SAMPLE QUESTIONS
1. A patient complains of jaw pain, sudden shortness of breath, and diaphoresis. What
is the BEST course of action?
A. Continue the treatment session
B. Take the patient’s vitals
C. Contact the patient’s primary care physician
D. Call 911
2. Which characteristic of atrial flutter differentiates the dysrhythmia from atrial
fibrillation?
A. Regularity of atrial rhythm
B. Irregularity of atrial rhythm
C. Rapid rate of atrial depolarization
D. Slow heart rate
3. A patient is warming up on the treadmill and is being monitored on an EKG. After
thirty seconds, they have multiple inverted T waves. What is a possible cause and what
medication may contribute?
A. Hypokalemia, Hydrochlorothiazide
B. Hypokalemia, Beta blocker
C. Hyperkalemia, Hydrochlorothiazide
D. Hyperkalemia, Beta blocker
4. The ECG result shown occurred to a patient using the treadmill. What is the BEST
interpretation?
A. Nodal/junctional arrhythmia
B. Premature ventricular complex
C. Sinus tachycardia
D. Ventricular tachycardia
5. A therapist examines an EKG reading from a patient with first degree atrioventricular
heart block. Which is the defining characteristic of this dysrhythmia?
A. Inverted T wave
B. Prolonged PR interval
C. Bizarre QRS segment
D. ST segment depression
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
6. A therapist has been performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a patient in
conjunction with the AED for three cycles. Which is NOT appropriate in CPR?
A. Wipe the chest dry
B. Apply the pads to the bare chest
C. Analyze the patient’s heart rate
D. Ask another therapist to stabilize during the shock
7. A patient is performing exercises with the response shown via ECG. What is the
MOST appropriate response of the physical therapist?
A. Continue exercise without alteration
B. Stop the exercise and call the cardiologist
C. Continue monitoring and reduce intensity
D. Rest and then continue at a lower
intensity
8. Electrocardiogram testing shows a patient has a significant decrease in cardiac
output. Which variable would be the biggest contributor?
A. Increased heart rate
B. Increased preload
C. Increased afterload
D. Increased stroke volume
9. A patient has premature ventricular complexes during a regular exercise session.
What is the BEST reason to stop exercise and activate emergency response?
A. Six PVCs in a minute
B. Four PVCs in a row
C. PVCs triggered by activity
D. Multifocal PVCs
10. A patient with high cholesterol and stable angina has to stop a session due to
acute angina. They take a nitroglycerin tablet and has relief. Heart rate and blood
pressure are normal. What should the therapist do next?
A. Call 911
B. Continue the session, monitoring vitals
C. End the session, contact the primary care physician
D. End the session, rest until the next session
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
ANSWERS
1. D - These signs/symptoms are consistent with a heart attack, which warrants
immediate EMS activation.
2. A - Atrial flutter does have a regular rhythm with sawtooth P waves and tachycardia
(allowing less blood to be pumped per beat). Atrial fibrillation has an irregular
rhythm due to erratic electrical conductivity. C is true of both, D is not true of either.
3. B - Low potassium can cause inverted T waves. Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic
that can affect electrolyte levels. A common side effect is low sodium, potassium,
and/or magnesium.
4. D - Rhythm is regular, rate is >150 bpm, there is no P or T waves, and there is a
bizarre QRS complex. A junctional or nodal rhythm means there is an issue at the
SA or AV node, which may cause an inverted P wave. B - usually has a slower
rhythm and irregularities don’t occur every beat. C - sinus tachycardia usually refers
to a problem at the atria, with a much higher heart rate.
5. B - Heart block, or a conduction block, means the impulses are slowed down.
(These are rated according to severity - first, second, and third degree). First degree
means the PR interval is over 0.20 seconds. A/D are related to ischemia, C to PVC.
6. D - During the shock, everyone should step away from the patient to avoid electrical
injury.
7. A - This is a normal heart rhythm and rate.
8. C - Afterload is the force of the ventricles during contraction. If afterload increases,
stroke volume will decrease. Cardiac output is stroke volume * heart rate.
9. B - Three or more consecutive PVCs OR seven PVCs in a minute constitutes an
emergency situation. Multifocal PVCs are beats that look different as they come
from different sources. This is not necessarily an emergency.
10. B - The angina is stable and does not indicate an emergency unless it continues at
rest or continues after the nitroglycerin tablets.
