ADVANCED CARDIOVASCULAR LIFE
SUPPORT (ACLS) EXAMS VERSION A & B
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026-27 NEW
GENERATION
VERSION A
you find an unresponsive patient who is not breathing. after activating the emergency
response system, you determine that there is no pulse. what is your next action?
start chest compressions at a rate of at least 100/min.
you are evaluating a 58-year-old man with chest pain. the blood pressure is 92/50 mm hg, the
heart rate is 92/min, the nonlabored respiratory rate is 14 breaths/min, and the pulse
oximetry reading is 97%. what assessment step is most important now?
obtaining 12-lead ecg.
what is the preferred method of access for epinephrine administration during cardiac arrest
in most patients?
peripheral intravenous
An activated AED does not promptly analyze the rhythm. What is your next action?
begin chest compressions.
You have completed 2 min of CPR. The ECG monitor displays the lead below and the pt. has
no pulse. another member resumes chest compressions and an IV is in place. What
management step is your next priority?
administer one mg of epinephrine
During a pause in CPR, you see this lead II ECG rhythm on the monitor. The patient has no
pulse. What is the next action?
resume chest compressions
what is a common but sometimes fatal mistake in cardiac arrest management?
prolonged interruptions of chest compressions
what action is a component of high-quality chest compressions?
, uninterrupted compressions at a depth of 1 1/2 inches
Which action increases the chance of successful conversion of ventricular fibrillation?
ventricular tachycardia with a pulse
which situation BEST describes pulseless electrical activity?
sinus rhythm without a pulse
What is the best strategy for perfoming high-quality CPR on a pt.with an advanced airway in
place?
provide continuous chest compressions without pauses and 10 ventilations per minute.
Three minutes after witnessing a cardiac arrest, one member of your team inserts an
endotracheal tube while another performs continuous chest compressions. During
subsequent ventilation, you notice the presence of a waveform on the capnography screen
and a PETCO2 level of 8 mm Hg. What is the significance of this finding?
chest compressions may not be effective
the use of quantitative capnography in intubated patients
allows for monitoring of cpr quality
For the past 25 min, EMS crews have attempted resuscitation of a pt who originally presented
with ventricular fibrillation. After the 1st shock, the ECG screen displayed asystole, which has
persisted despite 2 doses of epi, a fluid bolus, and high quality CPR. What is your next
treatment?
consider terminating resuscitative efforts after consulting medical control.
Which is a safe and effective practice within the defibrillation sequence?
be sure oxygen is now blowing over the patient's chest during the shock
During your assessment, your pt suddenly loses consciousness. After calling for help and
determining that the pt. is not breathing, you are unsure whether the pt. has a pulse. What is
your next action?
Begin chest compressions
what is the advantage of using hands-free defibrillation pads instead of defibrillation
paddles?
hands-free pads allow for a more rapid defibrillation
SUPPORT (ACLS) EXAMS VERSION A & B
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026-27 NEW
GENERATION
VERSION A
you find an unresponsive patient who is not breathing. after activating the emergency
response system, you determine that there is no pulse. what is your next action?
start chest compressions at a rate of at least 100/min.
you are evaluating a 58-year-old man with chest pain. the blood pressure is 92/50 mm hg, the
heart rate is 92/min, the nonlabored respiratory rate is 14 breaths/min, and the pulse
oximetry reading is 97%. what assessment step is most important now?
obtaining 12-lead ecg.
what is the preferred method of access for epinephrine administration during cardiac arrest
in most patients?
peripheral intravenous
An activated AED does not promptly analyze the rhythm. What is your next action?
begin chest compressions.
You have completed 2 min of CPR. The ECG monitor displays the lead below and the pt. has
no pulse. another member resumes chest compressions and an IV is in place. What
management step is your next priority?
administer one mg of epinephrine
During a pause in CPR, you see this lead II ECG rhythm on the monitor. The patient has no
pulse. What is the next action?
resume chest compressions
what is a common but sometimes fatal mistake in cardiac arrest management?
prolonged interruptions of chest compressions
what action is a component of high-quality chest compressions?
, uninterrupted compressions at a depth of 1 1/2 inches
Which action increases the chance of successful conversion of ventricular fibrillation?
ventricular tachycardia with a pulse
which situation BEST describes pulseless electrical activity?
sinus rhythm without a pulse
What is the best strategy for perfoming high-quality CPR on a pt.with an advanced airway in
place?
provide continuous chest compressions without pauses and 10 ventilations per minute.
Three minutes after witnessing a cardiac arrest, one member of your team inserts an
endotracheal tube while another performs continuous chest compressions. During
subsequent ventilation, you notice the presence of a waveform on the capnography screen
and a PETCO2 level of 8 mm Hg. What is the significance of this finding?
chest compressions may not be effective
the use of quantitative capnography in intubated patients
allows for monitoring of cpr quality
For the past 25 min, EMS crews have attempted resuscitation of a pt who originally presented
with ventricular fibrillation. After the 1st shock, the ECG screen displayed asystole, which has
persisted despite 2 doses of epi, a fluid bolus, and high quality CPR. What is your next
treatment?
consider terminating resuscitative efforts after consulting medical control.
Which is a safe and effective practice within the defibrillation sequence?
be sure oxygen is now blowing over the patient's chest during the shock
During your assessment, your pt suddenly loses consciousness. After calling for help and
determining that the pt. is not breathing, you are unsure whether the pt. has a pulse. What is
your next action?
Begin chest compressions
what is the advantage of using hands-free defibrillation pads instead of defibrillation
paddles?
hands-free pads allow for a more rapid defibrillation
