Decrease the amount of oxygen being delivered. - CORRECT
ANSWER C. Quantitative waveform capnography provides a good
indication of the quality of CPR. Levels < 10 mm HG indicate either a
problem with the quality of CPR or with the placement of the ETT.
EtCO2 levels of ≤10 mmHg predicted death in adult patients with
cardiac arrest. Measurement of EtCO2 varies directly with the cardiac
output produced by chest compression . Goal is 35-45mmg HG or 5-
6% CO2.
You are caring for an 85 year old and are having trouble establishing
an intravenous line. The ED physician asks for an intraosseous
needle to establish an IO line for medication administration. Which of
the following is TRUE about the intraosseous route of drug
administration?
a. It should only be done on children under the age of 16.
b. It is preferred over the IV route of drug administration.
c. It should only be attempted after all other routes have been
attempted.
d. Any drug or fluid can be administered via the IO route. - CORRECT
ANSWER D. Any drug that can be given via the IV route can also
be given via the IO route. Although commonly thought of in reference
to pediatric patients, an IO route can be established on any age
person. IO access is the preferred route over the ETT but not IV route;
it is often the easiest route to establish while CPR is being done.
You have defibrillated the patient in ventricular fibrillation. The
appropriate action to take next is:
a. Do CPR for a 2-minute cycle.
,b. Obtain an ECG to determine the rhythm.
c. Defibrillate again at a higher dose.
d. Give IV Epinephrine. - CORRECT ANSWER A. The 2010 ACLS
guidelines no longer recommend the stacked defibrillation. Instead, a
2-minute cycle of CPR should be done as the defibrillator is charging.
A 55-year-old patient is diagnosed with Acute Coronary Syndrome
(ACS). The ED nurse should expect to give medications to relieve pain
and prevent clots. Assuming oxygen is needed, what is the correct
sequence for these frontline drugs?
a. Oxygen, Aspirin, Nitroglycerin, Morphine
b. Aspirin, Oxygen, Nitroglycerin, Morphine
c. Nitroglycerin, Oxygen, Aspirin, Morphine
d. Aspirin, Oxygen, Morphine, Nitroglycerin - CORRECT ANSWER
A. Oxygen should be the first drug given for the patient with ACS.
Aspirin is the front line drug for dissolving clots associated with ACS.
Nitroglycerine is typically readily available and should be
administered third. Finally, for continued pain, morphine may be
necessary. During the initial assessment phase, the following steps
should be accomplished for any patient at significant risk for ACS:
•Airway, breathing, and circulation assessed
•Preliminary history and examination obtained
•12-lead ECG interpreted
•Resuscitation equipment brought to the bedside
•Cardiac monitor attached to patient
•Oxygen given
•IV access and blood work obtained
•Aspirin 162 to 325 mg given
•Nitrates and morphine given (unless contraindicated)
A 75-year-old patient has the rhythm on the right. He is short of
breath, lethargic and has a systolic blood pressure of 80 mm Hg.
What is the most appropriate first step in treatment for this patient?
a. Obtain an EKG to determine the rhythm.
b. Give Adenosine 6 mg IV rapid push.
c. Perform immediate synchronized cardioversion.
d. Give Amiodarone 150 mg over 10 minutes. - CORRECT ANSWER
C. The rhythm is tachycardia and can be further classified as unstable
due to the fact that the patient is short of breath and lethargic with a
, low blood pressure. A patient with unstable tachycardia should be
immediately cardioverted in a synchronized mode.
A 76-year-old man is brought in by EMS with distended neck veins,
tracheal deviation and asymmetrical chest expansion. What should
immediately be suspected?
a. Pulmonary embolus
b. Tension pneumothorax
c. Second degree heart block
d. Asthma - CORRECT ANSWER B. Tension pneumothorax
occurs when a lung is fully or partially deflated. Lung deflation will
change the pressures in the chest causing the trachea to deviate and
the chest to expand only on the unaffected side.
When performing carotid massage, all of the following are true
EXCEPT:
a. The massage should be done on both sides of the neck at the same
time.
b. Carotid massage should not exceed 10 seconds.
c. Emergency equipment should be available.
d. Asystole may result from carotid massage. - CORRECT ANSWER
A. Carotid massage should only be done on side of the neck at a time.
Before doing this procedure, the physician should auscultate both
sides of the neck for bruits that might indicate atherosclerotic plaque
in the artery.
Which of the following is the antiarrhythmic drug of choice for the
patient with a ventricular dysrhythmia after cardiac arrest?
a. Lidocaine
b. Magnesium
c. Amiodarone
d. Procainamide - CORRECT ANSWER C. Although the other
drugs may be given for ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular
tachycardia, amiodarone is the antiarrhythmic of choice.
A 76-year-old man comes to the emergency department complaining
of sudden severe, tearing type pain in his anterior chest that radiates
to his upper abdomen. He is experiencing severe dyspnea and
syncope. The pulses in his legs are not palpable. His pain is not
