AHA ACLS POST TEST EXAM NEWEST 2025/2026
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY
GRADED A+
/. You find an unresponsive pt. who is not breathing. After activating the emergency
response system, you determine there is no pulse. What is your next action? - Answer-
Start chest compressions of at least 100 per min.
/.You are evaluating a 58 year old man with chest pain. The BP is 92/50 and a heart
rate of 92/min, non-labored respiratory rate is 14 breaths/min and the pulse O2 is 97%.
What assessment step is most important now? - Answer-Obtaining a 12 lead ECG.
/.What is the preferred method of access for epi administration during cardiac arrest in
most pts? - Answer-Peripheral IV
/.An AED does not promptly analyze a rythm. What is your next step? - Answer-Begin
chest compressions.
/.You have completed 2 min of CPR. The ECG monitor displays the lead below (PEA)
and the pt. has no pulse. You partner resumes chest compressions and an IV is in
place. What management step is your next priority? - Answer-Administer 1mg of
epinepherine
/.During a pause in CPR, you see a narrow complex rythm on the monitor. The pt. has
no pulse. What is the next action? - Answer-Resume compressions
/.What is acommon but sometimes fatal mistake in cardiac arrest management? -
Answer-Prolonged interruptions in chest compressions.
/.Which action is a componant of high-quality chest comressions? - Answer-Allowing
complete chest recoil
/.Which action increases the chance of successful conversion of ventricular fibrillation? -
Answer-Providing quality compressions immediately before a defibrillation attempt.
/.Which situation BEST describes PEA? - Answer-Sinus rythm without a pulse
/.What is the best strategy for perfoming high-quality CPR on a pt.with an advanced
airway in place? - Answer-Provide continuous chest compressionswithout pauses and
10 ventilations per minute.
, /.3 min after witnessing a cardiac arrest, one member of your team inserts an ET tube
while another performs continuous chest comressions. During subsequent ventilation,
you notice the presence of a wavefom on the capnogrophy screen and a PET CO2 of 8
mm Hg. What is the significance of this finding? - Answer-Chest compressions may not
be effective.
/.The use of quantitative capnography in intubated pt's does what? - Answer-Allows for
monitoring CPR quality
/.For the past 25 min, EMS crews have attempted resuscitation of a pt who originally
presented with V-FIB. After 1st shock, the ECG screen displayed asystole which has
persisted despite 2 doses of epi, a fluid bolus, and high quality CPR. What is your next
treatment? - Answer-Consider terminating resuscitive efforts after consulting medical
control.
/.Which is a safe and effective practice within the defibrillation sequence? - Answer-Be
sure O2 is NOT blowing over the pt's chest during shock.
/.During your assessment, your pt suddenly loses consciousness. After calling for help
and determining that the pt. is not breathing, you are unsure whether the pt. has a
pulse. What is your next action? - Answer-Begin chest compressions.
/.What is an advantage of using hands-free d-fib pads instead of d-fib paddles? -
Answer-Hands-free allows for more rapid d-fib.
/.What action is recommended to help minimize interruptions in chest compressions
during CPR? - Answer-Continue CPR while charging the defibrillator.
/.Which action is included in the BLS survey? - Answer-Early defibrillation
/.Which drug and dose are recommended for the management of a pt. in refractory V-
FIB? - Answer-Amioderone 300mg
/.What is the appropriate intervalfor an interruption in chest compressions? - Answer-10
seconds or less
/.Which of the following is a sign of effective CPR? - Answer-PETCO2 = or > 10mm Hg
/.What is the primary purpose of a medical emergency team or rapid response team? -
Answer-Identifying and treating early clinical deterioration.
/.Which action improves the quality of chest compressions delivered during resuscitave
attemepts? - Answer-Shitch providers about every 2 min or every 5 compression cycles.
