AMERICAN RED CROSS ACLS FINAL EXAM 2026 | 150+ Actual Questions & Verified Answers | Latest Full Update | Graded A+ Solutions

American Red Cross ACLS Final Exam ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
WELL REVISED ANSWERS - LATEST AND COMPLETE UPDATE
WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS 2026




Respiratory distress - CORRECT ANSWER A patient enters the
emergency department in respiratory compromise. The team is monitoring the
patient using capnography and identifies that ETCO2 levels are initially 33 mmHg
and later 40 mmHg. From these readings, the team identifies that the patient is
progressing in what stage of respiratory compromise?


QUESTION :"I've had a terrible cold with a horrible cough for the past week and
today I developed a fever."


"I've been vomiting for the past 2 days from a GI bug"


"I've been so anxious lately because I just lost my job." - CORRECT
ANSWER Cardiac monitoring reveals a tachyarrhythmia. The patient is
hemodynamically stable and has a regular heart rate ranging from 120 to 135
beats per minute. Which statements by the patient could the team interpret as
contributing to the tachyarrhythmia?


QUESTION :Respiratory failure - CORRECT ANSWER Assessment of a
patient reveals an ETCO2 level of 55 mmHg and an arterial oxygen saturation
(SaO2) level of 88%. The provider would interpret these findings as indicative of
which condition?


QUESTION :"We provided chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120
compressions per minute while giving 1 ventilation every 6 seconds without

,pausing for compressions." - CORRECT ANSWER A resuscitation team
is debriefing following a recent event. A patient experienced cardiac arrest, and
advanced life support was initiated. The patient required the placement of an
advanced airway to maintain airway patency. Which statement indicates that
the team performed high-quality CPR?


QUESTION :Back blows - CORRECT ANSWER A responsive patient is
choking. What method should the provider use first to clear the obstructed
airway?


QUESTION :Rapid assessment - CORRECT ANSWER A person
suddenly collapses while sitting in the sunroom of a healthcare facility. A
healthcare provider observes the event and hurries over to assess the situation.
The healthcare provider performs which assessment first?


QUESTION :0.15 mV - CORRECT ANSWER A 35-year-old female
patient's ECG is consistent with STEMI. The ECG reveals a new ST-segment
elevation at the J point in leads V2 and V3 of at least which size?


QUESTION :Initiate transcutaneous pacing


Initiate dopamine infusion


Administer atropine - CORRECT ANSWER For a patient with third-
degree atrioventricular (AV) block and a blood pressure of 70/48 mmHg, what
interventions should be considered?


QUESTION :Language deficits

,Level of consciousness


Facial palsy


Visual function - CORRECT ANSWER Which areas are evaluated using
the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)?


QUESTION :Applying cooling blankets to the patient's body


Using an endovascular catheter


Giving and ice-cold IV fluid bolus - CORRECT ANSWER After cardiac
arrest and successful resuscitation, the patient has a return of spontaneous
circulation. The patient is unable to follow verbal commands. Targeted
temperature management is initiated. Which method(s) would be appropriate
for the resuscitation team to use?


QUESTION :Naloxone should be administered as soon as possible but is not a
priority over high-quality CPR and AED use. - CORRECT ANSWER A
patient is in cardiac arrest. The underlying cause is thought to be opioid toxicity.
Which statement accurately describes the use of naloxone for this patient?


QUESTION :SaO2 90%


PaCO2 48 mmHg

, ETCO2 55 mmHg - CORRECT ANSWER A patient in cardiac arrest
experiences return of spontaneous circulation. As part of post-cardiac arrest
care, the patient is receiving mechanical ventilation at an initial rate of 10
breaths/min and a fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) of 0.30. Which finding(s)
would indicate the need for change in the ventilator settings to optimize the
patient's ventilation and oxygenation?


QUESTION :Transcutaneous pacing


Epinephrine or dopamine infusion - CORRECT ANSWER A patient
with bradycardia and signs of hemodynamic compromise does not respond to
atropine. Which interventions could the healthcare provider use next?


QUESTION :Arterial blood gases may be used to guide ventilation and
oxygenation in the post-cardiac arrest patient.


Perfusion should be assessed and maintained to ensure the best outcome for
the post-cardiac arrest patient. - CORRECT ANSWER Which
statements accurately reflect the recommendations for post-cardiac arrest
patient care?


QUESTION :Vagal maneuvers - CORRECT ANSWER A patient's ECG
reveals a narrow QRS complex with a regular rhythm, indicating a narrow-
complex supraventricular tachyarrhythmia. The patient is not showing signs of
hemodynamic compromise. Which intervention would be initiated first if it does
not delay other interventions?