American Red Cross ACLS Adult
Cardiac Arrest Practice Examination
Questions And Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A |
Instant Download Pdf
1.
An adult patient suddenly becomes unresponsive and is not breathing
normally. A healthcare professional confirms that the patient has no
definite signs of circulation. What is the immediate priority?
A. Obtain a 12-lead ECG
B. Establish an intravenous infusion
C. Begin high-quality CPR
D. Administer amiodarone
Answer: C. Begin high-quality CPR
Rationale: When an adult is unresponsive and not breathing normally
in suspected cardiac arrest, immediate high-quality CPR is essential.
CPR provides temporary circulation to the brain and myocardium
while the team prepares for rhythm assessment, defibrillation when
indicated, vascular access, medications, and treatment of reversible
causes. Obtaining an ECG or IV access must not unnecessarily delay
chest compressions. Amiodarone is reserved for selected shock-
refractory ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia
rather than being an initial intervention.
2.
,Which characteristic best describes high-quality adult chest
compressions during cardiac arrest?
A. Compress at 70–80/min with shallow depth
B. Compress at 100–120/min with adequate depth and complete
recoil
C. Compress at 130–150/min while allowing minimal recoil
D. Compress only when the monitor displays ventricular fibrillation
Answer: B. Compress at 100–120/min with adequate depth and
complete recoil
Rationale: High-quality CPR requires chest compressions at a rate of
100–120 compressions per minute, with an adult compression depth of
at least 2 inches (5 cm), while allowing complete chest recoil.
Excessively slow compressions reduce forward blood flow, whereas
excessively rapid compressions may prevent adequate filling between
compressions. Full recoil is necessary for venous return. Interruptions
should be minimized because pauses rapidly reduce coronary and
cerebral perfusion.
3.
During adult cardiac arrest without an advanced airway, which
compression-to-ventilation ratio should generally be used?
A. 15:2
B. 5:1
C. 10:2
D. 30:2
Answer: D. 30:2
Rationale: For an adult patient in cardiac arrest without an advanced
airway, rescuers generally use a 30:2 compression-to-ventilation ratio.
,This approach provides both circulatory support through chest
compressions and ventilation while limiting interruptions. Once an
advanced airway is appropriately placed, continuous chest
compressions can be performed while ventilations are delivered
separately at the recommended rate. Excessive ventilation should be
avoided because it can increase intrathoracic pressure and interfere
with venous return.
4.
A monitor is attached to an adult patient receiving CPR, and the rhythm
is identified as ventricular fibrillation. What type of rhythm is
ventricular fibrillation?
A. Shockable rhythm
B. Nonshockable rhythm
C. Normal perfusing rhythm
D. Organized rhythm requiring atropine
Answer: A. Shockable rhythm
Rationale: Ventricular fibrillation, or VF, is a shockable cardiac-arrest
rhythm. Immediate defibrillation, accompanied by high-quality CPR,
is a central component of treatment. VF represents chaotic ventricular
electrical activity that prevents effective mechanical contraction and
therefore produces no useful circulation. Asystole and pulseless
electrical activity are treated as nonshockable rhythms. Atropine is not
a treatment for ventricular fibrillation.
5.
A patient in cardiac arrest has pulseless ventricular tachycardia. Which
intervention is most appropriate?
, A. Carotid massage
B. Immediate defibrillation with continued high-quality CPR
C. Routine synchronized cardioversion
D. Observation for spontaneous conversion
Answer: B. Immediate defibrillation with continued high-quality
CPR
Rationale: Pulseless ventricular tachycardia is a shockable cardiac-
arrest rhythm. The patient has no effective circulation despite
organized rapid ventricular electrical activity. Unsynchronized
defibrillation is used for pulseless VT because there is no reliable
pulse or cardiac cycle on which to synchronize the shock. CPR should
continue with minimal interruption, and the team should rapidly
progress through the cardiac-arrest algorithm, including vascular
access, epinephrine at appropriate intervals, and antiarrhythmic
therapy when indicated.
6.
Which adult cardiac-arrest rhythm is classified as nonshockable?
A. Ventricular fibrillation
B. Pulseless ventricular tachycardia
C. Asystole
D. Coarse ventricular fibrillation
Answer: C. Asystole
Rationale: Asystole is a nonshockable rhythm. Defibrillation is not
indicated because there is no ventricular electrical activity that can
reasonably be terminated by a shock. Management emphasizes
immediate high-quality CPR, epinephrine as soon as feasible and
subsequently at recommended intervals, and systematic identification
Cardiac Arrest Practice Examination
Questions And Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A |
Instant Download Pdf
1.
