ACLS TEST REVIEW QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Chest compression rate before an advanced airway - Answer-30:2
2 inches deep
100 per min
Chest compression rate with an advanced airway - Answer-Continuous CPR
ventilations every 6 seconds or 10 breaths per minute
What do we give chest pain patients? - Answer-Oxygen
Aspirin
Nitro
Morphine
Contraindications for nitro in a patient with chest pain? - Answer-Right sided MI
BP<90
What is a peripheral IV preferred over in cardiac arrest? - Answer-IO
EJ
If the AED analyzes and says "NO SHOCK ADVISED", then what? - Answer-Continue
CPR
What is PEA? - Answer-Pulseless Electrical Activity -> any rhythm besides VFib, VTach,
and Asystole, that does not have a pulse
What are the two types of VTach? - Answer-Polymorphic
Monomorphic
What are the five things that make you symptomatic if you are bradycardic? - Answer-
Hypotension
Altered LOC
Ischemic Chest Pain
Acute Heart Failure
Signs of Shock
Dopamine Dose - Answer-2-10mcg/kg/min (MAX of 20)
What is the biggest mistake in CPR? - Answer-Prolonged interruptions
How long should any interruptions be? - Answer-10 seconds or less
, What ETCO2 level is adequate with chest compressions? - Answer-10mm/hg (try to be
above)
If ETCO2 level is 0, what does this indicate? - Answer-Tube is not in the trachea
ETCO2 level post arrest? - Answer-35-40mm/hg
After how long can we field terminate someone? - Answer-20 min if no change in patient
condition despite drugs, airway, ETC.
Should O2 be left on the patient when shocking? - Answer-NO
If you're not sure if they have a pulse, what do you do? - Answer-Start CPR
How long do we do a pulse check? - Answer-No more than 10 seconds
Where do we check for pulse? - Answer-Carotid
BLS Survey per AHA - Answer-ABC's
ACLS Survey - Answer-SAMPLE
OPQRST
MET - Medical Emergency Team or RRT's goal is what? - Answer-ID and treat patient
before deterioration
What do we do if the hospital's CT machine is down and we're en route with a
suspected Stroke/CVA patient? - Answer-Divert -- go to another hospital
If a patient has bradycardia because of hypoxia, what do you do? - Answer-Ventilate
before you use drugs
What is the max suction time? - Answer-No more than 10 seconds
How do we suction? - Answer-Down the tube
What are the 3 parts to the Cincinnati Stroke Scale? - Answer-Slurred speech
Arm drift
Facial droop
What should we always do with an unconscious patient? - Answer-Check for pulse
What should we avoid when we secure an ET tube? Why? - Answer-Compressing
things around the neck because it shuts off the blood supply to the brain
ANSWERS
Chest compression rate before an advanced airway - Answer-30:2
2 inches deep
100 per min
Chest compression rate with an advanced airway - Answer-Continuous CPR
ventilations every 6 seconds or 10 breaths per minute
What do we give chest pain patients? - Answer-Oxygen
Aspirin
Nitro
Morphine
Contraindications for nitro in a patient with chest pain? - Answer-Right sided MI
BP<90
What is a peripheral IV preferred over in cardiac arrest? - Answer-IO
EJ
If the AED analyzes and says "NO SHOCK ADVISED", then what? - Answer-Continue
CPR
What is PEA? - Answer-Pulseless Electrical Activity -> any rhythm besides VFib, VTach,
and Asystole, that does not have a pulse
What are the two types of VTach? - Answer-Polymorphic
Monomorphic
What are the five things that make you symptomatic if you are bradycardic? - Answer-
Hypotension
Altered LOC
Ischemic Chest Pain
Acute Heart Failure
Signs of Shock
Dopamine Dose - Answer-2-10mcg/kg/min (MAX of 20)
What is the biggest mistake in CPR? - Answer-Prolonged interruptions
How long should any interruptions be? - Answer-10 seconds or less
, What ETCO2 level is adequate with chest compressions? - Answer-10mm/hg (try to be
above)
If ETCO2 level is 0, what does this indicate? - Answer-Tube is not in the trachea
ETCO2 level post arrest? - Answer-35-40mm/hg
After how long can we field terminate someone? - Answer-20 min if no change in patient
condition despite drugs, airway, ETC.
Should O2 be left on the patient when shocking? - Answer-NO
If you're not sure if they have a pulse, what do you do? - Answer-Start CPR
How long do we do a pulse check? - Answer-No more than 10 seconds
Where do we check for pulse? - Answer-Carotid
BLS Survey per AHA - Answer-ABC's
ACLS Survey - Answer-SAMPLE
OPQRST
MET - Medical Emergency Team or RRT's goal is what? - Answer-ID and treat patient
before deterioration
What do we do if the hospital's CT machine is down and we're en route with a
suspected Stroke/CVA patient? - Answer-Divert -- go to another hospital
If a patient has bradycardia because of hypoxia, what do you do? - Answer-Ventilate
before you use drugs
What is the max suction time? - Answer-No more than 10 seconds
How do we suction? - Answer-Down the tube
What are the 3 parts to the Cincinnati Stroke Scale? - Answer-Slurred speech
Arm drift
Facial droop
What should we always do with an unconscious patient? - Answer-Check for pulse
What should we avoid when we secure an ET tube? Why? - Answer-Compressing
things around the neck because it shuts off the blood supply to the brain
