NSC Exam 2026/2027 – Complete Exam- Questions with
Detailed Rationales | 100% Verified – Pass Guaranteed – A+
Graded
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SECTION 1: ADULT CPR & AED (Q1–Q12)
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Question 1
You are eating lunch in a workplace cafeteria when a 58-year-old man suddenly
collapses at a nearby table. He is unresponsive and not breathing normally. You have
sent a bystander to activate EMS and retrieve the AED. What is your first action?
A. Check for a pulse for 10 seconds
B. Begin chest compressions immediately ✓
C. Perform rescue breaths first
D. Place the patient in the recovery position
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Current AHA/ILCOR guidelines emphasize immediate chest compressions for
unresponsive adults without normal breathing. Pulse checks are no longer
recommended for lay rescuers due to time delays and inaccuracy. Rescue breaths are
not first priority in the CAB sequence. The recovery position is contraindicated in cardiac
arrest.
Question 2
You are performing CPR on an adult cardiac arrest victim. The correct compression
depth is:
A. At least 1 inch (2.5 cm)
,B. At least 2 inches (5 cm) but not more than 2.4 inches (6 cm) ✓
C. At least 3 inches (7.5 cm)
D. Approximately 1.5 inches (4 cm)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Adult compression depth should be at least 2 inches (5 cm) but not exceed 2.4 inches
(6 cm) to generate adequate coronary perfusion pressure without causing injury. Less
than 2 inches is insufficient; greater than 2.4 inches increases risk of rib fractures and
internal injury.
Question 3
You are performing CPR on an adult. The correct compression rate is:
A. 60–80 compressions per minute
B. 80–100 compressions per minute
C. 100–120 compressions per minute ✓
D. 120–140 compressions per minute
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
The recommended adult compression rate is 100–120 compressions per minute. Rates
below 100/minute provide inadequate perfusion; rates above 120/minute reduce
coronary perfusion due to incomplete chest recoil. Metronome devices and
compression feedback tools help maintain this rate.
Question 4
You are performing CPR on an adult with one other trained rescuer. The correct
compression-to-ventilation ratio is:
A. 15 compressions to 2 ventilations
B. 30 compressions to 2 ventilations ✓
C. 30 compressions to 1 ventilation
,D. 15 compressions to 1 ventilation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
For adult CPR with two trained rescuers, the compression-to-ventilation ratio is 30:2.
This ratio balances coronary perfusion with oxygenation. The 15:2 ratio is used for
two-rescuer child/infant CPR. Single-rescuer adult CPR also uses 30:2.
Question 5
An AED arrives while you are performing CPR on an unresponsive adult. The correct
sequence is:
A. Continue CPR for 2 minutes before attaching the AED
B. Immediately attach the AED, turn it on, and follow voice prompts ✓
C. Check for a pulse before attaching the AED
D. Perform 5 cycles of CPR before analyzing rhythm
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
AEDs should be applied as soon as available. Turn on the device, attach pads, and
follow voice prompts. Modern AEDs analyze rhythm during CPR and advise when to
pause for shock. Delaying AED application reduces survival. Pulse checks and fixed CPR
intervals are not required before AED use.
Question 6
You are attaching AED pads to an adult male who has a hairy chest. The AED pads are
not adhering properly. What should you do?
A. Press harder on the pads
B. Shave the chest if a razor is available, or use a second set of pads to remove hair and
then apply new pads ✓
C. Apply the pads over clothing
D. Move the pads to the abdomen
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Poor pad adhesion prevents effective shock delivery. If a razor is available, shave the
area. Alternatively, press a second set of pads firmly and remove them (taking hair with
them), then apply fresh pads. Applying over clothing or relocating to the abdomen
compromises shock delivery.
Question 7
You are performing CPR on an adult. The AED advises a shock. After delivering the
shock, you should:
A. Check for a pulse
B. Immediately resume CPR starting with compressions ✓
C. Wait for the AED to reanalyze
D. Perform rescue breathing only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
After AED shock delivery, CPR should resume immediately beginning with
compressions. Do not check for a pulse. The 2020 AHA guidelines emphasize
minimizing interruptions in compressions. AED reanalysis occurs after 2 minutes of
CPR. Compression-only CPR is not recommended when trained rescuers are available.
Question 8
You witness a coworker collapse in the office. She is unresponsive, not breathing, and
has no pulse. You begin CPR. Another trained rescuer arrives with a bag-valve-mask
(BVM) device. The rescuer with the BVM should provide ventilations at what rate when
compressions are ongoing?
