EQUIPING STUDENTS WITH KNOWLEDGE
GUARANTEED SUCCESS – NOTHING BUT THE BEST
ACLS - Pharmacology
You are caring for a 66-year-old man with a history of a large intracerebral hemorrhage 2 months ago.
He is being evaluated for another acute stroke. The CT scan is negative for hemorrhage. The patient is
receiving oxygen via nasal cannula at 2 L/min, and an IV has been established. His blood pressure is
180/100 mm Hg. Which drug do you anticipate giving to this patient?
A. aspirin
B. glucose (D50)
C. nicardipine
D. rtPA
A. aspirin
A patient with sinus bradycardia and a heart rate of 42/min has diaphoresis and a blood pressure of
80/60 mm Hg. What is the initial dose of atropine?
A. 0.1 mg
B. 0.5 mg
C. 1 mg
D. 3 mg
B. 0.5 mg
A patient with STEMI has ongoing chest discomfort. Heparin 4000 units IV bolus and a heparin infusion
of 1000 unit per hour are being administered. The patient did not take aspirin because he has a history
of gastritis, which was treated 5 years ago. What is your next action?
A. give aspirin 160 to 325 mg to chew
B. give clopidogrel 300 mg orally
C. give enteric-coated aspirin 75 mg orally
D. give enteric-coated aspirin 325 mg rectally
A. give aspirin 160 to 325 mg to chew
A patient is in pulseless ventricular tachycardia. Two shocks and 1 dose of epinephrine have been
given. Which drug should be given next?
A. adenosine 6 mg
B. amiodarone 300 mg
C. epinephrine 3 mg
D. lidocaine 0.5 mg/kg
B. amiodarone 300 mg
, EQUIPING STUDENTS WITH KNOWLEDGE
GUARANTEED SUCCESS – NOTHING BUT THE BEST
What is the indication for the us of magnesium in cardiac arrest?
A. ventricular tachycardia associated with a normal QT
interval
B. shock-refractory monomorphic ventricular tachycardia
C. pulseless ventricular tachycardia-associated torsades
de pointes
D. shock-refractory ventricular fibrillation
C. pulseless ventricular tachycardia-associated
torsades de pointes
In which situation does bradycardia require treatment?
A. 12-lead ECG showing a normal sinus rhythm
B. hypotension
C. diastolic blood pressure greater than 90 mm Hg
D. systolic blood pressure greater than 100 mm Hg
B. hypotension
You arrive on the scene with the code team. High-quality CPR is in progress. An AED has previously
advised "no shock indicated." A rhythm check now finds asystole. After resuming high-quality
compressions, which action do you take next?
A. call for a pulse check
B. establish IV or IO access
C. insert a laryngeal airway
D. perform endotracheal intubation
B. establish IV or IO access
A patient has a rapid irregular wide-complex tachycardia. The ventricular rate is 138/min. He is
asymptomatic, with a blood pressure of 110/70 mm Hg. He has a history of angina. What action is
recommended next?
A. giving adenosine 6 mg IV bolus
B. giving lidocaine 1 to 1.5 mg IV bolus
C. performing synchronized cardioversion
D. seeking expert consultation
D. seeking expert consultation
A patient is in refractory ventricular fibrillation. High-quality CPR is in progress. One dose of
epinephrine was given after the second shock. An antiarrhythmic drug was given immediately after
the third shock. You are the team leader. Which medication do you order next?
GUARANTEED SUCCESS – NOTHING BUT THE BEST
ACLS - Pharmacology
You are caring for a 66-year-old man with a history of a large intracerebral hemorrhage 2 months ago.
He is being evaluated for another acute stroke. The CT scan is negative for hemorrhage. The patient is
receiving oxygen via nasal cannula at 2 L/min, and an IV has been established. His blood pressure is
180/100 mm Hg. Which drug do you anticipate giving to this patient?
A. aspirin
B. glucose (D50)
C. nicardipine
D. rtPA
A. aspirin
A patient with sinus bradycardia and a heart rate of 42/min has diaphoresis and a blood pressure of
80/60 mm Hg. What is the initial dose of atropine?
A. 0.1 mg
B. 0.5 mg
C. 1 mg
D. 3 mg
B. 0.5 mg
A patient with STEMI has ongoing chest discomfort. Heparin 4000 units IV bolus and a heparin infusion
of 1000 unit per hour are being administered. The patient did not take aspirin because he has a history
of gastritis, which was treated 5 years ago. What is your next action?
A. give aspirin 160 to 325 mg to chew
B. give clopidogrel 300 mg orally
C. give enteric-coated aspirin 75 mg orally
D. give enteric-coated aspirin 325 mg rectally
A. give aspirin 160 to 325 mg to chew
A patient is in pulseless ventricular tachycardia. Two shocks and 1 dose of epinephrine have been
given. Which drug should be given next?
A. adenosine 6 mg
B. amiodarone 300 mg
C. epinephrine 3 mg
D. lidocaine 0.5 mg/kg
B. amiodarone 300 mg
, EQUIPING STUDENTS WITH KNOWLEDGE
GUARANTEED SUCCESS – NOTHING BUT THE BEST
What is the indication for the us of magnesium in cardiac arrest?
A. ventricular tachycardia associated with a normal QT
interval
B. shock-refractory monomorphic ventricular tachycardia
C. pulseless ventricular tachycardia-associated torsades
de pointes
D. shock-refractory ventricular fibrillation
C. pulseless ventricular tachycardia-associated
torsades de pointes
In which situation does bradycardia require treatment?
A. 12-lead ECG showing a normal sinus rhythm
B. hypotension
C. diastolic blood pressure greater than 90 mm Hg
D. systolic blood pressure greater than 100 mm Hg
B. hypotension
You arrive on the scene with the code team. High-quality CPR is in progress. An AED has previously
advised "no shock indicated." A rhythm check now finds asystole. After resuming high-quality
compressions, which action do you take next?
A. call for a pulse check
B. establish IV or IO access
C. insert a laryngeal airway
D. perform endotracheal intubation
B. establish IV or IO access
A patient has a rapid irregular wide-complex tachycardia. The ventricular rate is 138/min. He is
asymptomatic, with a blood pressure of 110/70 mm Hg. He has a history of angina. What action is
recommended next?
A. giving adenosine 6 mg IV bolus
B. giving lidocaine 1 to 1.5 mg IV bolus
C. performing synchronized cardioversion
D. seeking expert consultation
D. seeking expert consultation
A patient is in refractory ventricular fibrillation. High-quality CPR is in progress. One dose of
epinephrine was given after the second shock. An antiarrhythmic drug was given immediately after
the third shock. You are the team leader. Which medication do you order next?
