ACLS FINAL EXAM Graded A
A patient with suspected acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is placed on a cardiac
monitor. The patient is complaining of dyspnea and is given supplemental oxygen. The
provider determines that the oxygen is effective based on which SaO2 level? -
ANSWER When a patient presents with potential ACS, the patient should have oxygen
administered to maintain an SaO2 of at least 94%.
A patient experiences cardiac arrest, and the resuscitation team initiates ventilations
using a bag-valve-mask (BVM) resuscitator. The development of which condition during
the provision of care would lead the team to suspect that improper BVM technique is
being used? - ANSWER Complications can occur with the use of a BVM resuscitator
due to improper technique. Delivering excessive volume or ventilating too fast creates
excessive pressure that can damage the airways, lungs and other organs. Excessive
volume can lead to tension pneumothorax.
Assessment of a patient reveals an ETCO2 level of 55 mmHg and an arterial oxygen
saturation (SaO2) level of 88%. The provider would interpret these findings as indicative
of which condition? - ANSWER An SaO2 level of less than 90% (PaO2 of less than 50
mmHg) accompanied by ETCO2 values greater than 50 mmHg is indicative of
respiratory failure.
A healthcare provider initiates ventilations to ensure adequate breathing and
oxygenation. While ventilations are being performed, capnography is established to
evaluate the adequacy of the ventilations. The healthcare provider determines that
ventilations are adequate based on which end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) value? -
ANSWER End-tidal carbon dioxide values in the range of 35 to 45 mmHg confirm
adequacy of ventilation.
A patient comes to the emergency department complaining of palpitations and "some
shortness of breath." Cardiac monitoring is initiated and reveals the following ECG
rhythm strip. The provider interprets this strip as indicating which arrhythmia? -
ANSWER In atrial flutter, atrial contraction occurs at such a rapid rate that discrete P
waves separated by a flat baseline cannot be seen on the strip. Instead, the baseline
continually rises and falls, producing the "flutter" waves. In leads II and III, the flutter
waves may be quite prominent, creating a "sawtooth" pattern. Because of the volume of
atrial impulses, the AV node allows only some of the impulses to pass through to the
ventricles. In atrial flutter, a 2:1 ratio is the most common (i.e., for every two flutter
waves, only one impulse passes through the AV node to generate a QRS complex).
Ratios of 3:1 and 4:1 are also frequently seen.
A person suddenly collapses while sitting in the sunroom of a healthcare facility. A
healthcare provider observes the event and hurries over to assess the situation. The
healthcare provider performs which assessment first? - ANSWER A systematic
approach to assessment is necessary. The healthcare provider should first perform a
, rapid assessment. A rapid assessment is a quick visual survey to ensure safety, to form
an initial impression about the patient's condition, and to check for responsiveness,
breathing and a pulse if the patient appears to be unresponsive. This would be followed
by a primary assessment and then a secondary assessment.
A 35-year-old female patient's ECG is consistent with STEMI. The ECG reveals a new
ST-segment elevation at the J point in leads V2 and V3 of at least which size? -
ANSWER New ST-segment elevation at the J point in leads V2 and V3 of at least 0.15
mV (1.5 mm) in women 40 years or younger is considered diagnostic of STEMI.
An ECG strip of a patient in the emergency department reveals the following rhythm.
Which feature would the healthcare provider interpret as indicating atrial fibrillation? -
ANSWER The two key features of atrial fibrillation on ECG are the absence of discrete
P waves and the presence of irregularly irregular QRS complexes.
A patient presents to the emergency department with mild to moderate recurrent chest
pain, without any nausea or vomiting. A 12-lead ECG is obtained and shows ST-
segment depression with transient T-wave elevation indicative of NSTE-ACS. Cardiac
enzyme levels are obtained and are not elevated. These findings suggest which
condition? - ANSWER A patient who presents with ECG findings consistent with NSTE-
ACS and does not have elevated cardiac serum markers is to be considered as having
unstable angina.
A healthcare provider is establishing cardiac monitoring using a five-electrode system.
The healthcare provider demonstrates proper use of the system by placing the green
electrode in which location? - ANSWER In a five-electrode cardiac monitoring system,
the green electrode should be placed on the lower right abdomen.
A resuscitation team is debriefing following a recent event. A patient experienced
cardiac arrest, and advanced cardiac life support was initiated. The patient required the
placement of an advanced airway to maintain airway patency. Which statement
indicates that the team performed high-quality CPR? - ANSWER When an advanced
airway has been placed in a patient who is in cardiac arrest, compressions and
ventilations are delivered continuously with no interruptions. One provider delivers 1
ventilation every 6 seconds, while the second provider performs compressions at a rate
of 100 to 120 compressions per minute.
A patient's capnogram reveals the following waveform. Which segment would the
healthcare provider interpret as reflecting the beginning of exhalation? - ANSWER The
A-B segment is the respiratory baseline that represents the beginning of exhalation.
