CPR CERTIFICATION STUDY GUIDE | TESTBANK | PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS | CERTIFICATION EXAM PREPARATION | LATEST UPDATE 2026/2027 |
ADVANCED REVIEW | COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM
Examiner:
American Heart Association (AHA) / American Red Cross (ARC) (depending on the
certification program)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Adult Basic Life Support (BLS)
2. Pediatric Basic Life Support
3. Infant CPR
4. High-Quality Chest Compressions
5. Airway Management
6. Rescue Breathing
7. Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
8. Choking Emergencies
9. Team-Based Resuscitation
10. Special Resuscitation Situations
11. Infection Prevention and PPE
12. Professional Responsibilities and Ethics
CPR || BASIC LIFE SUPPORT || HIGH-QUALITY CHEST COMPRESSIONS || AED ||
RESCUE BREATHING || AIRWAY MANAGEMENT || ADULT CPR || PEDIATRIC CPR ||
INFANT CPR || CHOKING || DEFIBRILLATION || TEAM DYNAMICS || RESUSCITATION
|| CIRCULATION || VENTILATION || COMPRESSION DEPTH || COMPRESSION RATE ||
HANDS-ONLY CPR || BARRIER DEVICES || EMERGENCY RESPONSE || PATIENT
SAFETY || PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT || CLINICAL DECISION MAKING || BLS
GUIDELINES || EMERGENCY CARE || FIRST RESPONSE || CARDIAC ARREST || ETHICS
|| DOCUMENTATION || QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
QUESTION 1.
A lone healthcare provider witnesses an adult suddenly collapse in a hospital
corridor. The patient is unresponsive, not breathing normally, and has no definite
,pulse after a pulse check lasting no more than 10 seconds. What is the most
appropriate immediate action?
A. Deliver two rescue breaths before beginning compressions.
B. Begin high-quality chest compressions immediately.
C. Retrieve an AED before initiating CPR.
D. Place the patient in the recovery position.
Correct Answer: B. Begin high-quality chest compressions immediately.
Explanation: Once cardiac arrest is confirmed, immediate high-quality chest
compressions are the priority because they maintain vital blood flow to the heart
and brain. Delaying compressions to retrieve equipment or provide initial breaths
reduces the likelihood of survival. The recovery position is inappropriate for a
pulseless patient.
────────────────────────────────────────
QUESTION 2.
During high-quality adult CPR, the team leader observes incomplete chest recoil after
each compression. Which consequence is most likely if this problem continues?
A. Increased coronary perfusion pressure
B. Reduced venous return and diminished cardiac output
C. Improved cerebral blood flow
D. Increased effectiveness of rescue breaths
Correct Answer: B. Reduced venous return and diminished cardiac output.
Explanation: Complete chest recoil allows the heart to refill between compressions.
Leaning on the chest impairs venous return, reducing cardiac output and coronary
perfusion during CPR. The other options incorrectly describe beneficial effects that
do not occur with incomplete recoil.
────────────────────────────────────────
QUESTION 3.
,A rescuer providing adult CPR notes that compressions are being delivered at
approximately 140 per minute. According to current best practices, what should be
done?
A. Continue because faster compressions always improve perfusion.
B. Increase compression depth to compensate.
C. Reduce the compression rate to the recommended range.
D. Pause compressions every minute to assess circulation.
Correct Answer: C. Reduce the compression rate to the recommended range.
Explanation: High-quality CPR requires a compression rate of approximately 100–
120 compressions per minute. Rates significantly above this range often reduce
compression depth and chest recoil, decreasing CPR effectiveness. Increasing depth
or adding unnecessary pauses does not correct the problem.
────────────────────────────────────────
QUESTION 4.
Two trained rescuers are performing infant CPR. After confirming cardiac arrest,
which compression-to-ventilation ratio should they use?
A. 30:2
B. 20:2
C. 15:2
D. Continuous compressions with one breath every 10 seconds
Correct Answer: C. 15:2.
Explanation: When two trained rescuers perform CPR on an infant or child, the
recommended compression-to-ventilation ratio is 15:2. The 30:2 ratio applies to
single rescuers, while continuous compressions with asynchronous ventilation are
generally reserved for patients with advanced airways.
────────────────────────────────────────
QUESTION 5.
, While preparing to use an AED, a responder notices a medication patch directly
where the electrode pad should be placed. What is the best course of action?
A. Place the AED pad directly over the patch.
B. Remove the patch while avoiding direct contact, then apply the pad.
C. Ignore the patch and delay defibrillation.
D. Use only one AED pad.
Correct Answer: B. Remove the patch while avoiding direct contact, then apply
the pad.
Explanation: Medication patches should be removed before pad placement because
they may interfere with electrical conduction or cause skin burns. The pad should
then be applied to clean skin in the appropriate location. Delaying defibrillation
unnecessarily decreases survival.
────────────────────────────────────────
QUESTION 6.
A patient suddenly becomes unresponsive while choking on food. Which intervention
should be performed immediately after activating the emergency response system?
A. Begin abdominal thrusts.
B. Perform blind finger sweeps.
C. Start CPR beginning with chest compressions.
D. Attempt rescue breathing only.
Correct Answer: C. Start CPR beginning with chest compressions.
Explanation: Once a choking victim becomes unresponsive, CPR should begin
immediately with chest compressions. Compressions may help dislodge the
obstruction while maintaining circulation. Blind finger sweeps are avoided because
they can push the object deeper into the airway.
