ACLS Post Exam With Answer Key
2023/2024 American Heart Association
Advanced Cardiovascu
Section I: BLS Assessment and High-Quality CPR
1. A 58-year-old man collapses in the hospital lobby. You are first to arrive and determine he is
unresponsive. After activating the emergency response system and calling for a defibrillator,
which is the next action in the BLS Assessment?
A. Open the airway and deliver 2 rescue breaths
B. Check for a carotid pulse for no more than 10 seconds
C. Simultaneously check breathing and pulse for no more than 10 seconds
D. Begin chest compressions immediately without checking pulse
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The BLS Assessment follows: check unresponsiveness, activate emergency
response, check breathing and pulse simultaneously for no more than 10 seconds. If no pulse,
begin CPR starting with chest compressions .
2. During high-quality CPR on an adult, what compression rate should the team maintain?
A. 80 to 100 compressions per minute
B. 100 to 120 compressions per minute
C. 120 to 140 compressions per minute
D. At least 60 compressions per minute
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The AHA recommends a compression rate of 100 to 120/min for adults to
optimize coronary perfusion and avoid inadequate cardiac output or decreased filling time .
3. What is the recommended compression depth for an average adult during CPR?
A. At least 1 inch (2.5 cm)
B. At least 1.5 inches (4 cm)
,C. At least 2 inches (5 cm)
D. At least 3 inches (7.5 cm)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Adult chest compressions should depress the sternum at least 2 inches (5 cm)
while avoiding excessive depth greater than 2.4 inches (6 cm) to minimize injury risk .
4. Which of the following describes the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio for a single
rescuer performing CPR on an adult?
A. 15:2
B. 30:2
C. 5:1
D. 50:2
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The universal adult compression-to-ventilation ratio is 30:2 for single or two-
rescuer CPR before an advanced airway is placed. Once an advanced airway is in place,
compressions become continuous with 1 breath every 6 seconds .
5. During CPR, what is the maximum allowable interruption in chest compressions?
A. 10 seconds
B. 15 seconds
C. 20 seconds
D. 30 seconds
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Interruptions in chest compressions should be limited to no longer than 10
seconds for rhythm checks, defibrillation, or pulse checks. Prolonged interruptions reduce
coronary perfusion pressure and decrease survival .
6. SATA: Which of the following are components of high-quality CPR? (Select all that apply)
A. Compression rate of 100 to 120/min
B. Compression depth of at least 2 inches
C. Full chest recoil after each compression
D. Minimizing interruptions to less than 10 seconds
,E. Hyperventilation with 20 breaths per minute
F. Avoiding excessive ventilation
Correct Answers: A, B, C, D, F
Rationale: High-quality CPR includes adequate rate and depth, full chest recoil, minimal
interruptions, and avoiding excessive ventilation. Hyperventilation (E) is harmful because it
increases intrathoracic pressure and decreases venous return .
7. What is the target compression fraction (CCF) during a resuscitation attempt?
A. At least 50%
B. At least 60%
C. At least 80%
D. 100%
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Chest compression fraction should be at least 60% at minimum, with an ideal
target greater than 80%. Higher CCF correlates with improved survival outcomes .
8. A patient in cardiac arrest has an advanced airway in place. How often should ventilations
be delivered?
A. Once every 3 seconds
B. Once every 6 seconds
C. Once every 10 seconds
D. Once every 12 seconds
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Once an advanced airway is placed during cardiac arrest, deliver 1 breath every 6
seconds (10 breaths per minute) without pausing compressions .
9. Which sign is a likely indicator of cardiac arrest in an unresponsive patient?
A. Cyanosis
B. Irregular, weak pulse
C. Agonal gasps
D. Slow, weak pulse
, Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Agonal gasps are not normal breathing and are a sign of cardiac arrest in the first
minutes after sudden arrest. Rescuers should not confuse agonal gasps with effective breathing
.
10. When should the compressor change during a cardiac arrest resuscitation?
A. Every 5 minutes
B. Every 2 minutes or sooner if fatigued
C. Only when the compressor requests relief
D. Every 10 minutes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Compressors should rotate approximately every 2 minutes or sooner if they
become fatigued. Fatigue leads to inadequate compression depth and rate, compromising CPR
quality .
11. A 62-year-old woman is found unresponsive by a nurse. The nurse checks for breathing
and pulse simultaneously. The patient has no pulse and is not breathing. What should the
nurse do first?
A. Open the airway and give 2 breaths
B. Start chest compressions
C. Apply the AED pads
D. Obtain a 12-lead ECG
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Once unresponsiveness, absent breathing, and no pulse are confirmed, CPR must
begin immediately with chest compressions. Defibrillation should be applied as soon as
available, but compressions are the immediate priority .
