ACLS Heartcode Exam | QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | 2025
how quickly does the chance of survival decline for every minute of defibrillation delay in patients
with ventricular fibrillation ((VF) who do not receive bystander CPR?
a) 7% to 10%
b) 5% to 6%
c) 11% to 13%
d) 3% to 4% - SOLUTION -a
coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) equals aortic_______ pressure minus ____ atrial diastolic pressure
a) systolic, left
b) systolic, right
c) diastolic, left
d) diastolic, right - SOLUTION -D
what is an advantage of a systemic approach to patient assessment?
a) reduces the need for secondary assessment
b) standardizes treatment across systems of care
c) reduces the chances of missing important signs and symptoms
d) permits assessment modification based on patient symptoms - SOLUTION -C
what is the first step in the systematic approach to patient assessment?
a) primary assessment
b) secondary assessment
c) initial impression
d) BLS assessment - SOLUTION -c
what is the maximum amount of time you should simultaneously perform the pulse and breathing
checks?
a) 15 seconds
b) 20 seconds
c) 10 seconds
d) 5 seconds - SOLUTION -C
,The BLS Assessment is a systematic approach to BLS for trained healthcare providers. This approach
stresses:
a) basic airway management
b) early cpr and defibrillation
c) defibrillation - SOLUTION -b
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?
a) attach a quantitative waveform capnography device
b) perform fluid resuscitation
c) determine if the patient's airway is patent
d) assess the patient's oxygenation status - SOLUTION -C
the initial assessment reveals a conscious patient
the patient's airway is patent, and an advanced airway is not indicated
which action in the primary assessment should you perform next?
a) check for the presence of a pulse
b) remove clothing to perform a physical examination
c) administer oxygen as needed
d) check for neurologic function - SOLUTION -C
during CPR, chest compression fraction (CCF) should be at least ___% and idealls greater than ___% -
SOLUTION -60, 80
among others, which of the following factors has been associated with improved survival in patients
with cardiac arrest?
a) compression-only CPR
b) presence of 2 or more rescuers
c) immediate high -quality CPR
d) manual defibrillation - SOLUTION -C
which action is part of the secondary assessment of a conscious patient?
a) formulate a differential diagnosis
,b) attach a monitor/defibrillator
c) give IV/IO fluids if needed
d) determine the patient's level of consciousness - SOLUTION -a
which of the following are the "H" causes of reversible cardiac arrest?
1. hypocalcemia
2. hypothermia
3. hypertensive crisis
4. hypovolemia
5. hyperkalemia/hypokalemia
6. hypercalcemia
7. Heyde's syndrome
8. HELLP syndrome
9. acidosis
10. hypoxia - SOLUTION -2, 4, 5, 9, 10
which of the following are the "T" causes of reversible cardiac arrest?
1. coronary thrombosis
2. pulmonary thrombosis
3. toxins
4. thoracic outlet syndrome
5. simple pneumothorax
6. thyrotoxicosis
7. tachycardiomyopathy
8. tension pneumothorax
9. cardiac tamponade
10. deep vein thrombosis - SOLUTION -1, 2, 3, 8, 9
Symptoms of ACS - SOLUTION -chest pain (tightness or pressure)
pressure fullness squeezing or pain in center o chest lasting several minutes
chest discomfort spreading to shoulder, neck one or both arms, or jaw. spread to back or between
shoulder blades
light-headed, dizzy, fainting, syncope, sweating, nausea, vomiting
unexplained SOB with or without chest discomfort
, less common - epigastrium discomfort
what is the most common symptom of myocardial ischemia and infarction?
a) retrosternal chest pain
b) sweating
c) nausea
d) difficulty breathing - SOLUTION -a
which demographic group experiencing acute coronary syndromes is more likely to present without
chest pain?
a) females
b) adolescents
c) patients taking beta-blockers
d) smokers - SOLUTION -a
obtaining a ______ is the most important assessment tool for a patient displaying signs and
symptoms of acute coronary syndromes
a) blood glucose level
b) portable ultrasound
c) 12-lead ECG
d) computed tomography scan - SOLUTION -C
What is the time goal for how quickly you should complete a fibrinolytic checklist once the patient
arrives in the emergency department?
a) 20 minutes
b) 15 minutes
c) 30 minutes
d) 10 minutes - SOLUTION -D
in addition to decreased IHCA, what are some other benefits of implementing a rapid response
system?
