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AHA ACLS CARDIAC ARREST ALGORITHMS ACTUAL
EXAM 2026/2027 | COMPLETE COURSE REVIEW | 50
VERIFIED Q&A | COMPLETE RATIONALES | PASS
GUARANTEED - A+ GRADED
QUESTION 1
A patient is in cardiac arrest. The monitor shows ventricular fibrillation (VF). What is the first intervention?
A. Administer epinephrine 1 mg IV push
B. Start CPR and defibrillate immediately
C. Administer amiodarone 300 mg IV push
D. Insert an advanced airway
Rationale: The first intervention for VF cardiac arrest is to start high-quality CPR and defibrillate
immediately. The ACLS algorithm for VF/pVT emphasizes early defibrillation as the most critical
intervention. CPR should be continued with minimal interruptions.
QUESTION 2
A patient is in cardiac arrest with VF. After the first shock, what is the next step?
A. Administer epinephrine 1 mg IV push
B. Resume CPR immediately for 2 minutes
C. Check the pulse
D. Administer amiodarone 300 mg IV push
Rationale: After defibrillation, CPR should be resumed immediately for 2 minutes before checking the rhythm
or pulse. This minimizes interruptions in chest compressions and maximizes coronary perfusion pressure.
The rhythm should be checked after 2 minutes of CPR.
QUESTION 3
A patient is in cardiac arrest with VF. The patient has received 2 shocks and 1 dose of epinephrine. VF
persists. What is the next medication to administer?
A. Vasopressin 40 units IV push
B. Amiodarone 300 mg IV push
C. Lidocaine 1-1.5 mg/kg IV push
D. Atropine 1 mg IV push
,2
Rationale: For refractory VF/pVT after 2 shocks and epinephrine, amiodarone 300 mg IV push is the next
medication. Amiodarone is the preferred antiarrhythmic for VF/pVT and increases the success of
defibrillation.
QUESTION 4
A patient is in cardiac arrest with VF. The patient has received 3 shocks, epinephrine, and amiodarone. VF
persists. What is the next step?
A. Administer lidocaine 1-1.5 mg/kg IV push
B. Continue CPR and administer epinephrine every 3-5 minutes
C. Administer another shock at higher energy
D. Administer magnesium sulfate 2 grams IV push
Rationale: For persistent VF, continue high-quality CPR and administer epinephrine every 3-5 minutes.
Lidocaine or magnesium may be considered, but the priority is to maintain high-quality CPR and
defibrillation.
QUESTION 5
A patient is in cardiac arrest. The monitor shows pulseless electrical activity (PEA). What is the first
intervention?
A. Defibrillate immediately
B. Start CPR and administer epinephrine 1 mg IV push
C. Administer atropine 1 mg IV push
D. Administer amiodarone 300 mg IV push
Rationale: PEA is a non-shockable rhythm. The first intervention is to start high-quality CPR and administer
epinephrine 1 mg IV push every 3-5 minutes. Reversible causes (H's and T's) should be identified and treated.
QUESTION 6
A patient is in cardiac arrest with PEA. The patient has received CPR and epinephrine. PEA persists. What
should be considered?
A. Amiodarone 300 mg IV push
B. Reversible causes (H's and T's)
C. Atropine 1 mg IV push
D. Defibrillation
, 3
Rationale: When PEA persists despite CPR and epinephrine, reversible causes (H's and T's) should be
considered. These include hypovolemia, hypoxia, hypothermia, tension pneumothorax, cardiac tamponade,
hyperkalemia, and others.
QUESTION 7
A patient is in cardiac arrest. The monitor shows asystole. What is the first intervention?
A. Defibrillate immediately
B. Start CPR and administer epinephrine 1 mg IV push
C. Administer atropine 1 mg IV push
D. Administer amiodarone 300 mg IV push
Rationale: Asystole is a non-shockable rhythm. The first intervention is to start high-quality CPR and
administer epinephrine 1 mg IV push every 3-5 minutes. Atropine is no longer recommended for asystole.
QUESTION 8
A patient is in cardiac arrest with asystole. The patient has received CPR and epinephrine. Asystole persists.
What is the next step?
A. Administer atropine 1 mg IV push
B. Continue CPR and identify reversible causes
C. Perform transcutaneous pacing
D. Administer amiodarone 300 mg IV push
Rationale: For persistent asystole, continue high-quality CPR and identify reversible causes. Atropine is no
longer recommended for asystole. Transcutaneous pacing is not recommended for asystole.
QUESTION 9
What is the recommended sequence for CPR and defibrillation in VF/pVT?
A. Shock, shock, CPR, shock
B. CPR, shock, CPR, rhythm check
C. Shock, CPR, shock, CPR
D. CPR, shock, shock, CPR
Rationale: The recommended sequence for VF/pVT is to start CPR, defibrillate, resume CPR immediately for
2 minutes, and then check the rhythm. This minimizes interruptions in chest compressions and maximizes
the effectiveness of defibrillation.
