ACLS 2026 Written Exam Review – Practice
Questions & Correct Answers | Graded A+
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
answerStart 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
answerObtaining a 12 lead ECG.
What is the preferred method of access for epi administration during cardiac arrest in
most pts? - correct answerPeripheral IV
An AED does not promptly analyze a rythm. What is your next step? - correct
answerBegin 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 answerAdminister 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 answerResume compressions
What is a common but sometimes fatal mistake in cardiac arrest management? - correct
answerProlonged interruptions in chest compressions.
Which action is a componant of high-quality chest comressions? - correct
answerAllowing complete chest recoil
Which action increases the chance of successful conversion of ventricular fibrillation? -
correct answerProviding quality compressions immediately before a defibrillation
attempt.
Which situation BEST describes pulseless electrical activity? - correct answerSinus
rythm without a pulse
What is the BEST strategy for performing high-quality CPR on a patient with an
advanced airway in place? - correct answerProvide 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 answerChest compressions may not be effective.
The use of quantitative capnography in intubated patients - correct answerallows 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 answerConsider
terminating resuscitive efforts after consulting medical control.
Which is a safe and effective practice within the defibrillation sequence? - correct
answerBe 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 answerBegin chest
compressions.
What is an advantage of using hands-free defibrillation pads instead of defibrillation
paddles? - correct answerHands-free pads allow for a more rapid defibrillation.
What action is recommended to help minimize interruptions in chest compressions
during CPR? - correct answerContinue CPR while charging the defibrillator.
Which action is included in the BLS survey? - correct answerEarly defibrillation
Which drug and dose are recommended for the management of a patient in refractory
ventricular fibrillation? - correct answerAmioderone 300mg
What is the appropriate interval for an interruption in chest compressions? - correct
answer10 seconds or less
Which of the following is a sign of effective CPR? - correct answerPETCO2 ≥10 mm Hg
What is the primary purpose of a medical emergency team (MET) or rapid response
team (RRT)? - correct answerIdentifying and treating early clinical deterioration.
Which action improves the quality of chest compressions delivered during a
resuscitation attempt? - correct answerSwitch providers about every 2 minutes or every
5 compression cycles.
Questions & Correct Answers | Graded A+
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
answerStart 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
answerObtaining a 12 lead ECG.
What is the preferred method of access for epi administration during cardiac arrest in
most pts? - correct answerPeripheral IV
An AED does not promptly analyze a rythm. What is your next step? - correct
answerBegin 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 answerAdminister 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 answerResume compressions
What is a common but sometimes fatal mistake in cardiac arrest management? - correct
answerProlonged interruptions in chest compressions.
Which action is a componant of high-quality chest comressions? - correct
answerAllowing complete chest recoil
Which action increases the chance of successful conversion of ventricular fibrillation? -
correct answerProviding quality compressions immediately before a defibrillation
attempt.
Which situation BEST describes pulseless electrical activity? - correct answerSinus
rythm without a pulse
What is the BEST strategy for performing high-quality CPR on a patient with an
advanced airway in place? - correct answerProvide 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 answerChest compressions may not be effective.
The use of quantitative capnography in intubated patients - correct answerallows 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 answerConsider
terminating resuscitive efforts after consulting medical control.
Which is a safe and effective practice within the defibrillation sequence? - correct
answerBe 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 answerBegin chest
compressions.
What is an advantage of using hands-free defibrillation pads instead of defibrillation
paddles? - correct answerHands-free pads allow for a more rapid defibrillation.
What action is recommended to help minimize interruptions in chest compressions
during CPR? - correct answerContinue CPR while charging the defibrillator.
Which action is included in the BLS survey? - correct answerEarly defibrillation
Which drug and dose are recommended for the management of a patient in refractory
ventricular fibrillation? - correct answerAmioderone 300mg
What is the appropriate interval for an interruption in chest compressions? - correct
answer10 seconds or less
Which of the following is a sign of effective CPR? - correct answerPETCO2 ≥10 mm Hg
What is the primary purpose of a medical emergency team (MET) or rapid response
team (RRT)? - correct answerIdentifying and treating early clinical deterioration.
Which action improves the quality of chest compressions delivered during a
resuscitation attempt? - correct answerSwitch providers about every 2 minutes or every
5 compression cycles.
