JBL CARDIOLOGY EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 2025|2026 VERIFIED
GRADED A+ ALREADY PASSED!
A 58-year-old man is found unresponsive by his wife. According to his
wife, he was complaining of a "dull ache" in his chest the day before,
but refused to allow her to call 911. His blood pressure is 70/50 mm Hg,
his pulse is 120 beats/min and weak, and his respirations are 28
breaths/min and labored. Further assessment reveals that his skin is
cool, pale, and clammy. You should suspect:
A) cardiogenic shock.
B) hypovolemic shock.
C) acute septic shock.
D) pulmonary embolism. - CORRECT ANSWER-A
The patient in this scenario likely experienced an acute myocardial
infarction the day before. However, because he refused medical care,
the infarction has likely damaged a significant portion of his heart,
resulting in cardiogenic shock. Cardiogenic shock occurs when the heart
fails as a pump and can no longer meet the metabolic needs of the
body; it has a very high mortality rate. The patient's labored breathing is
likely caused by pulmonary edema, which occurs when blood backs up
into the lungs because the heart cannot effectively pump it forward.
There is no evidence of hypovolemia (ie, poor skin turgor) or sepsis (ie,
fever). A pulmonary embolism typically presents with an acute onset of
,pleuritic (sharp) chest pain and difficulty breathing, and is also
commonly associated with cyanosis.
Sudden cardiac arrest in the adult population MOST often is the result
of:
A) myocardial infarction.
B) respiratory failure.
C) a cardiac dysrhythmia.
D) accidental electrocution. - CORRECT ANSWER-C
The most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in the adult
population is a cardiac dysrhythmia--usually ventricular fibrillation. This
fact underscores the importance of early defibrillation to shock the
heart back into a perfusing rhythm. Evidence has shown that SCA--
again, most often the result of an arrhythmia--occurs in up to 40% of
patients experiencing an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The risk of
SCA is highest within the first few hours following the onset of an AMI.
Respiratory failure is the most common cause of cardiac arrest in
children, not adults. Children generally have healthy hearts and rarely
experience cardiac arrest due to a primary cardiac event.
With regard to the electrocardiogram (ECG), what is artifact?
A) significant abnormality discovered by the paramedic
,B) The complete absence of electrical activity on the ECG
C) Electrical interference that can make diagnosis difficult
D) Improper lead placement, resulting in misdiagnosis - CORRECT
ANSWER-C
Artifact refers to an ECG tracing that is the result of interference, such
as patient movement, deep breathing, or muscle tremors, rather than
the heart's electrical activity. Artifact can make diagnosis of the ECG
difficult or impossible. To minimize artifact on the ECG, make sure the
patient is lying supine; if the patient is experiencing respiratory distress,
place him or her in a semi-Fowler's position. Ensure that the patient's
arms are relaxed by his or her side and his or her feet are uncrossed.
Prior to being reoxygenated in the lungs, blood passes through the:
A) mitral and tricuspid valves.
B) aortic and tricuspid valves.
C) aortic and pulmonic valves.
D) tricuspid and pulmonic valves. - CORRECT ANSWER-D
There are two valves that blood must pass through before being
reoxygenated in the lungs, the tricuspid and the pulmonic. After
returning to the body, blood passes from the right atrium, through the
tricuspid valve, to the right ventricle. It then passes through the
pulmonic valve, into the pulmonary arteries, and to the lungs. The
mitral valve is located between the left atrium and left ventricle; blood
, passes through this valve after being reoxygenated in the lungs.
Oxygenated blood moves through the aortic valve, into the aorta, and
out to the body.
In addition to chest pain or discomfort, a patient experiencing an acute
coronary syndrome would MOST likely present with:
A) ashen skin color, diaphoresis, and anxiety.
B) severe projectile vomiting and flushed skin.
C) irregular breathing and low blood pressure.
D) profound cyanosis, dry skin, and a headache. - CORRECT ANSWER-A
Chest pain, pressure, or discomfort is the most common symptom of
acute coronary syndrome (ACS; eg, unstable angina, acute myocardial
infarction); it occurs in approximately 80% of cases. Patients with ACS
are usually anxious and may have a feeling of impending doom. Nausea
and vomiting are common complaints; however, projectile vomiting,
which is typically associated with increased intracranial pressure, is
uncommon. The skin is often ashen gray and clammy (diaphoretic)
because of poor cardiac output and decreased perfusion. Less
commonly, the patient's skin is cyanotic. Respirations are usually
unlabored unless the patient has congestive heart failure, in which case
respirations are rapid and labored; irregular breathing, however, is not
common. Blood pressure may fall as a result of decreased cardiac
output; however, most patients will have a normal or elevated blood
pressure. If the patient complains of a headache, it is usually a side
AND ANSWERS 2025|2026 VERIFIED
GRADED A+ ALREADY PASSED!
