AHA ACLS EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (VERIFIED EXPERT SOLUTIONS
2026) – COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
1. 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?
Answer> Start chest compressions of at least 100 per min.
2. You are evaluating a 58 year old man with chest pain. The BP is 92/50 and a heart rate of 92/min, non-labored
respiratory rate is 14 breaths/min and the pulse O2 is 97%. What assessment step is most important now?
Answer> Obtaining a 12 lead ECG.
Identification of Chest Discomfort Suggestive of Ischemia
3. What is the preferred method of access for epi administration during cardiac arrest in most pts?
Answer> Peripheral IV
4. An AED does not promptly analyze a rythm. What is your next step?
Answer> Begin chest compressions.
5. You have completed 2 min of CPR. The ECG monitor displays the lead below (PEA) and the pt. has no pulse. You
partner resumes chest compressions and an IV is in place. What management step is your next priority?
Answer> Administer 1mg of epinepherine
6. During a pause in CPR, you see a narrow complex rythm on the monitor. The pt. has no pulse. What is the next
action?
Answer> Resume compressions
7. What is acommon but sometimes fatal mistake in cardiac arrest manage- ment?
Answer> Prolonged interruptions in chest compressions.
8. Which action is a componant of high-quality chest comressions?
Answer> Allowing complete chest recoil
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,9. Which action increases the chance of successful conversion of ventricular fibrillation?
Answer> Providing quality compressions immediately before a defibrillation attempt.
10. Which situation BEST describes PEA?
Answer> Sinus rythm without a pulse
11. What is the best strategy for perfoming high-quality CPR on a pt.with an advanced airway in place?
Answer> Provide continuous chest compressionswithout pauses and 10 ventilations per minute.
12. 3 min after witnessing a cardiac arrest, one memeber of your team in- serts an ET tube while another
performs continuous chest comressions. During subsequent bentilation, you notice the presence of a wavefom on
the capnogrophy screen and a PETCO2 of 8 mm Hg. What is the significance of this finding?
Answer> Chest compressions may not be effective.
13. The use of quantitative capnography in intubated pt's does what?
Answer> Allows- for monitoring CPR quality
14. For the past 25 min, EMS crews have attempted resuscitation of a pt who originally presented with V-FIB.
After the 1st shock, the ECG screen displayed
asystole which has persisted despite 2 doses of epi, a fluid bolus, and high quality CPR. What is your next treatment?
Answer> Consider terminating resuscitive efforts after consulting medical control.
15. Which is a safe and effective practice within the defibrillation sequence?-
Answer> Be sure O2 is NOT blowing over the pt's chest during shock.
16. During your assessment, your pt suddenly loses consciousness. After calling for help and determining that
the pt. is not breathing, you are unsure whether the pt. has a pulse. What is your next action?
Answer> Begin chest compres- sions.
17. What is an advantage of using hands-free d-fib pads instead of d-fib paddles?
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, Answer> Hands-free allows for more rapid d-fib.
18. What action is recommended to help minimize interruptions in chest com- pressions during CPR?
Answer> Continue CPR while charging the defibrillator.
Foundational Facts
Resume CPR While Manual Defibrillator is Charging
19. Which action is included in the BLS survey?
Answer> Early defibrillation
20. Which drug and dose are recommended for the management of a pt. in refractory V-FIB?
Answer> Amiodarone 300mg
21. What is the appropriate intervalfor an interruption in chest compressions?-
Answer> 10 seconds or less
22. Which of the following is a sign of effective CPR?
Answer> PETCO2 = or > 10mm Hg
23. What is the purpose of a medical emergency team (MET) or rapid response team?
Answer> Improving patient outcomes by identifying and treating early clinical deteri- oration.
Foundational Facts. Medical Emergency Teams (METs) and Rapid Response Teams (RRTs)
24. Which action improves the quality of chest compressions delivered during resuscitave attemepts?
Answer> Shitch providers about every 2 min or every 5 compres- sion cycles.
25. What is the appropriate ventilation strategy for an adult in respiratory arrest with a pulse of 80
beats/min?
Answer> 1 breath every 5-6 seconds
26. A pt. presents to the ER with a new onset of dizziness and fatugue. Onexamination, the pt's heart rate is 35
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2026) – COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
1. 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?
