ACLS Cardiac Arrest Practice Test
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About this Exam
Prepare with the ACLS Cardiac Arrest Practice Test practice quiz. This question bank includes 10 questions covering rosc, immediate, recommended, patient, and cardiac. Use it to review important concepts, identify knowledge gaps, and build confidence for the related exam, course, or assessment.
Sample Questions
Question
1
What energy level is typically used for the initial defibrillation shock with biphasic devices?
Explanation:
Biphasic defibrillators deliver energy more efficiently, using two current directions, which allows successful defibrillation with lower energy while reducing myocardial injury. Because of this, the typical starting energy for a first shock on modern biphasic devices is around 200 J. The range of 120–200 J accounts for differences between specific devices and manufacturer presets. Higher energies like 360 J were common with older monophasic shocks, whereas 100–120 J would be considered too low for a standard initial biphasic shock. So, 200 J is the best starting point because it balances effectiveness with safety across most devices.
Question
2
For patients with STEMI after ROSC, what is the immediate recommended reperfusion strategy?
Explanation:
The key idea is that after return of spontaneous circulation in a STEMI, restoring blood flow quickly is essential to save heart muscle and improve survival. The best approach is immediate reperfusion using PCI if it can be done promptly. If PCI isn’t available within an acceptable time frame, fibrinolytic therapy is a standard alternative to start reperfusion. In some cases, a pharmacoinvasive strategy is used—giving fibrinolysis first and then proceeding to PCI as soon as feasible. Because the situation depends on what is available locally and how fast PCI can be delivered, the immediate recommended reperfusion strategy is to pursue PCI, fibrinolytic therapy, or both, as appropriate. Reperfusion is not contraindicated after ROSC; timely reperfusion is the goal.
Question
3
If amiodarone is not available, which lidocaine dosing regimen is recommended?
Explanation:
When amiodarone isn’t available, lidocaine is used as the alternative antiarrhythmic for shockable ventricular arrhythmias in ACLS. The best dosing approach is to give an initial bolus of 1 to 1.5 mg/kg IV/IO. If arrhythmias persist, repeat with 0.5 to 0.75 mg/kg IV/IO every 5–10 minutes, up to a total cumulative dose of 3 mg/kg. This titrated bolus strategy quickly achieves effective plasma levels while keeping the total amount limited to reduce toxicity. If ongoing suppression is needed after the boluses, an infusion of lidocaine (e.g., 1–4 mg/min) can be considered. Monitor for signs of toxicity, especially in patients with liver impairment or possible conduction disturbances.
Question
4
Which electrolyte abnormality is associated with prominent U waves on ECG?
Explanation:
Prominent U waves on ECG are most characteristic of low potassium. When potassium levels fall, the outward K+ current during repolarization decreases, prolonging the late phase of ventricular repolarization. This creates a small, extra deflection after the T wave—the U wave—best seen in the precordial leads (often V2–V4). Along with U waves, hypokalemia commonly shows flattened or inverted T waves and ST-segment depression, and can predispose to arrhythmias. In contrast, hyperkalemia tends to produce tall, peaked T waves with widened QRS and eventually a sine-wave pattern, not prominent U waves. Hyponatremia and hypercalcemia have different ECG patterns that do not feature prominent U waves as a classic finding.
Question
5
In evaluating a patient in cardiac arrest, one of the key questions is whether the rhythm is shockable or nonshockable.
Explanation:
The main idea being tested is how to decide whether a cardiac-arrest rhythm should be shocked. The best choice names the two categories that guide defibrillation: shockable rhythms are ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia, while nonshockable rhythms are pulseless electrical activity and asystole. This distinction tells you what action to take next: if the rhythm is shockable, deliver defibrillation as promptly as possible; if it is nonshockable, continue high-quality CPR and treat reversible causes rather than shocking. The other options don’t directly indicate whether defibrillation is appropriate—palpating a pulse, the patient’s consciousness, or blood pressure don’t define the rhythm’s shockability and don’t determine whether a shock is indicated.
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ACLS Cardiac Arrest Practice Test
This practice set contains 10 questions from the matching question bank and focuses on rosc, immediate, recommended, patient, and cardiac. Work through each question carefully, review the provided solutions, and revisit topics that need more study before your next attempt.
This is an independent study resource intended for practice and review; it is not an official examination or an endorsement by any organization named in the title.
Frequently Asked Questions
This quiz contains a total of 10 practice questions carefully selected to test your knowledge on this subject.
Yes, you will have exactly 0 minutes to complete the exam. A countdown timer will be visible once you start.
Yes, you can retake this practice test as many times as you need. The questions and options may be randomized on subsequent attempts to ensure comprehensive learning.
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