ACLS WRITTEN EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
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? - CORRECT ANSWER -Start
chest compressions of at least 100 per min.
You are evaluating a 58-year-old man with chest pain. The blood pressure is 92/50 mm Hg, the
heart rate is 92/min, the nonlabored respiratory rate is 14 breaths/min, and the pulse oximetry
reading is 97%. What assessment step is most important now? - CORRECT ANSWER -Obtaining a
12 lead ECG.
What is the preferred method of access for epi administration during cardiac arrest in most pts?
- CORRECT ANSWER -Peripheral IV
An AED does not promptly analyze a rythm. What is your next step? - CORRECT ANSWER -Begin
chest compressions.
You have completed 2 minutes of CPR. The ECG monitor displays the lead II rhythm below, and
the patient has no pulse. Another member of your team resumes chest compressions, and an IV
is in place. What management step is your next priority? - CORRECT ANSWER -Administer 1mg
of epinephrine
During a pause in CPR, you see this lead II ECG rhythm on the monitor. The patient has no pulse.
What is the next action? - CORRECT ANSWER -Resume compressions
What is a common but sometimes fatal mistake in cardiac arrest management? - CORRECT
ANSWER -Prolonged interruptions in chest compressions.
,Which action is a componant of high-quality chest comressions? - CORRECT ANSWER -Allowing
complete chest recoil
Which action increases the chance of successful conversion of ventricular fibrillation? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Providing quality compressions immediately before a defibrillation attempt.
Which situation BEST describes pulseless electrical activity? - CORRECT ANSWER -Sinus rythm
without a pulse
What is the BEST strategy for performing high-quality CPR on a patient with an advanced airway
in place? - CORRECT ANSWER -Provide continuous chest compressions without pauses and 10
ventilations per minute.
Three minutes after witnessing a cardiac arrest, one member of your team inserts an
endotracheal tube while another performs continuous chest compressions. During subsequent
ventilation, you notice the presence of a waveform on the capnography screen and a PETCO2
level of 8 mm Hg. What is the significance of this finding? - CORRECT ANSWER -Chest
compressions may not be effective.
The use of quantitative capnography in intubated patients - CORRECT ANSWER -allows for
monitoring of CPR quality.
For the past 25 minutes, an EMS crew has attempted resuscitation of a patient who originally
presented in ventricular fibrillation. After the first shock, the ECG screen displayed asystole,
which has persisted despite 2 doses of epinephrine, a fluid bolus, and high-quality CPR. What is
your next treatment? - CORRECT ANSWER -Consider terminating resuscitive efforts after
consulting medical control.
Which is a safe and effective practice within the defibrillation sequence? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Be sure oxygen is not blowing over the patient's chest during the shock.
, During your assessment, your patient suddenly loses consciousness. After calling for help and
determining that the patient is not breathing, you are unsure whether the patient has a pulse.
What is your next action? - CORRECT ANSWER -Begin chest compressions.
What is an advantage of using hands-free defibrillation pads instead of defibrillation paddles? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Hands-free pads allow for a more rapid defibrillation.
What action is recommended to help minimize interruptions in chest compressions during CPR?
- CORRECT ANSWER -Continue CPR while charging the defibrillator.
Which action is included in the BLS survey? - CORRECT ANSWER -Early defibrillation
Which drug and dose are recommended for the management of a patient in refractory
ventricular fibrillation? - CORRECT ANSWER -Amioderone 300mg
What is the appropriate interval for an interruption in chest compressions? - CORRECT ANSWER
-10 seconds or less
Which of the following is a sign of effective CPR? - CORRECT ANSWER -PETCO2 ≥10 mm Hg
What is the primary purpose of a medical emergency team (MET) or rapid response team
(RRT)? - CORRECT ANSWER -Identifying and treating early clinical deterioration.
Which action improves the quality of chest compressions delivered during a resuscitation
attempt? - CORRECT ANSWER -Switch providers about every 2 minutes or every 5 compression
cycles.
What is the appropriate ventilation strategy for an adult in respiratory arrest with a pulse rate of
80/min? - CORRECT ANSWER -1 breath every 5-6 seconds
CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
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? - CORRECT ANSWER -Start
chest compressions of at least 100 per min.
