ACLS Provider Exam Version A | Actual Exam
with Verified Questions and Answers Latest
Edition | American Heart Association (AHA) |
Instant Pdf Download
1. You find an unresponsive patient who is not breathing. After activating the
emergency response system, you determine that there is no pulse. What is your
next action?
A) Open the airway with a head-tilt/chin-lift
B) Administer epinephrine at a dose of 1 mg/kg
C) Deliver 2 rescue breaths each over 1 second
D) Start chest compressions at a rate of at least 100/min
Correct answer is D. Once cardiac arrest is confirmed, high-quality chest compressions
must be started immediately. This is the priority intervention before airway maneuvers or
drug administration to maintain circulation to vital organs. The recommended rate is 100-
120 compressions per minute.
2. What is the recommended compression depth for an adult during CPR?
A) 1.5 inches (4 cm)
B) 2–2.4 inches (5–6 cm)
C) 3 inches (7.5 cm)
D) 1 inch (2.5 cm)
Correct answer is B. The AHA guidelines recommend a compression depth of at least 2
inches (5 cm) but not exceeding 2.4 inches (6 cm) for adults. Adequate depth ensures
effective circulation.
, 3. An activated AED does not promptly analyze the rhythm. What is your next
action?
A) Begin chest compressions
B) Discontinue the resuscitation attempt
C) Check all AED connections and reanalyze
D) Rotate AED electrodes to an alternate position
Correct answer is C. If an AED does not analyze promptly, first check the electrode pad
connections and ensure good skin contact. Correcting mechanical or connection issues
allows rhythm analysis to occur.
4. Which action is a component of high-quality chest compressions?
A) Allowing complete chest recoil
B) Compressing at a rate of 80/min
C) Compressing to a depth of 1.5 inches
D) Leaning on the chest between compressions
Correct answer is A. High-quality chest compressions require full chest recoil between
compressions to allow the heart chambers to refill adequately, maximizing venous return
and cardiac output.
5. What is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio for single-rescuer adult
CPR?
A) 15:2
B) 30:2
C) 30:1
D) 15:1
Correct answer is B. 30:2 is the standard ratio for single-rescuer adult CPR to maximize
coronary perfusion pressure.
, 6. Which situation BEST describes pulseless electrical activity (PEA)?
A) Asystole without a pulse
B) Sinus rhythm without a pulse
C) Torsades de pointes with a pulse
D) Ventricular tachycardia with a pulse
Correct answer is B. PEA is defined as organized electrical activity on the cardiac monitor
(like sinus rhythm) without a detectable pulse. The heart's electrical system is functioning,
but mechanical contraction is insufficient to produce a pulse.
7. What is a common but sometimes fatal mistake in cardiac arrest management?
A) Failure to obtain vascular access
B) Prolonged periods of no ventilations
C) Failure to perform endotracheal intubation
D) Prolonged interruptions in chest compressions
Correct answer is D. Prolonged interruptions in chest compressions reduce coronary and
cerebral perfusion pressure, significantly decreasing the likelihood of ROSC and survival.
Minimizing pauses during CPR is critical.
8. What is the maximum time allowed for a pulse check during CPR?
A) 5 seconds
B) 10 seconds
C) 15 seconds
D) 20 seconds
Correct answer is B. Pulse checks should take no more than 10 seconds. If a pulse is not
definitely felt within that time, chest compressions should be resumed immediately.
, 9. 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, and the pulse oximetry reading is 97%.
What assessment step is most important now?
A) PETCO₂ monitoring
B) Chest X-ray
C) Laboratory testing
D) Obtaining a 12-lead ECG
Correct answer is D. For a patient with chest pain and signs of potential hemodynamic
compromise, a 12-lead ECG should be prioritized. It identifies acute coronary syndromes
or arrhythmias and guides urgent treatment decisions.
10. During a pause in CPR, you see asystole on the monitor. The patient has no
pulse. What is the next action?
A) Establish vascular access
B) Obtain the patient's history
C) Resume chest compressions
D) Terminate the resuscitative effort
Correct answer is C. Asystole is a nonshockable rhythm. Immediate resumption of high-
quality chest compressions is essential to maintain circulation and attempt ROSC.
11. A patient in cardiac arrest has a rhythm of VF. The defibrillator is charging.
What is your priority during the 10-second period before shock delivery?
A) Ensure all team members are clear of the patient
B) Administer epinephrine 1 mg IV
C) Check the patient's carotid pulse
D) Prepare the endotracheal tube for intubation
Correct answer is A. During defibrillation, ensuring team member safety is the priority. All
personnel must be clear of the patient and the bed before shock delivery to prevent
accidental injury.
with Verified Questions and Answers Latest
Edition | American Heart Association (AHA) |
Instant Pdf Download
1. You find an unresponsive patient who is not breathing. After activating the
emergency response system, you determine that there is no pulse. What is your
next action?
