ACLS POST-TEST Questions & Answers
1.Q1. A 48-year-old man became unresponsive shortly after presenting to
you with nausea and generalized chest discomfort. You observe gasping
breathing and are unsure if you feel a pulse. You should know
A. Call for help and begin chest compressions.
B. Wait until breathing stops and then check again for a pulse.
C. Begin chest compressions only if you are certain a pulse is absent.
D. Observe the patient for 2 minutes, then reassess his breathing and pulse.
ANS A. Call for help and begin chest compressions.
2.Q2. Which of the following is the most likely complication of inferior
wall myocardial infarction (MI)?
A. Cardiogenic shock
B. Ventricular rupture
C. Bradydysrhythmias
D. Tachydysrhythmias
ANS C. Bradydysrhythmias
3.Q3. A 52-year-old man is complaining of palpitations that came on
suddenly after walking up a short flight of stairs. His symptoms have been
present
for about 20 minutes. He denies chest pain and is not short of breath. His
skin is warm and dry; breath sounds are clear. His blood pressure (BP) is
,144/88 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), his heart rate is 186 beats per minute
(beats/min), and his ventilatory rate is 18 breaths/min. The cardiac monitor
reveals the rhythm here. Vascular access has been established. Which of the
following medications is most appropriate in this situation?
A. Dopamine or sotalol
B. Furosemide or atropine
C. Nitroglycerin (NTG) or morphine
D. Procainamide or amiodarone
ANS D. Procainamide or amiodarone
4.Q4. Your general impression of a 78-year-old woman reveals that her eyes
are closed, she is not moving, you can see no rise and fall of her chest or
abdomen, and her skin-color is pale. When you arrive at the patient's side,
you confirm that she is unresponsive. Your best action in this situation will
be to
A. Open her airway and give two breaths.
B. Apply an automated external defibrillator (AED).
C. Assess breathing and determine whether she has a pulse.
D. Prepare the necessary equipment to insert an advanced airway.
ANS C. Assess breathing and determine whether she has a pulse.
5.Q5. A 60-year-old woman has suffered a cardiac arrest. A health care
professional trained in endotracheal intubation has intubated the patient.
Which of the following findings would indicate inadvertent esophageal
, intubation?
A. Jugular vein distention
B. Subcutaneous emphysema
C. Gurgling sounds heard over the epigastrium
D. Breath sounds heard on only one side of the chest
ANS C. Gurgling sounds heard over the epigastrium
6.Q6. Hypotension (ie, a systolic BP of less than 90 mm Hg) after the
return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) may necessitate the use of
A. Fluid boluses and isoproterenol.
B. Procainamide, epinephrine, or dopamine.
C. Epinephrine, dopamine, or norepinephrine.
D. Fluid boluses, procainamide, and isoproterenol.
ANS C. Epinephrine, dopamine, or norepinephrine.
7.Q7. Which of the following is incorrect with regard to a postevent
debrief- ing?
A. The facilitator should use open-ended questions to encourage discussion.
B.Team members are encouraged to identify lessons learned in a
nonpunitive environment.
C. The gather phase of the debriefing includes a comparison of the
team's actions with current resuscitation algorithms.
D.Team members are given an opportunity to reflect on their performance
and how their performance can be improved.
ANS C. The gather phase of the debriefing includes a comparison of the
1.Q1. A 48-year-old man became unresponsive shortly after presenting to
you with nausea and generalized chest discomfort. You observe gasping
breathing and are unsure if you feel a pulse. You should know
A. Call for help and begin chest compressions.
B. Wait until breathing stops and then check again for a pulse.
C. Begin chest compressions only if you are certain a pulse is absent.
D. Observe the patient for 2 minutes, then reassess his breathing and pulse.
ANS A. Call for help and begin chest compressions.
2.Q2. Which of the following is the most likely complication of inferior
wall myocardial infarction (MI)?
A. Cardiogenic shock
B. Ventricular rupture
C. Bradydysrhythmias
D. Tachydysrhythmias
ANS C. Bradydysrhythmias
3.Q3. A 52-year-old man is complaining of palpitations that came on
suddenly after walking up a short flight of stairs. His symptoms have been
present
for about 20 minutes. He denies chest pain and is not short of breath. His
skin is warm and dry; breath sounds are clear. His blood pressure (BP) is
,144/88 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), his heart rate is 186 beats per minute
(beats/min), and his ventilatory rate is 18 breaths/min. The cardiac monitor
reveals the rhythm here. Vascular access has been established. Which of the
following medications is most appropriate in this situation?
A. Dopamine or sotalol
B. Furosemide or atropine
C. Nitroglycerin (NTG) or morphine
D. Procainamide or amiodarone
ANS D. Procainamide or amiodarone
4.Q4. Your general impression of a 78-year-old woman reveals that her eyes
are closed, she is not moving, you can see no rise and fall of her chest or
abdomen, and her skin-color is pale. When you arrive at the patient's side,
you confirm that she is unresponsive. Your best action in this situation will
be to
A. Open her airway and give two breaths.
B. Apply an automated external defibrillator (AED).
C. Assess breathing and determine whether she has a pulse.
D. Prepare the necessary equipment to insert an advanced airway.
ANS C. Assess breathing and determine whether she has a pulse.
5.Q5. A 60-year-old woman has suffered a cardiac arrest. A health care
professional trained in endotracheal intubation has intubated the patient.
Which of the following findings would indicate inadvertent esophageal
, intubation?
A. Jugular vein distention
B. Subcutaneous emphysema
C. Gurgling sounds heard over the epigastrium
D. Breath sounds heard on only one side of the chest
ANS C. Gurgling sounds heard over the epigastrium
6.Q6. Hypotension (ie, a systolic BP of less than 90 mm Hg) after the
return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) may necessitate the use of
A. Fluid boluses and isoproterenol.
B. Procainamide, epinephrine, or dopamine.
C. Epinephrine, dopamine, or norepinephrine.
D. Fluid boluses, procainamide, and isoproterenol.
ANS C. Epinephrine, dopamine, or norepinephrine.
7.Q7. Which of the following is incorrect with regard to a postevent
debrief- ing?
A. The facilitator should use open-ended questions to encourage discussion.
B.Team members are encouraged to identify lessons learned in a
nonpunitive environment.
C. The gather phase of the debriefing includes a comparison of the
team's actions with current resuscitation algorithms.
D.Team members are given an opportunity to reflect on their performance
and how their performance can be improved.
ANS C. The gather phase of the debriefing includes a comparison of the
