American Red Cross ACLS Renewal
Examination Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
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1. During adult cardiac arrest, which action should be prioritized
immediately after recognition of the arrest?
A. Obtain a 12-lead ECG
B. Establish a central venous catheter
C. Begin high-quality CPR and activate the emergency response
system
D. Administer an antiarrhythmic medication
Answer: C. Begin high-quality CPR and activate the emergency
response system
Rationale: Early high-quality CPR is one of the most important
interventions in cardiac arrest. Activation of the emergency response
system brings additional resources while chest compressions maintain
circulation to vital organs. Advanced procedures should not
unnecessarily delay effective CPR.
2. Which finding most strongly indicates that an adult patient is in
cardiac arrest?
A. Severe hypertension
B. Unresponsiveness with absent or abnormal breathing and no
,definite pulse
C. Chest discomfort with diaphoresis
D. Tachycardia with a palpable pulse
Answer: B. Unresponsiveness with absent or abnormal breathing
and no definite pulse
Rationale: Cardiac arrest should be recognized promptly when a
patient is unresponsive and not breathing normally, with no definite
pulse detected by an appropriately trained healthcare provider. Agonal
gasping should not be mistaken for normal breathing.
3. What is the recommended approach to chest compressions during
adult CPR?
A. Compress only when the ECG shows ventricular fibrillation
B. Perform compressions at approximately 60 per minute
C. Pause every 30 seconds for a rhythm check
D. Provide compressions at an appropriate rate and depth while
minimizing interruptions
Answer: D. Provide compressions at an appropriate rate and depth
while minimizing interruptions
Rationale: High-quality CPR requires effective chest compressions
with adequate rate, depth, recoil, and minimal interruptions. Excessive
pauses reduce coronary and cerebral perfusion and can decrease the
effectiveness of resuscitation.
4. Which rhythm is considered shockable in adult cardiac arrest?
A. Ventricular fibrillation
B. Asystole
C. Pulseless electrical activity
D. Sinus bradycardia
,Answer: A. Ventricular fibrillation
Rationale: Ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular
tachycardia are shockable cardiac-arrest rhythms. Asystole and
pulseless electrical activity are nonshockable and require CPR,
epinephrine, and treatment of reversible causes rather than
defibrillation.
5. A patient in cardiac arrest has ventricular fibrillation. What is the
primary purpose of defibrillation?
A. Increase myocardial contractility for several hours
B. Permanently suppress all ventricular ectopy
C. Terminate a disorganized ventricular rhythm so an organized
rhythm may resume
D. Increase systemic vascular resistance
Answer: C. Terminate a disorganized ventricular rhythm so an
organized rhythm may resume
Rationale: Defibrillation delivers an unsynchronized electrical shock
intended to terminate ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular
tachycardia. CPR should be resumed immediately after the shock
rather than delaying compressions for an extended rhythm
assessment.
6. Which intervention is most appropriate after a defibrillation shock
has been delivered during cardiac arrest?
A. Immediately obtain a complete 12-lead ECG
B. Immediately resume CPR, beginning with chest compressions
C. Stop resuscitation for five minutes
D. Perform synchronized cardioversion
, Answer: B. Immediately resume CPR, beginning with chest
compressions
Rationale: CPR should resume immediately after defibrillation. A
prolonged pause after a shock can reduce coronary perfusion and
decrease the likelihood that the next organized rhythm will be
successfully maintained.
7. Which medication is commonly used during adult cardiac arrest
for both shockable and nonshockable rhythms?
A. Adenosine
B. Amiodarone only
C. Atropine
D. Epinephrine
Answer: D. Epinephrine
Rationale: Epinephrine is an important medication in adult cardiac
arrest. It produces alpha-adrenergic vasoconstriction that can improve
coronary and cerebral perfusion pressure during CPR.
Antiarrhythmics such as amiodarone have a more specific role in
refractory shockable arrest.
8. Which statement best describes pulseless electrical activity?
A. A ventricular rhythm that always requires immediate defibrillation
B. A normal sinus rhythm with profound hypertension
C. Organized electrical activity without an effective palpable pulse
D. A rhythm that responds primarily to synchronized cardioversion
Answer: C. Organized electrical activity without an effective
palpable pulse
Rationale: PEA occurs when electrical activity is present but the heart
does not generate effective mechanical circulation. Treatment focuses
Examination Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf
1. During adult cardiac arrest, which action should be prioritized
immediately after recognition of the arrest?
