ACLS Quiz
Questions: 16 · 10 minutes
1. A shock is delivered for ventricular fibrillation during adult cardiac arrest. What should rescuers generally do next?
Check the pulse immediately and continue checking for 30 seconds
Resume CPR immediately for about two minutes before the next rhythm check
Give rescue breaths without chest compressions
Pause to obtain a 12-lead ECG before further treatment
2. Which pair consists of the cardiac-arrest rhythms routinely treated with defibrillation?
Pulseless electrical activity and pulseless ventricular tachycardia
Asystole and pulseless electrical activity
Sinus bradycardia and ventricular fibrillation
Ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia
3. An alert adult has a regular narrow-complex tachycardia at 180/min, normal blood pressure, and no signs of shock, ischemic discomfort, or acute heart failure. What is an appropriate initial intervention?
Immediate unsynchronized defibrillation
Atropine followed by transcutaneous pacing
Vagal maneuvers, followed by adenosine if the rhythm persists and remains regular
Chest compressions while preparing synchronized cardioversion
4. During CPR, waveform capnography shows a sudden, sustained rise in end-tidal carbon dioxide. What should the team suspect?
Return of spontaneous circulation may have occurred
The compression rate has become too fast
The patient has developed asystole
The defibrillator pads have lost contact
5. During a cardiac arrest, an AED analyzes the rhythm and announces that no shock is advised. What should the rescuer do next?
Resume CPR immediately, beginning with chest compressions
Wait for the AED to analyze again without touching the patient
Give two breaths and then perform a prolonged pulse check
Remove the pads and check blood pressure
6. The monitor shows asystole in two leads during an adult cardiac arrest. Which approach is most appropriate?
Deliver an unsynchronized shock, then check the rhythm
Perform synchronized cardioversion and give a sedative
Continue high-quality CPR, give epinephrine promptly, and investigate reversible causes
Pause CPR until an advanced airway has been placed
7. An advanced airway is in place during adult cardiac-arrest CPR. How should compressions and ventilation generally be coordinated?
Pause compressions after every 30 compressions to give two breaths
Stop compressions whenever a breath is delivered
Continue compressions without pauses and give one breath about every six seconds
Give rapid breaths continuously while compressions continue
8. A patient in cardiac arrest missed dialysis and had weakness and peaked T waves before collapsing. Which reversible cause should the team strongly consider?
Hypothermia
Cardiac tamponade
Tension pneumothorax
Hyperkalemia
9. During a pulse check, the monitor displays an organized electrical rhythm, but no pulse can be felt. How should this rhythm be classified and managed initially?
Pulseless electrical activity; resume CPR and search for reversible causes
Ventricular fibrillation; defibrillate immediately
Stable tachycardia; attempt vagal maneuvers
Return of spontaneous circulation; begin routine observation
10. An adult has a pulse but develops a regular monomorphic tachycardia at 190/min with hypotension and altered mental status. Which intervention is indicated?
Chest compressions without electrical therapy
Vagal maneuvers alone, regardless of response
Routine observation until the rate falls spontaneously
Synchronized cardioversion
11. A monitored adult becomes unresponsive, is not breathing normally, and has no definite pulse after a check lasting no more than 10 seconds. What should the team begin immediately?
Provide rescue breaths while continuing to reassess the pulse
Begin high-quality CPR, starting with chest compressions
Wait for rhythm identification before starting compressions
Insert an advanced airway before beginning CPR
12. Which adult chest-compression depth best reflects high-quality CPR technique?
About 1 inch (2.5 cm)
At least 2 inches (5 cm), while avoiding excessive depth
About 1.5 inches (4 cm)
At least 3 inches (7.5 cm)
13. An adult has a heart rate of 38/min with hypotension and dizziness. There is no high-degree AV block, and IV access is available. Which medication is the usual initial drug in the ACLS bradycardia algorithm?
Atropine
Amiodarone
Adenosine
Magnesium sulfate
14. Which option correctly pairs one reversible “H” cause of cardiac arrest with one reversible “T” cause?
Hypoglycemia and cardiac tamponade
Hypovolemia and tension pneumothorax
Pulmonary thrombosis and tension pneumothorax
Hypothermia and hypoxia
15. A patient develops recurrent polymorphic ventricular tachycardia associated with a prolonged QT interval. Which medication is most specifically associated with treating this pattern?
Atropine
Adenosine
Magnesium sulfate
Calcium-channel blocker
16. After return of spontaneous circulation, an adult remains hypotensive despite confirmation of a perfusing rhythm. Which action directly addresses the circulation problem?
Start chest compressions despite the confirmed pulse
Deliver immediate unsynchronized defibrillation
Withhold hemodynamic treatment until a 12-lead ECG is complete
Give an appropriate crystalloid bolus, reassess, and use a vasopressor if needed