A 58-year-old man is found unresponsive by his wife. According to his
wife, he was complaining of a "dull ache" in his chest the day before,
but refused to allow her to call 911. His blood pressure is 70/50 mm Hg,
his pulse is 120 beats/min and weak, and his respirations are 28
breaths/min and labored. Further assessment reveals that his skin is
cool, pale, and clammy. You should suspect:
A) cardiogenic shock.
B) hypovolemic shock.
C) acute septic shock.
D) pulmonary embolism. - CORRECT ANSWER-A
The patient in this scenario likely experienced an acute myocardial
infarction the day before. However, because he refused medical care,
the infarction has likely damaged a significant portion of his heart,
resulting in cardiogenic shock. Cardiogenic shock occurs when the heart
fails as a pump and can no longer meet the metabolic needs of the
body; it has a very high mortality rate. The patient's labored breathing is
likely caused by pulmonary edema, which occurs when blood backs up
into the lungs because the heart cannot effectively pump it forward.
There is no evidence of hypovolemia (ie, poor skin turgor) or sepsis (ie,
fever). A pulmonary embolism typically presents with an acute onset of
,pleuritic (sharp) chest pain and difficulty breathing, and is also
commonly associated with cyanosis.
Sudden cardiac arrest in the adult population MOST often is the result
of:
A) myocardial infarction.
B) respiratory failure.
C) a cardiac dysrhythmia.
D) accidental electrocution. - CORRECT ANSWER-C
The most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in the adult
population is a cardiac dysrhythmia--usually ventricular fibrillation. This
fact underscores the importance of early defibrillation to shock the
heart back into a perfusing rhythm. Evidence has shown that SCA--
again, most often the result of an arrhythmia--occurs in up to 40% of
patients experiencing an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The risk of
SCA is highest within the first few hours following the onset of an AMI.
Respiratory failure is the most common cause of cardiac arrest in
children, not adults. Children generally have healthy hearts and rarely
experience cardiac arrest due to a primary cardiac event.
With regard to the electrocardiogram (ECG), what is artifact?
A) significant abnormality discovered by the paramedic
,B) The complete absence of electrical activity on the ECG
C) Electrical interference that can make diagnosis difficult
D) Improper lead placement, resulting in misdiagnosis - CORRECT
ANSWER-C
Artifact refers to an ECG tracing that is the result of interference, such
as patient movement, deep breathing, or muscle tremors, rather than
the heart's electrical activity. Artifact can make diagnosis of the ECG
difficult or impossible. To minimize artifact on the ECG, make sure the
patient is lying supine; if the patient is experiencing respiratory distress,
place him or her in a semi-Fowler's position. Ensure that the patient's
arms are relaxed by his or her side and his or her feet are uncrossed.
Prior to being reoxygenated in the lungs, blood passes through the:
A) mitral and tricuspid valves.
B) aortic and tricuspid valves.
C) aortic and pulmonic valves.
D) tricuspid and pulmonic valves. - CORRECT ANSWER-D
There are two valves that blood must pass through before being
reoxygenated in the lungs, the tricuspid and the pulmonic. After
returning to the body, blood passes from the right atrium, through the
tricuspid valve, to the right ventricle. It then passes through the
pulmonic valve, into the pulmonary arteries, and to the lungs. The
mitral valve is located between the left atrium and left ventricle; blood
, passes through this valve after being reoxygenated in the lungs.
Oxygenated blood moves through the aortic valve, into the aorta, and
out to the body.
In addition to chest pain or discomfort, a patient experiencing an acute
coronary syndrome would MOST likely present with:
A) ashen skin color, diaphoresis, and anxiety.
B) severe projectile vomiting and flushed skin.
C) irregular breathing and low blood pressure.
D) profound cyanosis, dry skin, and a headache. - CORRECT ANSWER-A
Chest pain, pressure, or discomfort is the most common symptom of
acute coronary syndrome (ACS; eg, unstable angina, acute myocardial
infarction); it occurs in approximately 80% of cases. Patients with ACS
are usually anxious and may have a feeling of impending doom. Nausea
and vomiting are common complaints; however, projectile vomiting,
which is typically associated with increased intracranial pressure, is
uncommon. The skin is often ashen gray and clammy (diaphoretic)
because of poor cardiac output and decreased perfusion. Less
commonly, the patient's skin is cyanotic. Respirations are usually
unlabored unless the patient has congestive heart failure, in which case
respirations are rapid and labored; irregular breathing, however, is not
common. Blood pressure may fall as a result of decreased cardiac
output; however, most patients will have a normal or elevated blood
pressure. If the patient complains of a headache, it is usually a side