A. 1 ventilation every 3–4 seconds (15–20 breaths per minute) ✓
B. 1 ventilation every 6 seconds (10 breaths per minute)
C. 1 ventilation every 2 seconds (30 breaths per minute)
Detailed Rationales | 100% Verified – Pass Guaranteed – A+
Graded
──────────────────────────────
SECTION 1: ADULT CPR & AED (Q1–Q12)
──────────────────────────────
Question 1
You are eating lunch in a workplace cafeteria when a 58-year-old man suddenly
collapses at a nearby table. He is unresponsive and not breathing normally. You have
sent a bystander to activate EMS and retrieve the AED. What is your first action?
A. Check for a pulse for 10 seconds
B. Begin chest compressions immediately ✓
C. Perform rescue breaths first
D. Place the patient in the recovery position
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Current AHA/ILCOR guidelines emphasize immediate chest compressions for
unresponsive adults without normal breathing. Pulse checks are no longer
recommended for lay rescuers due to time delays and inaccuracy. Rescue breaths are
not first priority in the CAB sequence. The recovery position is contraindicated in cardiac
arrest.
Question 2
You are performing CPR on an adult cardiac arrest victim. The correct compression
depth is:
A. At least 1 inch (2.5 cm)
,B. At least 2 inches (5 cm) but not more than 2.4 inches (6 cm) ✓
C. At least 3 inches (7.5 cm)
D. Approximately 1.5 inches (4 cm)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Adult compression depth should be at least 2 inches (5 cm) but not exceed 2.4 inches
(6 cm) to generate adequate coronary perfusion pressure without causing injury. Less
than 2 inches is insufficient; greater than 2.4 inches increases risk of rib fractures and
internal injury.
Question 3
You are performing CPR on an adult. The correct compression rate is:
A. 60–80 compressions per minute
B. 80–100 compressions per minute
C. 100–120 compressions per minute ✓
D. 120–140 compressions per minute
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
The recommended adult compression rate is 100–120 compressions per minute. Rates
below 100/minute provide inadequate perfusion; rates above 120/minute reduce
coronary perfusion due to incomplete chest recoil. Metronome devices and
compression feedback tools help maintain this rate.
Question 4
You are performing CPR on an adult with one other trained rescuer. The correct
compression-to-ventilation ratio is:
A. 15 compressions to 2 ventilations
B. 30 compressions to 2 ventilations ✓
C. 30 compressions to 1 ventilation
,D. 15 compressions to 1 ventilation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
For adult CPR with two trained rescuers, the compression-to-ventilation ratio is 30:2.
This ratio balances coronary perfusion with oxygenation. The 15:2 ratio is used for
two-rescuer child/infant CPR. Single-rescuer adult CPR also uses 30:2.
Question 5
An AED arrives while you are performing CPR on an unresponsive adult. The correct
sequence is:
A. Continue CPR for 2 minutes before attaching the AED
B. Immediately attach the AED, turn it on, and follow voice prompts ✓
C. Check for a pulse before attaching the AED
D. Perform 5 cycles of CPR before analyzing rhythm
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
AEDs should be applied as soon as available. Turn on the device, attach pads, and
follow voice prompts. Modern AEDs analyze rhythm during CPR and advise when to
pause for shock. Delaying AED application reduces survival. Pulse checks and fixed CPR
intervals are not required before AED use.
Question 6
You are attaching AED pads to an adult male who has a hairy chest. The AED pads are
not adhering properly. What should you do?
A. Press harder on the pads
B. Shave the chest if a razor is available, or use a second set of pads to remove hair and
then apply new pads ✓
C. Apply the pads over clothing
D. Move the pads to the abdomen
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Poor pad adhesion prevents effective shock delivery. If a razor is available, shave the
area. Alternatively, press a second set of pads firmly and remove them (taking hair with
them), then apply fresh pads. Applying over clothing or relocating to the abdomen
compromises shock delivery.
Question 7
You are performing CPR on an adult. The AED advises a shock. After delivering the
shock, you should:
A. Check for a pulse
B. Immediately resume CPR starting with compressions ✓
C. Wait for the AED to reanalyze
D. Perform rescue breathing only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
After AED shock delivery, CPR should resume immediately beginning with
compressions. Do not check for a pulse. The 2020 AHA guidelines emphasize
minimizing interruptions in compressions. AED reanalysis occurs after 2 minutes of
CPR. Compression-only CPR is not recommended when trained rescuers are available.
Question 8
You witness a coworker collapse in the office. She is unresponsive, not breathing, and
has no pulse. You begin CPR. Another trained rescuer arrives with a bag-valve-mask
(BVM) device. The rescuer with the BVM should provide ventilations at what rate when
compressions are ongoing?
A. 1 ventilation every 3–4 seconds (15–20 breaths per minute) ✓
B. 1 ventilation every 6 seconds (10 breaths per minute)
C. 1 ventilation every 2 seconds (30 breaths per minute)