────────────────────────────────────────
QUESTION 7.
ANSWERS | CERTIFICATION EXAM PREPARATION | LATEST UPDATE 2026/2027 |
ADVANCED REVIEW | COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM
Examiner:
American Heart Association (AHA) / American Red Cross (ARC) (depending on the
certification program)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Adult Basic Life Support (BLS)
2. Pediatric Basic Life Support
3. Infant CPR
4. High-Quality Chest Compressions
5. Airway Management
6. Rescue Breathing
7. Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
8. Choking Emergencies
9. Team-Based Resuscitation
10. Special Resuscitation Situations
11. Infection Prevention and PPE
12. Professional Responsibilities and Ethics
CPR || BASIC LIFE SUPPORT || HIGH-QUALITY CHEST COMPRESSIONS || AED ||
RESCUE BREATHING || AIRWAY MANAGEMENT || ADULT CPR || PEDIATRIC CPR ||
INFANT CPR || CHOKING || DEFIBRILLATION || TEAM DYNAMICS || RESUSCITATION
|| CIRCULATION || VENTILATION || COMPRESSION DEPTH || COMPRESSION RATE ||
HANDS-ONLY CPR || BARRIER DEVICES || EMERGENCY RESPONSE || PATIENT
SAFETY || PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT || CLINICAL DECISION MAKING || BLS
GUIDELINES || EMERGENCY CARE || FIRST RESPONSE || CARDIAC ARREST || ETHICS
|| DOCUMENTATION || QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
QUESTION 1.
A lone healthcare provider witnesses an adult suddenly collapse in a hospital
corridor. The patient is unresponsive, not breathing normally, and has no definite
,pulse after a pulse check lasting no more than 10 seconds. What is the most
appropriate immediate action?
A. Deliver two rescue breaths before beginning compressions.
B. Begin high-quality chest compressions immediately.
C. Retrieve an AED before initiating CPR.
D. Place the patient in the recovery position.
Correct Answer: B. Begin high-quality chest compressions immediately.
Explanation: Once cardiac arrest is confirmed, immediate high-quality chest
compressions are the priority because they maintain vital blood flow to the heart
and brain. Delaying compressions to retrieve equipment or provide initial breaths
reduces the likelihood of survival. The recovery position is inappropriate for a
pulseless patient.
────────────────────────────────────────
QUESTION 2.
During high-quality adult CPR, the team leader observes incomplete chest recoil after
each compression. Which consequence is most likely if this problem continues?
A. Increased coronary perfusion pressure
B. Reduced venous return and diminished cardiac output
C. Improved cerebral blood flow
D. Increased effectiveness of rescue breaths
Correct Answer: B. Reduced venous return and diminished cardiac output.
Explanation: Complete chest recoil allows the heart to refill between compressions.
Leaning on the chest impairs venous return, reducing cardiac output and coronary
perfusion during CPR. The other options incorrectly describe beneficial effects that
do not occur with incomplete recoil.
────────────────────────────────────────
QUESTION 3.
,A rescuer providing adult CPR notes that compressions are being delivered at
approximately 140 per minute. According to current best practices, what should be
done?
A. Continue because faster compressions always improve perfusion.
B. Increase compression depth to compensate.
C. Reduce the compression rate to the recommended range.
D. Pause compressions every minute to assess circulation.
Correct Answer: C. Reduce the compression rate to the recommended range.
Explanation: High-quality CPR requires a compression rate of approximately 100–
120 compressions per minute. Rates significantly above this range often reduce
compression depth and chest recoil, decreasing CPR effectiveness. Increasing depth
or adding unnecessary pauses does not correct the problem.
────────────────────────────────────────
QUESTION 4.
Two trained rescuers are performing infant CPR. After confirming cardiac arrest,
which compression-to-ventilation ratio should they use?
A. 30:2
B. 20:2
C. 15:2
D. Continuous compressions with one breath every 10 seconds
Correct Answer: C. 15:2.
Explanation: When two trained rescuers perform CPR on an infant or child, the
recommended compression-to-ventilation ratio is 15:2. The 30:2 ratio applies to
single rescuers, while continuous compressions with asynchronous ventilation are
generally reserved for patients with advanced airways.
────────────────────────────────────────
QUESTION 5.
, While preparing to use an AED, a responder notices a medication patch directly
where the electrode pad should be placed. What is the best course of action?
A. Place the AED pad directly over the patch.
B. Remove the patch while avoiding direct contact, then apply the pad.
C. Ignore the patch and delay defibrillation.
D. Use only one AED pad.
Correct Answer: B. Remove the patch while avoiding direct contact, then apply
the pad.
Explanation: Medication patches should be removed before pad placement because
they may interfere with electrical conduction or cause skin burns. The pad should
then be applied to clean skin in the appropriate location. Delaying defibrillation
unnecessarily decreases survival.
────────────────────────────────────────
QUESTION 6.
A patient suddenly becomes unresponsive while choking on food. Which intervention
should be performed immediately after activating the emergency response system?
A. Begin abdominal thrusts.
B. Perform blind finger sweeps.
C. Start CPR beginning with chest compressions.
D. Attempt rescue breathing only.
Correct Answer: C. Start CPR beginning with chest compressions.
Explanation: Once a choking victim becomes unresponsive, CPR should begin
immediately with chest compressions. Compressions may help dislodge the
obstruction while maintaining circulation. Blind finger sweeps are avoided because
they can push the object deeper into the airway.
────────────────────────────────────────
QUESTION 7.
