AHA ACLS EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
(VERIFIED AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS) LATEST
UPDATE 2025/2026
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.
Identification of Chest Discomfort Suggestive of Ischemia
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 memeber of your team inserts an ET
tube while another performs continuous chest comressions. During subsequent
bentilation, you notice the presence of a wavefom on the capnogrophy screen
and a PETCO2 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)Allowsfor monitoring CPR quality
For the past 25 min, EMS crews have attempted resuscitation of a pt who
originally presented with V-FIB. After the 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.
Foundational Facts: Resume CPR While Manual Defibrillator is Charging
(VERIFIED AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS) LATEST
UPDATE 2025/2026
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.
Identification of Chest Discomfort Suggestive of Ischemia
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 memeber of your team inserts an ET
tube while another performs continuous chest comressions. During subsequent
bentilation, you notice the presence of a wavefom on the capnogrophy screen
and a PETCO2 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)Allowsfor monitoring CPR quality
For the past 25 min, EMS crews have attempted resuscitation of a pt who
originally presented with V-FIB. After the 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.
Foundational Facts: Resume CPR While Manual Defibrillator is Charging
