2025 ACLS questions with verified answers
A 49 year old female patient arrives at the hospital, saying she has chest
discomfort and palpitations that have occurred for the past several hours. She
feels cold, sweaty, and weak.
The patient is awake and alert. She states that she does not have any medical
history and has never felt like this before. She mentions that she feels like she
may pass out.
Which of the following are initial steps of the primary assessment? Ans✓✓✓
Assess ABCs
Establish IV access
Obtain a 12-lead ECG
Monitor heart rhythm and vital signs
A 59 year old patient is reporting difficulty breathing. Physical exam reveals nasal
flaring, intercostal interaction and use of accessory muscles. RR is 28 breaths per
minute. O2 sat is 92% PETCO2 is 36 mmHg.
How would you categorize this patent's condition? Ans✓✓✓ Respiratory distress
A 70 year old woman suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. After a 10 minute
resuscitation attempt, she is showing signs of ROSC. She is intubated and has an
IV established.
She has a palpable pulse of 65/min, SpO2 94%, ETCO2 of 38 mmHg, and BP 82/55
mm Hg.
,What are your highest priorities? Ans✓✓✓ Maintaining SpO2 92-98%
Maintaining PaCO2 35-45
Ventilating patient-10 breaths/minute
A 72 year old male patient has been suffering from progressive dizziness and
bouts of palpitations after exercising last night. His symptoms reappeared and
worsened this morning.
The patient is conscious and alert, HR 180/min, a weak radial pulse, BP 110/78
mm Hg, and SpO2 96%.
What are the most appropriate initial interventions? Ans✓✓✓ Attach a 12-lead
ECG
Maintain a patent airway and monitor
A 74- year old man was brought to the hospital by his wife. She states that her
husband started having sudden-left arm weakness and left-sided facial paralysis
during lunch. He has a past medical history of poor controlled hypertension.
The patient's vital signs show HR 92/min, RR 14/min, BP 130/86 mmHG, SpO2
97% and atrial fibrillation on the monitor.
What additional assessment and stabilization activities should be completed
within the first 10 min after the patient's arrival? Ans✓✓✓ Check glucose
Complete neurologic screening
Order an emergent CT scan or MRI of the brain and review pt history
,Establish IV access
Activate the stroke team
A 75 year old man presents to the emergency department. His wife states that he
fainted 45 minutes ago, while watching TV. She said he has had episodes of
confusion and fatigue during the past week. The patient presents with HR 30/min
(weak pulse), BP 66/43 mmHG, RR of 20/min, SpO2 89%. He is alert and
responsive.
What should your next steps be to assess and treat this patient? Ans✓✓✓
Establish IV
Obtain 12 lead
Maintain airway and administer O2 as needed
A 75 year old patient is having difficulty breathing, with increased respiratory
effort.
The patient has history of emphysema. The patient is drowsy.
Auscultation reveals bilateral wheezing, although the lung sounds are difficult to
auscultate.
RR is 38/min.
O2 sat = 85%,
PETCO2= 49mmHg.
How would you categorize this patient's condition? Ans✓✓✓ Respiratory failure
A BLS team is bringing a 70 year old woman, who suddenly collapsed while on her
morning jog, to your department. CPR is in progress.
, As Team Leader, you conduct the primary assessment, including rhythm analysis,
while high-quality BLS continues.
What type of rhythm is being displayed on the monitor? Ans✓✓✓ Ventricular
fibrillation
A patient with a ventricular assist device (VAD) is not breathing, has signs of
inadequate perfusion, and is unconscious. You determine the VAD is functioning.
After endotracheal intubation, the patient has a PETCO2 of 12mm Hg.
What is your next action? Ans✓✓✓ Perform external chest compressions
A patient with suspected opioid poisoning is not breathing normally but has a
pulse. What is your next step? Ans✓✓✓ Provide rescue breathing and give
naloxone
After 2 minutes of CPR, you conduct another rhythm check and determine that
the patient has the following rhythm and is showing signs of ROSC.
How do you continue treating this patient? Ans✓✓✓ Move to the Adult Post-
Cardiac Arrest Care Algorithm
After 2 minutes, the team pauses CPR for a rhythm check.