A. Obtain a 12-lead ECG
B. Establish a central venous catheter
C. Begin high-quality CPR and activate the emergency response
system
D. Administer an antiarrhythmic medication
Answer: C. Begin high-quality CPR and activate the emergency
response system
Rationale: Early high-quality CPR is one of the most important
interventions in cardiac arrest. Activation of the emergency response
system brings additional resources while chest compressions maintain
circulation to vital organs. Advanced procedures should not
unnecessarily delay effective CPR.
2. Which finding most strongly indicates that an adult patient is in
cardiac arrest?
A. Severe hypertension
B. Unresponsiveness with absent or abnormal breathing and no
,definite pulse
C. Chest discomfort with diaphoresis
D. Tachycardia with a palpable pulse
Answer: B. Unresponsiveness with absent or abnormal breathing
and no definite pulse
Rationale: Cardiac arrest should be recognized promptly when a
patient is unresponsive and not breathing normally, with no definite
pulse detected by an appropriately trained healthcare provider. Agonal
gasping should not be mistaken for normal breathing.
3. What is the recommended approach to chest compressions during
adult CPR?
A. Compress only when the ECG shows ventricular fibrillation
B. Perform compressions at approximately 60 per minute
C. Pause every 30 seconds for a rhythm check
D. Provide compressions at an appropriate rate and depth while
minimizing interruptions
Answer: D. Provide compressions at an appropriate rate and depth
while minimizing interruptions
Rationale: High-quality CPR requires effective chest compressions
with adequate rate, depth, recoil, and minimal interruptions. Excessive
pauses reduce coronary and cerebral perfusion and can decrease the
effectiveness of resuscitation.
4. Which rhythm is considered shockable in adult cardiac arrest?
A. Ventricular fibrillation
B. Asystole
C. Pulseless electrical activity
D. Sinus bradycardia
,Answer: A. Ventricular fibrillation
Rationale: Ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular
tachycardia are shockable cardiac-arrest rhythms. Asystole and
pulseless electrical activity are nonshockable and require CPR,
epinephrine, and treatment of reversible causes rather than
defibrillation.
5. A patient in cardiac arrest has ventricular fibrillation. What is the
primary purpose of defibrillation?
A. Increase myocardial contractility for several hours
B. Permanently suppress all ventricular ectopy
C. Terminate a disorganized ventricular rhythm so an organized
rhythm may resume
D. Increase systemic vascular resistance
Answer: C. Terminate a disorganized ventricular rhythm so an
organized rhythm may resume
Rationale: Defibrillation delivers an unsynchronized electrical shock
intended to terminate ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular
tachycardia. CPR should be resumed immediately after the shock
rather than delaying compressions for an extended rhythm
assessment.
6. Which intervention is most appropriate after a defibrillation shock
has been delivered during cardiac arrest?
A. Immediately obtain a complete 12-lead ECG
B. Immediately resume CPR, beginning with chest compressions
C. Stop resuscitation for five minutes
D. Perform synchronized cardioversion
, Answer: B. Immediately resume CPR, beginning with chest
compressions
Rationale: CPR should resume immediately after defibrillation. A
prolonged pause after a shock can reduce coronary perfusion and
decrease the likelihood that the next organized rhythm will be
successfully maintained.
7. Which medication is commonly used during adult cardiac arrest
for both shockable and nonshockable rhythms?
A. Adenosine
B. Amiodarone only
C. Atropine
D. Epinephrine
Answer: D. Epinephrine
Rationale: Epinephrine is an important medication in adult cardiac
arrest. It produces alpha-adrenergic vasoconstriction that can improve
coronary and cerebral perfusion pressure during CPR.
Antiarrhythmics such as amiodarone have a more specific role in
refractory shockable arrest.
8. Which statement best describes pulseless electrical activity?
A. A ventricular rhythm that always requires immediate defibrillation
B. A normal sinus rhythm with profound hypertension
C. Organized electrical activity without an effective palpable pulse
D. A rhythm that responds primarily to synchronized cardioversion
Answer: C. Organized electrical activity without an effective
palpable pulse
Rationale: PEA occurs when electrical activity is present but the heart
does not generate effective mechanical circulation. Treatment focuses
