Illinois Nursing Home Administrators (NHA) Practice Exam

Which item is not required to be on a facility's crash cart?

1. airway

2. portable oxygen kit

3. bag valve mask

4. cardiac board

The correct answer is: cardiac board

A facility's crash cart must be equipped with essential items that provide immediate medical support during emergencies, particularly in situations involving cardiac arrest or severe respiratory distress. Airway management and support are critical components of emergency care, which is why items like airways, portable oxygen kits, and bag valve masks are essential. The inclusion of a cardiac board, while possibly useful in certain circumstances, is not universally required on a crash cart. The primary focus of a crash cart is to ensure rapid access to life-saving medications, tools for airway management, and devices for cardiac resuscitation, rather than supporting a specific type of patient transport or stabilization. The absence of a cardiac board does not prevent the necessary interventions from taking place, making it a non-essential item for inclusion on the crash cart. Understanding this hierarchy of needs in emergency situations highlights the importance of airway and cardiac support in critical care settings.