ACLS POST TEST FINAL PAPER 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ Cardiac monitoring indicates that a patient has a ventricular
tachyarrhythmia. The patient has a pulse and is not showing any signs of
hemodynamic compromise. A 12-lead ECG reveals an irregular rhythm
with QRS complexes greater than 0.12 second in duration. Which action
would be appropriate at this time? Answer: For a patient with a wide-
complex tachyarrhythmia and no signs of hemodynamic compromise,
consider an antiarrhythmic medication (procainamide, amiodarone or
sotalol).
◉ rapid assessment is. Answer: a visual survey to ensure safety, form an
initial impression about the patient's condition (including looking for
life-threatening bleeding), and determine the need for additional
resources. This would be followed by a primary assessment and then a
secondary assessment.
◉ Which arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) value signifies adequate
ventilations? Answer: Arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) values in the
range of 35 to 45 mmHg confirm adequacy of ventilation.
◉ A patient experiences cardiac arrest, and the resuscitation team
initiates ventilations using a bag-valve-mask (BVM) resuscitator. The
,development of which condition during the provision of care would lead
the team to suspect that improper BVM technique is being used?
Answer: Complications can occur with the use of a BVM resuscitator
due to improper technique. Delivering excessive volume or ventilating
too fast creates excessive pressure that can damage the airways, lungs
and other organs. Excessive volume can lead to tension pneumothorax.
◉ A resuscitation team is debriefing following a recent event. A patient
experienced cardiac arrest, and advanced life support was initiated. The
patient required the placement of an advanced airway to maintain airway
patency. Which statement indicates that the team performed high-quality
CPR. Answer: When an advanced airway has been placed in a patient
who is in cardiac arrest, compressions should be delivered continuously
(100 to 120 per minute) with no pauses for ventilations.
◉ Assessment of a patient reveals an ETCO2 level of 55 mmHg and an
arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) level of 88%. The provider would
interpret these findings as indicative of which condition? Answer: An
SaO2 level of less than 90% (PaO2 of less than 50 mmHg) accompanied
by ETCO2 values greater than 50 mmHg is indicative of respiratory
failure.
◉ A responsive patient is choking. What method should the provider use
first to clear the obstructed airway? Answer: 5 back blows to clear the
obstruction.
no longer using abdominal thrusts
, ◉ A patient arrives at the emergency department complaining of
shortness of breath. The patient has a long history of chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease. Assessment reveals respiratory failure. Which action
would be the initial priority to address the respiratory failure? Answer:
assisted ventilation initially provided via a BVM resuscitator.
◉ A 20-year-old man with respiratory depression is brought to the
emergency department by his parents. Opioid overdose is suspected, and
an initial dose of naloxone is administered at 10 p.m. The patient does
not respond to this initial dose. The team would expect to administer a
second dose after how many minutes? Answer: 2 to 3 minutes
◉ Assessment of a patient in the emergency department reveals that the
patient is experiencing respiratory compromise. From the assessment,
the team identifies that the patient is in the earliest stage of this
condition. Which stage would this be? Answer: Respiratory compromise
occurs along a continuum, beginning with respiratory distress,
progressing to respiratory failure and then to respiratory arrest
◉ The following capnogram is from a patient experiencing respiratory
distress. At which point in the waveform would the patient's ETCO2
level be measured? Answer: the highest point on the waveform before it
starts to decline again as the patient inhales fresh air.
- The ETCO2 value is measured at the end of exhalation (point D),
which represents the peak level.
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ Cardiac monitoring indicates that a patient has a ventricular
tachyarrhythmia. The patient has a pulse and is not showing any signs of
hemodynamic compromise. A 12-lead ECG reveals an irregular rhythm
with QRS complexes greater than 0.12 second in duration. Which action
would be appropriate at this time? Answer: For a patient with a wide-
complex tachyarrhythmia and no signs of hemodynamic compromise,
consider an antiarrhythmic medication (procainamide, amiodarone or
sotalol).
◉ rapid assessment is. Answer: a visual survey to ensure safety, form an
initial impression about the patient's condition (including looking for
life-threatening bleeding), and determine the need for additional
resources. This would be followed by a primary assessment and then a
secondary assessment.
◉ Which arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) value signifies adequate
ventilations? Answer: Arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) values in the
range of 35 to 45 mmHg confirm adequacy of ventilation.
◉ A patient experiences cardiac arrest, and the resuscitation team
initiates ventilations using a bag-valve-mask (BVM) resuscitator. The
,development of which condition during the provision of care would lead
the team to suspect that improper BVM technique is being used?
Answer: Complications can occur with the use of a BVM resuscitator
due to improper technique. Delivering excessive volume or ventilating
too fast creates excessive pressure that can damage the airways, lungs
and other organs. Excessive volume can lead to tension pneumothorax.
◉ A resuscitation team is debriefing following a recent event. A patient
experienced cardiac arrest, and advanced life support was initiated. The
patient required the placement of an advanced airway to maintain airway
patency. Which statement indicates that the team performed high-quality
CPR. Answer: When an advanced airway has been placed in a patient
who is in cardiac arrest, compressions should be delivered continuously
(100 to 120 per minute) with no pauses for ventilations.
◉ Assessment of a patient reveals an ETCO2 level of 55 mmHg and an
arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) level of 88%. The provider would
interpret these findings as indicative of which condition? Answer: An
SaO2 level of less than 90% (PaO2 of less than 50 mmHg) accompanied
by ETCO2 values greater than 50 mmHg is indicative of respiratory
failure.
◉ A responsive patient is choking. What method should the provider use
first to clear the obstructed airway? Answer: 5 back blows to clear the
obstruction.
no longer using abdominal thrusts
, ◉ A patient arrives at the emergency department complaining of
shortness of breath. The patient has a long history of chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease. Assessment reveals respiratory failure. Which action
would be the initial priority to address the respiratory failure? Answer:
assisted ventilation initially provided via a BVM resuscitator.
◉ A 20-year-old man with respiratory depression is brought to the
emergency department by his parents. Opioid overdose is suspected, and
an initial dose of naloxone is administered at 10 p.m. The patient does
not respond to this initial dose. The team would expect to administer a
second dose after how many minutes? Answer: 2 to 3 minutes
◉ Assessment of a patient in the emergency department reveals that the
patient is experiencing respiratory compromise. From the assessment,
the team identifies that the patient is in the earliest stage of this
condition. Which stage would this be? Answer: Respiratory compromise
occurs along a continuum, beginning with respiratory distress,
progressing to respiratory failure and then to respiratory arrest
◉ The following capnogram is from a patient experiencing respiratory
distress. At which point in the waveform would the patient's ETCO2
level be measured? Answer: the highest point on the waveform before it
starts to decline again as the patient inhales fresh air.
- The ETCO2 value is measured at the end of exhalation (point D),
which represents the peak level.
