NURS-2265-ACLS

Your patient becomes unresponsive after returning from the cath lab. You check for responsiveness & pulse. You find neither. What is your first action?

• Check a second site for a pulse for at least one minute

• Immediately begin CPR & press the code button

• Put the call light on and attach the telemetry monitor

• Check the patient's medication list for potential causes

A crash cart arrives, heart monitor is placed, and your patient is noted to be in Ventricular Tachycardia (still pulseless). What is the most important intervention for the code team to perform next?

• Establish an IV

• Apply oxygen

• Defibrillation

• Give epinephrine, 1 mg IV push STAT

After returning from the cardiac catheterization lab (R femoral artery approach) with 2 stents placed to the LAD, what is the nurse's priority assessment?

• Pedal pulse assessment

• Checking diet orders because the patient "is starving".

• Assessing the R groin site for bleeding

• Assessing cardiac rhythm

During CPR, when do we check for a pulse?

• After 5 minutes

• After giving epinephrine

• Right after delivering defibrillation

• When a perfusing rhythm is noted

Why do we check for a pulse with a rhythm change during CPR?

• To assess the patient's blood pressure

• To monitor perfusion pressure

• Organized electrical rhythms mean that CPR was successful

• A perfusing rhythm may be pulseless electrical activity (PEA) which does not produce a pulse

Potentially reversible causes of cardiopulmonary arrest are classified into groups called:

• A's & B's

• Y's & Z's

• H's & T's

• V Fib & V Tach

What are the 2 shockable rhythms that may be seen during an arrest scenario?

• Asystole & PEA

• Junctional Escape Rhythm

• 3rd degree Heart Block (Complete Heart Block)

• Ventricular Fibrillation & Pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia

The following issues can precipate PVCs:

• Electrolyte disturbance

• CHF

• hypoxia

• All of the previous

During an in-hospital cardiac arrest situation, what is the priority intervention?

• Start CPR, call a code, apply AED monitor when it arrives, analyze rhythm.

• Sternal rub the patient and yell their name loudly

• Clear the room and assist the family to the waiting area

• Find the charge nurse and ask her to help

You find a customer pulseless/unconscious in the grocery store. The AED arrives. The patient's chest is covered in thick hair....what is your next action?

• Obtain a razor and shaving cream from Aisle 5. Shave patient and apply AED pads.

• Place pads over hair and hope for the best.

• Place pads on patients chest, rip off quickly and then apply the second set of pads that are in the kit.

• Shout for help and ask someone else what to do next