An adult patient suddenly becomes unresponsive and is not breathing
normally. A healthcare professional confirms that the patient has no
definite signs of circulation. What is the immediate priority?
A. Obtain a 12-lead ECG
B. Establish an intravenous infusion
C. Begin high-quality CPR
D. Administer amiodarone
Answer: C. Begin high-quality CPR
Rationale: When an adult is unresponsive and not breathing normally
in suspected cardiac arrest, immediate high-quality CPR is essential.
CPR provides temporary circulation to the brain and myocardium
while the team prepares for rhythm assessment, defibrillation when
indicated, vascular access, medications, and treatment of reversible
causes. Obtaining an ECG or IV access must not unnecessarily delay
chest compressions. Amiodarone is reserved for selected shock-
refractory ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia
rather than being an initial intervention.
2.
,Which characteristic best describes high-quality adult chest
compressions during cardiac arrest?
A. Compress at 70–80/min with shallow depth
B. Compress at 100–120/min with adequate depth and complete
recoil
C. Compress at 130–150/min while allowing minimal recoil
D. Compress only when the monitor displays ventricular fibrillation
Answer: B. Compress at 100–120/min with adequate depth and
complete recoil
Rationale: High-quality CPR requires chest compressions at a rate of
100–120 compressions per minute, with an adult compression depth of
at least 2 inches (5 cm), while allowing complete chest recoil.
Excessively slow compressions reduce forward blood flow, whereas
excessively rapid compressions may prevent adequate filling between
compressions. Full recoil is necessary for venous return. Interruptions
should be minimized because pauses rapidly reduce coronary and
cerebral perfusion.
3.
During adult cardiac arrest without an advanced airway, which
compression-to-ventilation ratio should generally be used?
A. 15:2
B. 5:1
C. 10:2
D. 30:2
Answer: D. 30:2
Rationale: For an adult patient in cardiac arrest without an advanced
airway, rescuers generally use a 30:2 compression-to-ventilation ratio.
,This approach provides both circulatory support through chest
compressions and ventilation while limiting interruptions. Once an
advanced airway is appropriately placed, continuous chest
compressions can be performed while ventilations are delivered
separately at the recommended rate. Excessive ventilation should be
avoided because it can increase intrathoracic pressure and interfere
with venous return.
4.
A monitor is attached to an adult patient receiving CPR, and the rhythm
is identified as ventricular fibrillation. What type of rhythm is
ventricular fibrillation?
A. Shockable rhythm
B. Nonshockable rhythm
C. Normal perfusing rhythm
D. Organized rhythm requiring atropine
Answer: A. Shockable rhythm
Rationale: Ventricular fibrillation, or VF, is a shockable cardiac-arrest
rhythm. Immediate defibrillation, accompanied by high-quality CPR,
is a central component of treatment. VF represents chaotic ventricular
electrical activity that prevents effective mechanical contraction and
therefore produces no useful circulation. Asystole and pulseless
electrical activity are treated as nonshockable rhythms. Atropine is not
a treatment for ventricular fibrillation.
5.
A patient in cardiac arrest has pulseless ventricular tachycardia. Which
intervention is most appropriate?
, A. Carotid massage
B. Immediate defibrillation with continued high-quality CPR
C. Routine synchronized cardioversion
D. Observation for spontaneous conversion
Answer: B. Immediate defibrillation with continued high-quality
CPR
Rationale: Pulseless ventricular tachycardia is a shockable cardiac-
arrest rhythm. The patient has no effective circulation despite
organized rapid ventricular electrical activity. Unsynchronized
defibrillation is used for pulseless VT because there is no reliable
pulse or cardiac cycle on which to synchronize the shock. CPR should
continue with minimal interruption, and the team should rapidly
progress through the cardiac-arrest algorithm, including vascular
access, epinephrine at appropriate intervals, and antiarrhythmic
therapy when indicated.
6.
Which adult cardiac-arrest rhythm is classified as nonshockable?
A. Ventricular fibrillation
B. Pulseless ventricular tachycardia
C. Asystole
D. Coarse ventricular fibrillation
Answer: C. Asystole
Rationale: Asystole is a nonshockable rhythm. Defibrillation is not
indicated because there is no ventricular electrical activity that can
reasonably be terminated by a shock. Management emphasizes
immediate high-quality CPR, epinephrine as soon as feasible and
subsequently at recommended intervals, and systematic identification