1. decrease in total hospital length of stay
2. decreased ICU length of stay
3. increase ICU admissions
4. decreased emergency department admissions
5. increased hospital length of stay - SOLUTION -1 and 2
a patient without dyspnea has signs of acute coronary syndromes
ANSWERS | 2025
how quickly does the chance of survival decline for every minute of defibrillation delay in patients
with ventricular fibrillation ((VF) who do not receive bystander CPR?
a) 7% to 10%
b) 5% to 6%
c) 11% to 13%
d) 3% to 4% - SOLUTION -a
coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) equals aortic_______ pressure minus ____ atrial diastolic pressure
a) systolic, left
b) systolic, right
c) diastolic, left
d) diastolic, right - SOLUTION -D
what is an advantage of a systemic approach to patient assessment?
a) reduces the need for secondary assessment
b) standardizes treatment across systems of care
c) reduces the chances of missing important signs and symptoms
d) permits assessment modification based on patient symptoms - SOLUTION -C
what is the first step in the systematic approach to patient assessment?
a) primary assessment
b) secondary assessment
c) initial impression
d) BLS assessment - SOLUTION -c
what is the maximum amount of time you should simultaneously perform the pulse and breathing
checks?
a) 15 seconds
b) 20 seconds
c) 10 seconds
d) 5 seconds - SOLUTION -C
,The BLS Assessment is a systematic approach to BLS for trained healthcare providers. This approach
stresses:
a) basic airway management
b) early cpr and defibrillation
c) defibrillation - SOLUTION -b
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?
a) attach a quantitative waveform capnography device
b) perform fluid resuscitation
c) determine if the patient's airway is patent
d) assess the patient's oxygenation status - SOLUTION -C
the initial assessment reveals a conscious patient
the patient's airway is patent, and an advanced airway is not indicated
which action in the primary assessment should you perform next?
a) check for the presence of a pulse
b) remove clothing to perform a physical examination
c) administer oxygen as needed
d) check for neurologic function - SOLUTION -C
during CPR, chest compression fraction (CCF) should be at least ___% and idealls greater than ___% -
SOLUTION -60, 80
among others, which of the following factors has been associated with improved survival in patients
with cardiac arrest?
a) compression-only CPR
b) presence of 2 or more rescuers
c) immediate high -quality CPR
d) manual defibrillation - SOLUTION -C
which action is part of the secondary assessment of a conscious patient?
a) formulate a differential diagnosis
,b) attach a monitor/defibrillator
c) give IV/IO fluids if needed
d) determine the patient's level of consciousness - SOLUTION -a
which of the following are the "H" causes of reversible cardiac arrest?
1. hypocalcemia
2. hypothermia
3. hypertensive crisis
4. hypovolemia
5. hyperkalemia/hypokalemia
6. hypercalcemia
7. Heyde's syndrome
8. HELLP syndrome
9. acidosis
10. hypoxia - SOLUTION -2, 4, 5, 9, 10
which of the following are the "T" causes of reversible cardiac arrest?
1. coronary thrombosis
2. pulmonary thrombosis
3. toxins
4. thoracic outlet syndrome
5. simple pneumothorax
6. thyrotoxicosis
7. tachycardiomyopathy
8. tension pneumothorax
9. cardiac tamponade
10. deep vein thrombosis - SOLUTION -1, 2, 3, 8, 9
Symptoms of ACS - SOLUTION -chest pain (tightness or pressure)
pressure fullness squeezing or pain in center o chest lasting several minutes
chest discomfort spreading to shoulder, neck one or both arms, or jaw. spread to back or between
shoulder blades
light-headed, dizzy, fainting, syncope, sweating, nausea, vomiting
unexplained SOB with or without chest discomfort
, less common - epigastrium discomfort
what is the most common symptom of myocardial ischemia and infarction?
a) retrosternal chest pain
b) sweating
c) nausea
d) difficulty breathing - SOLUTION -a
which demographic group experiencing acute coronary syndromes is more likely to present without
chest pain?
a) females
b) adolescents
c) patients taking beta-blockers
d) smokers - SOLUTION -a
obtaining a ______ is the most important assessment tool for a patient displaying signs and
symptoms of acute coronary syndromes
a) blood glucose level
b) portable ultrasound
c) 12-lead ECG
d) computed tomography scan - SOLUTION -C
What is the time goal for how quickly you should complete a fibrinolytic checklist once the patient
arrives in the emergency department?
a) 20 minutes
b) 15 minutes
c) 30 minutes
d) 10 minutes - SOLUTION -D
in addition to decreased IHCA, what are some other benefits of implementing a rapid response
system?
1. decrease in total hospital length of stay
2. decreased ICU length of stay
3. increase ICU admissions
4. decreased emergency department admissions
5. increased hospital length of stay - SOLUTION -1 and 2
a patient without dyspnea has signs of acute coronary syndromes
