ACLS Final Exam Questions and Answers
1. 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?
Hypertension
Esophageal injury
Pneumothorax
Rib fracture: Pneumothorax
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.
2. A person suddenly collapses while sitting in the sunroom of a
healthcare facility. A healthcare provider observes the event and
hurries over to assess the situation. The healthcare provider
performs which assessment first?
Rapid assessment
Basic life support assessment
Secondary assessment
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42
,Primary assessment: Rapid assessment
A systematic approach to assessment is necessary. The healthcare provider should first perform a rapid
assessment. A rapid assessment is 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.
3. A patient is receiving ventilation support via bag-valve-mask
(BVM) resus- citator. Capnography is established and a blood gas is
obtained to evaluate the adequacy of the ventilations. Which
arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) value signifies adequate
ventilations?
10 to 15 mmHg
20 to 25 mmHg
25 to 30 mmHg
35 to 45 mmHg: 35 to 45 mmHg
Arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) values in the range of 35 to 45 mmHg confirm adequacy of ventilation.
4. A resuscitation team is debriefing following a recent event. A
patient expe- rienced 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?
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42
,"We initiated chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 110 per minute
to a depth of 2.4 inches and then gave 1 ventilation every 10
seconds."
"We provided chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120
compressions per minute while giving 1 ventilation every 6 seconds
without pausing compres- sions."
"We provided chest compressions at a rate of 80 to 120 per minute
to a depth of at least 2 inches and gave 1 ventilation every 6
seconds without pausing compressions."
"We kept the rate of chest compressions to around 100 per minute
but adjusted their depth to 1.5 inches while giving 1 ventilation every
3 seconds without pausing compressions.": "We provided chest compressions at a
rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute while giving 1 ventilation every 6 seconds without
pausing compressions."
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.
5. 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?
Respiratory
failure
Respiratory
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42
, arrest Cardiac
arrest
Respiratory distress: Respiratory failure
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.
6. A responsive patient is choking. What method should the
provider use first to clear the obstructed airway?
Back blows
Abdominal thrusts
Magill forceps extraction
Chest compressions: Back
blows
To clear an obstructed airway in a responsive adult, first provide up to 5 back blows to clear the
obstruction.
7. 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?
Establishment of vascular access
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42
1. 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?
Hypertension
Esophageal injury
Pneumothorax
Rib fracture: Pneumothorax
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.
2. A person suddenly collapses while sitting in the sunroom of a
healthcare facility. A healthcare provider observes the event and
hurries over to assess the situation. The healthcare provider
performs which assessment first?
Rapid assessment
Basic life support assessment
Secondary assessment
1/
42
,Primary assessment: Rapid assessment
A systematic approach to assessment is necessary. The healthcare provider should first perform a rapid
assessment. A rapid assessment is 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.
3. A patient is receiving ventilation support via bag-valve-mask
(BVM) resus- citator. Capnography is established and a blood gas is
obtained to evaluate the adequacy of the ventilations. Which
arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) value signifies adequate
ventilations?
10 to 15 mmHg
20 to 25 mmHg
25 to 30 mmHg
35 to 45 mmHg: 35 to 45 mmHg
Arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) values in the range of 35 to 45 mmHg confirm adequacy of ventilation.
4. A resuscitation team is debriefing following a recent event. A
patient expe- rienced 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?
2/
42
,"We initiated chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 110 per minute
to a depth of 2.4 inches and then gave 1 ventilation every 10
seconds."
"We provided chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120
compressions per minute while giving 1 ventilation every 6 seconds
without pausing compres- sions."
"We provided chest compressions at a rate of 80 to 120 per minute
to a depth of at least 2 inches and gave 1 ventilation every 6
seconds without pausing compressions."
"We kept the rate of chest compressions to around 100 per minute
but adjusted their depth to 1.5 inches while giving 1 ventilation every
3 seconds without pausing compressions.": "We provided chest compressions at a
rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute while giving 1 ventilation every 6 seconds without
pausing compressions."
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.
5. 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?
Respiratory
failure
Respiratory
3/
42
, arrest Cardiac
arrest
Respiratory distress: Respiratory failure
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.
6. A responsive patient is choking. What method should the
provider use first to clear the obstructed airway?
Back blows
Abdominal thrusts
Magill forceps extraction
Chest compressions: Back
blows
To clear an obstructed airway in a responsive adult, first provide up to 5 back blows to clear the
obstruction.
7. 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?
Establishment of vascular access
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42