What rhythm is now being demonstrated by the patient? Ans✓✓✓ Ventricular
tachycardia
A 49 year old female patient arrives at the hospital, saying she has chest
discomfort and palpitations that have occurred for the past several hours. She
feels cold, sweaty, and weak.
The patient is awake and alert. She states that she does not have any medical
history and has never felt like this before. She mentions that she feels like she
may pass out.
Which of the following are initial steps of the primary assessment? Ans✓✓✓
Assess ABCs
Establish IV access
Obtain a 12-lead ECG
Monitor heart rhythm and vital signs
A 59 year old patient is reporting difficulty breathing. Physical exam reveals nasal
flaring, intercostal interaction and use of accessory muscles. RR is 28 breaths per
minute. O2 sat is 92% PETCO2 is 36 mmHg.
How would you categorize this patent's condition? Ans✓✓✓ Respiratory distress
A 70 year old woman suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. After a 10 minute
resuscitation attempt, she is showing signs of ROSC. She is intubated and has an
IV established.
She has a palpable pulse of 65/min, SpO2 94%, ETCO2 of 38 mmHg, and BP 82/55
mm Hg.
,What are your highest priorities? Ans✓✓✓ Maintaining SpO2 92-98%
Maintaining PaCO2 35-45
Ventilating patient-10 breaths/minute
A 72 year old male patient has been suffering from progressive dizziness and
bouts of palpitations after exercising last night. His symptoms reappeared and
worsened this morning.
The patient is conscious and alert, HR 180/min, a weak radial pulse, BP 110/78
mm Hg, and SpO2 96%.
What are the most appropriate initial interventions? Ans✓✓✓ Attach a 12-lead
ECG
Maintain a patent airway and monitor
A 74- year old man was brought to the hospital by his wife. She states that her
husband started having sudden-left arm weakness and left-sided facial paralysis
during lunch. He has a past medical history of poor controlled hypertension.
The patient's vital signs show HR 92/min, RR 14/min, BP 130/86 mmHG, SpO2
97% and atrial fibrillation on the monitor.
What additional assessment and stabilization activities should be completed
within the first 10 min after the patient's arrival? Ans✓✓✓ Check glucose
Complete neurologic screening
Order an emergent CT scan or MRI of the brain and review pt history
,Establish IV access
Activate the stroke team
A 75 year old man presents to the emergency department. His wife states that he
fainted 45 minutes ago, while watching TV. She said he has had episodes of
confusion and fatigue during the past week. The patient presents with HR 30/min
(weak pulse), BP 66/43 mmHG, RR of 20/min, SpO2 89%. He is alert and
responsive.
What should your next steps be to assess and treat this patient? Ans✓✓✓
Establish IV
Obtain 12 lead
Maintain airway and administer O2 as needed
A 75 year old patient is having difficulty breathing, with increased respiratory
effort.
The patient has history of emphysema. The patient is drowsy.
Auscultation reveals bilateral wheezing, although the lung sounds are difficult to
auscultate.
RR is 38/min.
O2 sat = 85%,
PETCO2= 49mmHg.
How would you categorize this patient's condition? Ans✓✓✓ Respiratory failure
A BLS team is bringing a 70 year old woman, who suddenly collapsed while on her
morning jog, to your department. CPR is in progress.
, As Team Leader, you conduct the primary assessment, including rhythm analysis,
while high-quality BLS continues.
What type of rhythm is being displayed on the monitor? Ans✓✓✓ Ventricular
fibrillation
A patient with a ventricular assist device (VAD) is not breathing, has signs of
inadequate perfusion, and is unconscious. You determine the VAD is functioning.
After endotracheal intubation, the patient has a PETCO2 of 12mm Hg.
What is your next action? Ans✓✓✓ Perform external chest compressions
A patient with suspected opioid poisoning is not breathing normally but has a
pulse. What is your next step? Ans✓✓✓ Provide rescue breathing and give
naloxone
After 2 minutes of CPR, you conduct another rhythm check and determine that
the patient has the following rhythm and is showing signs of ROSC.
How do you continue treating this patient? Ans✓✓✓ Move to the Adult Post-
Cardiac Arrest Care Algorithm
After 2 minutes, the team pauses CPR for a rhythm check.
What rhythm is now being demonstrated by the patient? Ans✓✓✓ Ventricular
tachycardia
