.//.//.,…//////////./././././.;;;../.;.//;./.;./;.;.;/
ACLS Provider Certification Exam Prep
2026/2027 | Complete AHA Study Guide |
Practice Questions, Detailed Answer
Explanations & Advanced Cardiac Life Support
Review
You find an unresponsive pt. who is not breathing. After activating the emergency response
system, you determine there is no pulse. What is your next action?
Start chest compressions of at least 100 per min.
You are evaluating a 58 year old man with chest pain. The BP is 92/50 and a heart rate of 92/min,
non-labored respiratory rate is 14 breaths/min and the pulse O2 is 97%. What assessment step is
most important now?
Obtaining a 12 lead ECG.
Identification of Chest Discomfort Suggestive of Ischemia
What is the preferred method of access for epi administration during cardiac arrest in most pts?
Peripheral IV
An AED does not promptly analyze a rythm. What is your next step?
Begin chest compressions.
1
,.//.//.,…//////////./././././.;;;../.;.//;./.;./;.;.;/
You have completed 2 min of CPR. The ECG monitor displays the lead below (PEA) and the pt.
has no pulse. You partner resumes chest compressions and an IV is in place. What management
step is your next priority?
Administer 1mg of epinepherine
During a pause in CPR, you see a narrow complex rythm on the monitor. The pt. has no pulse.
What is the next action?
Resume compressions
What is acommon but sometimes fatal mistake in cardiac arrest management?
Prolonged interruptions in chest compressions.
Which action is a componant of high-quality chest comressions?
Allowing complete chest recoil
Which action increases the chance of successful conversion of ventricular fibrillation?
Providing quality compressions immediately before a defibrillation attempt.
Which situation BEST describes PEA?
Sinus rythm without a pulse
2
, .//.//.,…//////////./././././.;;;../.;.//;./.;./;.;.;/
What is the best strategy for perfoming high-quality CPR on a pt.with an advanced airway in
place?
Provide continuous chest compressionswithout pauses and 10 ventilations per minute.
3 min after witnessing a cardiac arrest, one memeber of your team inserts an ET tube while
another performs continuous chest comressions. During subsequent bentilation, you notice the
presence of a wavefom on the capnogrophy screen and a PETCO2 of 8 mm Hg. What is the
significance of this finding?
Chest compressions may not be effective.
The use of quantitative capnography in intubated pt's does what?
Allowsfor monitoring CPR quality
For the past 25 min, EMS crews have attempted resuscitation of a pt who originally presented
with V-FIB. 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 resuscitive efforts after consulting medical control.
Which is a safe and effective practice within the defibrillation sequence?
Be sure O2 is NOT blowing over the pt's chest during 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.
3
ACLS Provider Certification Exam Prep
2026/2027 | Complete AHA Study Guide |
Practice Questions, Detailed Answer
Explanations & Advanced Cardiac Life Support
Review
You find an unresponsive pt. who is not breathing. After activating the emergency response
system, you determine there is no pulse. What is your next action?
Start chest compressions of at least 100 per min.
You are evaluating a 58 year old man with chest pain. The BP is 92/50 and a heart rate of 92/min,
non-labored respiratory rate is 14 breaths/min and the pulse O2 is 97%. What assessment step is
most important now?
Obtaining a 12 lead ECG.
Identification of Chest Discomfort Suggestive of Ischemia
What is the preferred method of access for epi administration during cardiac arrest in most pts?
Peripheral IV
An AED does not promptly analyze a rythm. What is your next step?
Begin chest compressions.
1
,.//.//.,…//////////./././././.;;;../.;.//;./.;./;.;.;/
You have completed 2 min of CPR. The ECG monitor displays the lead below (PEA) and the pt.
has no pulse. You partner resumes chest compressions and an IV is in place. What management
step is your next priority?
Administer 1mg of epinepherine
During a pause in CPR, you see a narrow complex rythm on the monitor. The pt. has no pulse.
What is the next action?
Resume compressions
What is acommon but sometimes fatal mistake in cardiac arrest management?
Prolonged interruptions in chest compressions.
Which action is a componant of high-quality chest comressions?
Allowing complete chest recoil
Which action increases the chance of successful conversion of ventricular fibrillation?
Providing quality compressions immediately before a defibrillation attempt.
Which situation BEST describes PEA?
Sinus rythm without a pulse
2
, .//.//.,…//////////./././././.;;;../.;.//;./.;./;.;.;/
What is the best strategy for perfoming high-quality CPR on a pt.with an advanced airway in
place?
Provide continuous chest compressionswithout pauses and 10 ventilations per minute.
3 min after witnessing a cardiac arrest, one memeber of your team inserts an ET tube while
another performs continuous chest comressions. During subsequent bentilation, you notice the
presence of a wavefom on the capnogrophy screen and a PETCO2 of 8 mm Hg. What is the
significance of this finding?
Chest compressions may not be effective.
The use of quantitative capnography in intubated pt's does what?
Allowsfor monitoring CPR quality
For the past 25 min, EMS crews have attempted resuscitation of a pt who originally presented
with V-FIB. 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 resuscitive efforts after consulting medical control.
Which is a safe and effective practice within the defibrillation sequence?
Be sure O2 is NOT blowing over the pt's chest during 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.
3