You are evaluating a 58-year-old man with chest pain. The blood pressure is 92/50 mm Hg, the
heart rate is 92/min, the nonlabored respiratory rate is 14 breaths/min, and the pulse oximetry
reading is 97%. What assessment step is most important now? - CORRECT ANSWER -Obtaining a
12 lead ECG.
What is the preferred method of access for epi administration during cardiac arrest in most pts?
- CORRECT ANSWER -Peripheral IV
An AED does not promptly analyze a rythm. What is your next step? - CORRECT ANSWER -Begin
chest compressions.
You have completed 2 minutes of CPR. The ECG monitor displays the lead II rhythm below, and
the patient has no pulse. Another member of your team resumes chest compressions, and an IV
is in place. What management step is your next priority? - CORRECT ANSWER -Administer 1mg
of epinephrine
During a pause in CPR, you see this lead II ECG rhythm on the monitor. The patient has no pulse.
What is the next action? - CORRECT ANSWER -Resume compressions
What is a common but sometimes fatal mistake in cardiac arrest management? - CORRECT
ANSWER -Prolonged interruptions in chest compressions.
,Which action is a componant of high-quality chest comressions? - CORRECT ANSWER -Allowing
complete chest recoil
Which action increases the chance of successful conversion of ventricular fibrillation? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Providing quality compressions immediately before a defibrillation attempt.
Which situation BEST describes pulseless electrical activity? - CORRECT ANSWER -Sinus rythm
without a pulse
What is the BEST strategy for performing high-quality CPR on a patient with an advanced airway
in place? - CORRECT ANSWER -Provide continuous chest compressions without pauses and 10
ventilations per minute.
Three minutes after witnessing a cardiac arrest, one member of your team inserts an
endotracheal tube while another performs continuous chest compressions. During subsequent
ventilation, you notice the presence of a waveform on the capnography screen and a PETCO2
level of 8 mm Hg. What is the significance of this finding? - CORRECT ANSWER -Chest
compressions may not be effective.
The use of quantitative capnography in intubated patients - CORRECT ANSWER -allows for
monitoring of CPR quality.
For the past 25 minutes, an EMS crew has attempted resuscitation of a patient who originally
presented in ventricular fibrillation. After the first shock, the ECG screen displayed asystole,
which has persisted despite 2 doses of epinephrine, a fluid bolus, and high-quality CPR. What is
your next treatment? - CORRECT ANSWER -Consider terminating resuscitive efforts after
consulting medical control.
Which is a safe and effective practice within the defibrillation sequence? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Be sure oxygen is not blowing over the patient's chest during the shock.
, During your assessment, your patient suddenly loses consciousness. After calling for help and
determining that the patient is not breathing, you are unsure whether the patient has a pulse.
What is your next action? - CORRECT ANSWER -Begin chest compressions.
What is an advantage of using hands-free defibrillation pads instead of defibrillation paddles? -
CORRECT ANSWER -Hands-free pads allow for a more rapid defibrillation.
What action is recommended to help minimize interruptions in chest compressions during CPR?
- CORRECT ANSWER -Continue CPR while charging the defibrillator.
Which action is included in the BLS survey? - CORRECT ANSWER -Early defibrillation
Which drug and dose are recommended for the management of a patient in refractory
ventricular fibrillation? - CORRECT ANSWER -Amioderone 300mg
What is the appropriate interval for an interruption in chest compressions? - CORRECT ANSWER
-10 seconds or less
Which of the following is a sign of effective CPR? - CORRECT ANSWER -PETCO2 ≥10 mm Hg
What is the primary purpose of a medical emergency team (MET) or rapid response team
(RRT)? - CORRECT ANSWER -Identifying and treating early clinical deterioration.
Which action improves the quality of chest compressions delivered during a resuscitation
attempt? - CORRECT ANSWER -Switch providers about every 2 minutes or every 5 compression
cycles.
What is the appropriate ventilation strategy for an adult in respiratory arrest with a pulse rate of
80/min? - CORRECT ANSWER -1 breath every 5-6 seconds