A patient arrives at the emergency department complaining of shortness of breath. The
patient has a long history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Assessment
reveals respiratory failure. Which action would be the initial priority? - ANSWER
Patients who cannot oxygenate or ventilate adequately despite an open airway or who
A patient with suspected acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is placed on a cardiac
monitor. The patient is complaining of dyspnea and is given supplemental oxygen. The
provider determines that the oxygen is effective based on which SaO2 level? -
ANSWER When a patient presents with potential ACS, the patient should have oxygen
administered to maintain an SaO2 of at least 94%.
A patient experiences cardiac arrest, and the resuscitation team initiates ventilations
using a bag-valve-mask (BVM) resuscitator. The development of which condition during
the provision of care would lead the team to suspect that improper BVM technique is
being used? - ANSWER Complications can occur with the use of a BVM resuscitator
due to improper technique. Delivering excessive volume or ventilating too fast creates
excessive pressure that can damage the airways, lungs and other organs. Excessive
volume can lead to tension pneumothorax.
Assessment of a patient reveals an ETCO2 level of 55 mmHg and an arterial oxygen
saturation (SaO2) level of 88%. The provider would interpret these findings as indicative
of which condition? - ANSWER An SaO2 level of less than 90% (PaO2 of less than 50
mmHg) accompanied by ETCO2 values greater than 50 mmHg is indicative of
respiratory failure.
A healthcare provider initiates ventilations to ensure adequate breathing and
oxygenation. While ventilations are being performed, capnography is established to
evaluate the adequacy of the ventilations. The healthcare provider determines that
ventilations are adequate based on which end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) value? -
ANSWER End-tidal carbon dioxide values in the range of 35 to 45 mmHg confirm
adequacy of ventilation.
A patient comes to the emergency department complaining of palpitations and "some
shortness of breath." Cardiac monitoring is initiated and reveals the following ECG
rhythm strip. The provider interprets this strip as indicating which arrhythmia? -
ANSWER In atrial flutter, atrial contraction occurs at such a rapid rate that discrete P
waves separated by a flat baseline cannot be seen on the strip. Instead, the baseline
continually rises and falls, producing the "flutter" waves. In leads II and III, the flutter
waves may be quite prominent, creating a "sawtooth" pattern. Because of the volume of
atrial impulses, the AV node allows only some of the impulses to pass through to the
ventricles. In atrial flutter, a 2:1 ratio is the most common (i.e., for every two flutter
waves, only one impulse passes through the AV node to generate a QRS complex).
Ratios of 3:1 and 4:1 are also frequently seen.
A person suddenly collapses while sitting in the sunroom of a healthcare facility. A
healthcare provider observes the event and hurries over to assess the situation. The
healthcare provider performs which assessment first? - ANSWER A systematic
approach to assessment is necessary. The healthcare provider should first perform a
, rapid assessment. A rapid assessment is a quick visual survey to ensure safety, to form
an initial impression about the patient's condition, and to check for responsiveness,
breathing and a pulse if the patient appears to be unresponsive. This would be followed
by a primary assessment and then a secondary assessment.
A 35-year-old female patient's ECG is consistent with STEMI. The ECG reveals a new
ST-segment elevation at the J point in leads V2 and V3 of at least which size? -
ANSWER New ST-segment elevation at the J point in leads V2 and V3 of at least 0.15
mV (1.5 mm) in women 40 years or younger is considered diagnostic of STEMI.
An ECG strip of a patient in the emergency department reveals the following rhythm.
Which feature would the healthcare provider interpret as indicating atrial fibrillation? -
ANSWER The two key features of atrial fibrillation on ECG are the absence of discrete
P waves and the presence of irregularly irregular QRS complexes.
A patient presents to the emergency department with mild to moderate recurrent chest
pain, without any nausea or vomiting. A 12-lead ECG is obtained and shows ST-
segment depression with transient T-wave elevation indicative of NSTE-ACS. Cardiac
enzyme levels are obtained and are not elevated. These findings suggest which
condition? - ANSWER A patient who presents with ECG findings consistent with NSTE-
ACS and does not have elevated cardiac serum markers is to be considered as having
unstable angina.
A healthcare provider is establishing cardiac monitoring using a five-electrode system.
The healthcare provider demonstrates proper use of the system by placing the green
electrode in which location? - ANSWER In a five-electrode cardiac monitoring system,
the green electrode should be placed on the lower right abdomen.
A resuscitation team is debriefing following a recent event. A patient experienced
cardiac arrest, and advanced cardiac life support was initiated. The patient required the
placement of an advanced airway to maintain airway patency. Which statement
indicates that the team performed high-quality CPR? - ANSWER When an advanced
airway has been placed in a patient who is in cardiac arrest, compressions and
ventilations are delivered continuously with no interruptions. One provider delivers 1
ventilation every 6 seconds, while the second provider performs compressions at a rate
of 100 to 120 compressions per minute.
A patient's capnogram reveals the following waveform. Which segment would the
healthcare provider interpret as reflecting the beginning of exhalation? - ANSWER The
A-B segment is the respiratory baseline that represents the beginning of exhalation.
A patient arrives at the emergency department complaining of shortness of breath. The
patient has a long history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Assessment
reveals respiratory failure. Which action would be the initial priority? - ANSWER
Patients who cannot oxygenate or ventilate adequately despite an open airway or who