AHA ACLS CARDIAC ARREST ALGORITHMS ACTUAL
EXAM 2026/2027 | COMPLETE COURSE REVIEW | 50
VERIFIED Q&A | COMPLETE RATIONALES | PASS
GUARANTEED - A+ GRADED
QUESTION 1
A patient is in cardiac arrest. The monitor shows ventricular fibrillation (VF). What is the first intervention?
A. Administer epinephrine 1 mg IV push
B. Start CPR and defibrillate immediately
C. Administer amiodarone 300 mg IV push
D. Insert an advanced airway
Rationale: The first intervention for VF cardiac arrest is to start high-quality CPR and defibrillate
immediately. The ACLS algorithm for VF/pVT emphasizes early defibrillation as the most critical
intervention. CPR should be continued with minimal interruptions.
QUESTION 2
A patient is in cardiac arrest with VF. After the first shock, what is the next step?
A. Administer epinephrine 1 mg IV push
B. Resume CPR immediately for 2 minutes
C. Check the pulse
D. Administer amiodarone 300 mg IV push
Rationale: After defibrillation, CPR should be resumed immediately for 2 minutes before checking the rhythm
or pulse. This minimizes interruptions in chest compressions and maximizes coronary perfusion pressure.
The rhythm should be checked after 2 minutes of CPR.
QUESTION 3
A patient is in cardiac arrest with VF. The patient has received 2 shocks and 1 dose of epinephrine. VF
persists. What is the next medication to administer?
A. Vasopressin 40 units IV push
B. Amiodarone 300 mg IV push
C. Lidocaine 1-1.5 mg/kg IV push
D. Atropine 1 mg IV push
,2
Rationale: For refractory VF/pVT after 2 shocks and epinephrine, amiodarone 300 mg IV push is the next
medication. Amiodarone is the preferred antiarrhythmic for VF/pVT and increases the success of
defibrillation.
QUESTION 4
A patient is in cardiac arrest with VF. The patient has received 3 shocks, epinephrine, and amiodarone. VF
persists. What is the next step?
A. Administer lidocaine 1-1.5 mg/kg IV push
B. Continue CPR and administer epinephrine every 3-5 minutes
C. Administer another shock at higher energy
D. Administer magnesium sulfate 2 grams IV push
Rationale: For persistent VF, continue high-quality CPR and administer epinephrine every 3-5 minutes.
Lidocaine or magnesium may be considered, but the priority is to maintain high-quality CPR and
defibrillation.
QUESTION 5
A patient is in cardiac arrest. The monitor shows pulseless electrical activity (PEA). What is the first
intervention?
A. Defibrillate immediately
B. Start CPR and administer epinephrine 1 mg IV push
C. Administer atropine 1 mg IV push
D. Administer amiodarone 300 mg IV push
Rationale: PEA is a non-shockable rhythm. The first intervention is to start high-quality CPR and administer
epinephrine 1 mg IV push every 3-5 minutes. Reversible causes (H's and T's) should be identified and treated.
QUESTION 6
A patient is in cardiac arrest with PEA. The patient has received CPR and epinephrine. PEA persists. What
should be considered?
A. Amiodarone 300 mg IV push
B. Reversible causes (H's and T's)
C. Atropine 1 mg IV push
D. Defibrillation
, 3
Rationale: When PEA persists despite CPR and epinephrine, reversible causes (H's and T's) should be
considered. These include hypovolemia, hypoxia, hypothermia, tension pneumothorax, cardiac tamponade,
hyperkalemia, and others.
QUESTION 7
A patient is in cardiac arrest. The monitor shows asystole. What is the first intervention?
A. Defibrillate immediately
B. Start CPR and administer epinephrine 1 mg IV push
C. Administer atropine 1 mg IV push
D. Administer amiodarone 300 mg IV push
Rationale: Asystole is a non-shockable rhythm. The first intervention is to start high-quality CPR and
administer epinephrine 1 mg IV push every 3-5 minutes. Atropine is no longer recommended for asystole.
QUESTION 8
A patient is in cardiac arrest with asystole. The patient has received CPR and epinephrine. Asystole persists.
What is the next step?
A. Administer atropine 1 mg IV push
B. Continue CPR and identify reversible causes
C. Perform transcutaneous pacing
D. Administer amiodarone 300 mg IV push
Rationale: For persistent asystole, continue high-quality CPR and identify reversible causes. Atropine is no
longer recommended for asystole. Transcutaneous pacing is not recommended for asystole.
QUESTION 9
What is the recommended sequence for CPR and defibrillation in VF/pVT?
A. Shock, shock, CPR, shock
B. CPR, shock, CPR, rhythm check
C. Shock, CPR, shock, CPR
D. CPR, shock, shock, CPR
Rationale: The recommended sequence for VF/pVT is to start CPR, defibrillate, resume CPR immediately for
2 minutes, and then check the rhythm. This minimizes interruptions in chest compressions and maximizes
the effectiveness of defibrillation.
