Cardiology

Sample questions.

8 free cardiology questions with answers and explanations. MedRelay's full question bank covers every NREMT domain, plus live scenarios that grade the decision, not just the answer.

1. Question 1

   At a community center, the AED says no shock advised after analysis. What is next?

   • A.Resume CPRCorrect
   • B.Remove the AED
   • C.Give nitroglycerin
   • D.Stop all care

   Why:Correct. Resume CPR immediately and continue following AED prompts.

2. Question 2

   At a fitness center, a 22-year-old female pulseless adult collapses in front of you. Your partner brings the AED. What should happen?

   • A.CPR and AEDCorrect
   • B.Aspirin first
   • C.Nitro first
   • D.Full SAMPLE

   Why:Correct. Cardiac arrest requires immediate high-quality CPR and AED use.

3. Question 3

   A 58-year-old has crushing chest pressure and took sildenafil earlier today. He asks for help with nitroglycerin. What should you do?

   • A.Assist nitro
   • B.Withhold nitroCorrect
   • C.Give two doses
   • D.Skip transport

   Why:Correct. Recent PDE-5 inhibitor use is a contraindication to nitroglycerin assistance because severe hypotension can occur.

4. Question 4

   A 27-year-old male has chest pressure, sweating, and nausea. No aspirin allergy is reported. What medication is indicated?

   • A.Chewed aspirinCorrect
   • B.Oral glucose
   • C.Activated charcoal
   • D.Albuterol

   Why:Correct. Suspected ACS without contraindication is an indication for 324 mg chewed aspirin per protocol.

5. Question 5

   You respond to a 52-year-old male who is conscious and complaining of severe chest pain rated 10 out of 10. He states the pain has been constant for 90 minutes. He is diaphoretic. His aspirin has already been given by a first responder on scene. His BP is 138/86. His prescribed nitroglycerin is available. He tells you he takes finasteride (Proscar) for an enlarged prostate. Can you administer nitroglycerin?

   • A.finasteride interacts with nitroglycerin the same way
   • B.chest pain lasting 90 minutes contraindicates nitroglycerin
   • C.any prostate medication contraindicates nitroglycerin
   • D.finasteride is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor notCorrect

   Why:Correct. Finasteride (Proscar) is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor used for BPH — it does not interact with nitroglycerin. The dangerous interaction is with PDE5 inhibitors (sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil). Finasteride has a completely different mechanism with no hemodynamic interaction. NTG is appropriate with SBP 138 and no PDE5 inhibitor use.

6. Question 6

   At a dialysis center, a 68-year-old male chest pain patient took tadalafil yesterday. What medication assistance is unsafe?

   • A.NitroglycerinCorrect
   • B.Aspirin if allowed
   • C.Oxygen if hypoxic
   • D.Glucose if low

   Why:Correct. Recent PDE-5 inhibitor use makes nitroglycerin unsafe because profound hypotension can occur.

7. Question 7

   You respond to a 44-year-old male with chest pain during a work meeting. He describes the pain as pressure rated 7 out of 10 that also goes to his right arm — not the left. His coworker says he had a heart attack 2 years ago. Vital signs: HR 96, BP 138/86, SpO2 96%. He has his prescribed nitroglycerin. Can right-sided arm radiation be from a cardiac event?

   • A.chest pain can radiate to either or both arms
   • B.cardiac pain only radiates to the left armCorrect
   • C.Right arm radiation always indicates musculoskeletal injury
   • D.Right arm radiation only occurs with right

   Why:Correct. Cardiac pain radiation is not limited to the left arm. It can radiate to either arm, both arms, the jaw, neck, back, or epigastrium. Right arm or bilateral radiation is documented in ACS. The absence of classic left arm radiation does not exclude a cardiac etiology — a dangerous misconception.

8. Question 8

   You respond to a 54-year-old male with chest pain. He shows you three different medications: his nitroglycerin, his sildenafil (taken 6 hours ago for erectile dysfunction), and his daily aspirin. He wants you to give him all three medications. Which of these three should you withhold and why?

   • A.Withhold the nitroglycerinCorrect
   • B.Withhold only the aspirin — it causes bleeding
   • C.Withhold all three medications until hospital evaluation
   • D.Withhold the sildenafil — it interferes with aspirin

   Why:Correct. Sildenafil taken within 24 hours is an absolute contraindication to nitroglycerin. The combination causes severe potentially fatal hypotension through additive cGMP pathway vasodilation. Administer aspirin, withhold NTG, transport Priority 1. Document the sildenafil and timing clearly for the receiving team.