Answer> Start chest compressions of at least 100 per min.
2. You are evaluating a 58 year old man with chest pain. The BP is 92/50 and a heart rate of 92/min, non-labored
respiratory rate is 14 breaths/min and the pulse O2 is 97%. What assessment step is most important now?
Answer> Obtaining a 12 lead ECG.
Identification of Chest Discomfort Suggestive of Ischemia
3. What is the preferred method of access for epi administration during cardiac arrest in most pts?
Answer> Peripheral IV
4. An AED does not promptly analyze a rythm. What is your next step?
Answer> Begin chest compressions.
5. You have completed 2 min of CPR. The ECG monitor displays the lead below (PEA) and the pt. has no pulse. You
partner resumes chest compressions and an IV is in place. What management step is your next priority?
Answer> Administer 1mg of epinepherine
6. During a pause in CPR, you see a narrow complex rythm on the monitor. The pt. has no pulse. What is the next
action?
Answer> Resume compressions
7. What is acommon but sometimes fatal mistake in cardiac arrest manage- ment?
Answer> Prolonged interruptions in chest compressions.
8. Which action is a componant of high-quality chest comressions?
Answer> Allowing complete chest recoil
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18
,9. Which action increases the chance of successful conversion of ventricular fibrillation?
Answer> Providing quality compressions immediately before a defibrillation attempt.
10. Which situation BEST describes PEA?
Answer> Sinus rythm without a pulse
11. What is the best strategy for perfoming high-quality CPR on a pt.with an advanced airway in place?
Answer> Provide continuous chest compressionswithout pauses and 10 ventilations per minute.
12. 3 min after witnessing a cardiac arrest, one memeber of your team in- serts an ET tube while another
performs continuous chest comressions. During subsequent bentilation, you notice the presence of a wavefom on
the capnogrophy screen and a PETCO2 of 8 mm Hg. What is the significance of this finding?
Answer> Chest compressions may not be effective.
13. The use of quantitative capnography in intubated pt's does what?
Answer> Allows- for monitoring CPR quality
14. For the past 25 min, EMS crews have attempted resuscitation of a pt who originally presented with V-FIB.
After the 1st shock, the ECG screen displayed
asystole which has persisted despite 2 doses of epi, a fluid bolus, and high quality CPR. What is your next treatment?
Answer> Consider terminating resuscitive efforts after consulting medical control.
15. Which is a safe and effective practice within the defibrillation sequence?-
Answer> Be sure O2 is NOT blowing over the pt's chest during shock.
16. During your assessment, your pt suddenly loses consciousness. After calling for help and determining that
the pt. is not breathing, you are unsure whether the pt. has a pulse. What is your next action?
Answer> Begin chest compres- sions.
17. What is an advantage of using hands-free d-fib pads instead of d-fib paddles?
2/
18
, Answer> Hands-free allows for more rapid d-fib.
18. What action is recommended to help minimize interruptions in chest com- pressions during CPR?
Answer> Continue CPR while charging the defibrillator.
Foundational Facts
Resume CPR While Manual Defibrillator is Charging
19. Which action is included in the BLS survey?
Answer> Early defibrillation
20. Which drug and dose are recommended for the management of a pt. in refractory V-FIB?
Answer> Amiodarone 300mg
21. What is the appropriate intervalfor an interruption in chest compressions?-
Answer> 10 seconds or less
22. Which of the following is a sign of effective CPR?
Answer> PETCO2 = or > 10mm Hg
23. What is the purpose of a medical emergency team (MET) or rapid response team?
Answer> Improving patient outcomes by identifying and treating early clinical deteri- oration.
Foundational Facts. Medical Emergency Teams (METs) and Rapid Response Teams (RRTs)
24. Which action improves the quality of chest compressions delivered during resuscitave attemepts?
Answer> Shitch providers about every 2 min or every 5 compres- sion cycles.
25. What is the appropriate ventilation strategy for an adult in respiratory arrest with a pulse of 80
beats/min?
Answer> 1 breath every 5-6 seconds
26. A pt. presents to the ER with a new onset of dizziness and fatugue. Onexamination, the pt's heart rate is 35
3/
18