/.What is the appropriate ventilation strategy for an adult in respiratory arrest with a
pulse of 80 bpm? - Answer-1 breath every 5-6 seconds
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY
GRADED A+
/. You find an unresponsive pt. who is not breathing. After activating the emergency
response system, you determine there is no pulse. What is your next action? - Answer-
Start chest compressions of at least 100 per min.
/.You are evaluating a 58 year old man with chest pain. The BP is 92/50 and a heart
rate of 92/min, non-labored respiratory rate is 14 breaths/min and the pulse O2 is 97%.
What assessment step is most important now? - Answer-Obtaining a 12 lead ECG.
/.What is the preferred method of access for epi administration during cardiac arrest in
most pts? - Answer-Peripheral IV
/.An AED does not promptly analyze a rythm. What is your next step? - Answer-Begin
chest compressions.
/.You have completed 2 min of CPR. The ECG monitor displays the lead below (PEA)
and the pt. has no pulse. You partner resumes chest compressions and an IV is in
place. What management step is your next priority? - Answer-Administer 1mg of
epinepherine
/.During a pause in CPR, you see a narrow complex rythm on the monitor. The pt. has
no pulse. What is the next action? - Answer-Resume compressions
/.What is acommon but sometimes fatal mistake in cardiac arrest management? -
Answer-Prolonged interruptions in chest compressions.
/.Which action is a componant of high-quality chest comressions? - Answer-Allowing
complete chest recoil
/.Which action increases the chance of successful conversion of ventricular fibrillation? -
Answer-Providing quality compressions immediately before a defibrillation attempt.
/.Which situation BEST describes PEA? - Answer-Sinus rythm without a pulse
/.What is the best strategy for perfoming high-quality CPR on a pt.with an advanced
airway in place? - Answer-Provide continuous chest compressionswithout pauses and
10 ventilations per minute.
, /.3 min after witnessing a cardiac arrest, one member of your team inserts an ET tube
while another performs continuous chest comressions. During subsequent ventilation,
you notice the presence of a wavefom on the capnogrophy screen and a PET CO2 of 8
mm Hg. What is the significance of this finding? - Answer-Chest compressions may not
be effective.
/.The use of quantitative capnography in intubated pt's does what? - Answer-Allows for
monitoring CPR quality
/.For the past 25 min, EMS crews have attempted resuscitation of a pt who originally
presented with V-FIB. After 1st shock, the ECG screen displayed asystole which has
persisted despite 2 doses of epi, a fluid bolus, and high quality CPR. What is your next
treatment? - Answer-Consider terminating resuscitive efforts after consulting medical
control.
/.Which is a safe and effective practice within the defibrillation sequence? - Answer-Be
sure O2 is NOT blowing over the pt's chest during shock.
/.During your assessment, your pt suddenly loses consciousness. After calling for help
and determining that the pt. is not breathing, you are unsure whether the pt. has a
pulse. What is your next action? - Answer-Begin chest compressions.
/.What is an advantage of using hands-free d-fib pads instead of d-fib paddles? -
Answer-Hands-free allows for more rapid d-fib.
/.What action is recommended to help minimize interruptions in chest compressions
during CPR? - Answer-Continue CPR while charging the defibrillator.
/.Which action is included in the BLS survey? - Answer-Early defibrillation
/.Which drug and dose are recommended for the management of a pt. in refractory V-
FIB? - Answer-Amioderone 300mg
/.What is the appropriate intervalfor an interruption in chest compressions? - Answer-10
seconds or less
/.Which of the following is a sign of effective CPR? - Answer-PETCO2 = or > 10mm Hg
/.What is the primary purpose of a medical emergency team or rapid response team? -
Answer-Identifying and treating early clinical deterioration.
/.Which action improves the quality of chest compressions delivered during resuscitave
attemepts? - Answer-Shitch providers about every 2 min or every 5 compression cycles.
/.What is the appropriate ventilation strategy for an adult in respiratory arrest with a
pulse of 80 bpm? - Answer-1 breath every 5-6 seconds