12. SATA: Which of the following factors contribute to improved survival in cardiac arrest?
(Select all that apply)
A. Immediate high-quality CPR
B. Early defibrillation
C. Minimizing interruptions in compressions
2023/2024 American Heart Association
Advanced Cardiovascu
Section I: BLS Assessment and High-Quality CPR
1. A 58-year-old man collapses in the hospital lobby. You are first to arrive and determine he is
unresponsive. After activating the emergency response system and calling for a defibrillator,
which is the next action in the BLS Assessment?
A. Open the airway and deliver 2 rescue breaths
B. Check for a carotid pulse for no more than 10 seconds
C. Simultaneously check breathing and pulse for no more than 10 seconds
D. Begin chest compressions immediately without checking pulse
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The BLS Assessment follows: check unresponsiveness, activate emergency
response, check breathing and pulse simultaneously for no more than 10 seconds. If no pulse,
begin CPR starting with chest compressions .
2. During high-quality CPR on an adult, what compression rate should the team maintain?
A. 80 to 100 compressions per minute
B. 100 to 120 compressions per minute
C. 120 to 140 compressions per minute
D. At least 60 compressions per minute
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The AHA recommends a compression rate of 100 to 120/min for adults to
optimize coronary perfusion and avoid inadequate cardiac output or decreased filling time .
3. What is the recommended compression depth for an average adult during CPR?
A. At least 1 inch (2.5 cm)
B. At least 1.5 inches (4 cm)
,C. At least 2 inches (5 cm)
D. At least 3 inches (7.5 cm)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Adult chest compressions should depress the sternum at least 2 inches (5 cm)
while avoiding excessive depth greater than 2.4 inches (6 cm) to minimize injury risk .
4. Which of the following describes the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio for a single
rescuer performing CPR on an adult?
A. 15:2
B. 30:2
C. 5:1
D. 50:2
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The universal adult compression-to-ventilation ratio is 30:2 for single or two-
rescuer CPR before an advanced airway is placed. Once an advanced airway is in place,
compressions become continuous with 1 breath every 6 seconds .
5. During CPR, what is the maximum allowable interruption in chest compressions?
A. 10 seconds
B. 15 seconds
C. 20 seconds
D. 30 seconds
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Interruptions in chest compressions should be limited to no longer than 10
seconds for rhythm checks, defibrillation, or pulse checks. Prolonged interruptions reduce
coronary perfusion pressure and decrease survival .
6. SATA: Which of the following are components of high-quality CPR? (Select all that apply)
A. Compression rate of 100 to 120/min
B. Compression depth of at least 2 inches
C. Full chest recoil after each compression
D. Minimizing interruptions to less than 10 seconds
,E. Hyperventilation with 20 breaths per minute
F. Avoiding excessive ventilation
Correct Answers: A, B, C, D, F
Rationale: High-quality CPR includes adequate rate and depth, full chest recoil, minimal
interruptions, and avoiding excessive ventilation. Hyperventilation (E) is harmful because it
increases intrathoracic pressure and decreases venous return .
7. What is the target compression fraction (CCF) during a resuscitation attempt?
A. At least 50%
B. At least 60%
C. At least 80%
D. 100%
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Chest compression fraction should be at least 60% at minimum, with an ideal
target greater than 80%. Higher CCF correlates with improved survival outcomes .
8. A patient in cardiac arrest has an advanced airway in place. How often should ventilations
be delivered?
A. Once every 3 seconds
B. Once every 6 seconds
C. Once every 10 seconds
D. Once every 12 seconds
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Once an advanced airway is placed during cardiac arrest, deliver 1 breath every 6
seconds (10 breaths per minute) without pausing compressions .
9. Which sign is a likely indicator of cardiac arrest in an unresponsive patient?
A. Cyanosis
B. Irregular, weak pulse
C. Agonal gasps
D. Slow, weak pulse
, Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Agonal gasps are not normal breathing and are a sign of cardiac arrest in the first
minutes after sudden arrest. Rescuers should not confuse agonal gasps with effective breathing
.
10. When should the compressor change during a cardiac arrest resuscitation?
A. Every 5 minutes
B. Every 2 minutes or sooner if fatigued
C. Only when the compressor requests relief
D. Every 10 minutes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Compressors should rotate approximately every 2 minutes or sooner if they
become fatigued. Fatigue leads to inadequate compression depth and rate, compromising CPR
quality .
11. A 62-year-old woman is found unresponsive by a nurse. The nurse checks for breathing
and pulse simultaneously. The patient has no pulse and is not breathing. What should the
nurse do first?
A. Open the airway and give 2 breaths
B. Start chest compressions
C. Apply the AED pads
D. Obtain a 12-lead ECG
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Once unresponsiveness, absent breathing, and no pulse are confirmed, CPR must
begin immediately with chest compressions. Defibrillation should be applied as soon as
available, but compressions are the immediate priority .
12. SATA: Which of the following factors contribute to improved survival in cardiac arrest?
(Select all that apply)
A. Immediate high-quality CPR
B. Early defibrillation
C. Minimizing interruptions in compressions