A) Open the airway with a head-tilt/chin-lift
B) Administer epinephrine at a dose of 1 mg/kg
C) Deliver 2 rescue breaths each over 1 second
D) Start chest compressions at a rate of at least 100/min
Correct answer is D. Once cardiac arrest is confirmed, high-quality chest compressions
must be started immediately. This is the priority intervention before airway maneuvers or
drug administration to maintain circulation to vital organs. The recommended rate is 100-
120 compressions per minute.
2. What is the recommended compression depth for an adult during CPR?
A) 1.5 inches (4 cm)
B) 2–2.4 inches (5–6 cm)
C) 3 inches (7.5 cm)
D) 1 inch (2.5 cm)
Correct answer is B. The AHA guidelines recommend a compression depth of at least 2
inches (5 cm) but not exceeding 2.4 inches (6 cm) for adults. Adequate depth ensures
effective circulation.
, 3. An activated AED does not promptly analyze the rhythm. What is your next
action?
A) Begin chest compressions
B) Discontinue the resuscitation attempt
C) Check all AED connections and reanalyze
D) Rotate AED electrodes to an alternate position
Correct answer is C. If an AED does not analyze promptly, first check the electrode pad
connections and ensure good skin contact. Correcting mechanical or connection issues
allows rhythm analysis to occur.
4. Which action is a component of high-quality chest compressions?
A) Allowing complete chest recoil
B) Compressing at a rate of 80/min
C) Compressing to a depth of 1.5 inches
D) Leaning on the chest between compressions
Correct answer is A. High-quality chest compressions require full chest recoil between
compressions to allow the heart chambers to refill adequately, maximizing venous return
and cardiac output.
5. What is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio for single-rescuer adult
CPR?
A) 15:2
B) 30:2
C) 30:1
D) 15:1
Correct answer is B. 30:2 is the standard ratio for single-rescuer adult CPR to maximize
coronary perfusion pressure.
, 6. Which situation BEST describes pulseless electrical activity (PEA)?
A) Asystole without a pulse
B) Sinus rhythm without a pulse
C) Torsades de pointes with a pulse
D) Ventricular tachycardia with a pulse
Correct answer is B. PEA is defined as organized electrical activity on the cardiac monitor
(like sinus rhythm) without a detectable pulse. The heart's electrical system is functioning,
but mechanical contraction is insufficient to produce a pulse.
7. What is a common but sometimes fatal mistake in cardiac arrest management?
A) Failure to obtain vascular access
B) Prolonged periods of no ventilations
C) Failure to perform endotracheal intubation
D) Prolonged interruptions in chest compressions
Correct answer is D. Prolonged interruptions in chest compressions reduce coronary and
cerebral perfusion pressure, significantly decreasing the likelihood of ROSC and survival.
Minimizing pauses during CPR is critical.
8. What is the maximum time allowed for a pulse check during CPR?
A) 5 seconds
B) 10 seconds
C) 15 seconds
D) 20 seconds
Correct answer is B. Pulse checks should take no more than 10 seconds. If a pulse is not
definitely felt within that time, chest compressions should be resumed immediately.
, 9. 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, and the pulse oximetry reading is 97%.
What assessment step is most important now?
A) PETCO₂ monitoring
B) Chest X-ray
C) Laboratory testing
D) Obtaining a 12-lead ECG
Correct answer is D. For a patient with chest pain and signs of potential hemodynamic
compromise, a 12-lead ECG should be prioritized. It identifies acute coronary syndromes
or arrhythmias and guides urgent treatment decisions.
10. During a pause in CPR, you see asystole on the monitor. The patient has no
pulse. What is the next action?
A) Establish vascular access
B) Obtain the patient's history
C) Resume chest compressions
D) Terminate the resuscitative effort
Correct answer is C. Asystole is a nonshockable rhythm. Immediate resumption of high-
quality chest compressions is essential to maintain circulation and attempt ROSC.
11. A patient in cardiac arrest has a rhythm of VF. The defibrillator is charging.
What is your priority during the 10-second period before shock delivery?
A) Ensure all team members are clear of the patient
B) Administer epinephrine 1 mg IV
C) Check the patient's carotid pulse
D) Prepare the endotracheal tube for intubation
Correct answer is A. During defibrillation, ensuring team member safety is the priority. All
personnel must be clear of the patient and the bed before shock delivery to prevent
accidental injury.
