ACLS Final Exam Questions and Answers
A+ Guide
A patient experiences cardiac arrest, and the resuscitation team
initiates ventilations using a bag-valve-mask (BVM) resuscitator.
The development of which condition during the provision of care
would lead the team to suspect that improper BVM technique is
being used?
Hypertension
Esophageal injury
Pneumothorax
Rib fracture - correct answer ✅✅Pneumothorax
Complications can occur with the use of a BVM resuscitator due to
improper technique. Delivering excessive volume or ventilating
too fast creates excessive pressure that can damage the airways,
lungs and other organs. Excessive volume can lead to tension
pneumothorax.
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?
Rapid assessment
Basic life support assessment
Secondary assessment
Primary assessment - correct answer ✅✅Rapid assessment
,ACLS Final Exam Questions and Answers
A+ Guide
A systematic approach to assessment is necessary. The
healthcare provider should first perform a rapid assessment. A
rapid assessment is a visual survey to ensure safety, form an
initial impression about the patient's condition (including looking
for life-threatening bleeding), and determine the need for
additional resources. This would be followed by a primary
assessment and then a secondary assessment.
A patient is receiving ventilation support via bag-valve-mask
(BVM) resuscitator. Capnography is established and a blood gas is
obtained to evaluate the adequacy of the ventilations. Which
arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) value signifies adequate
ventilations?
10 to 15 mmHg
20 to 25 mmHg
25 to 30 mmHg
35 to 45 mmHg - correct answer ✅✅35 to 45 mmHg
Arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) values in the range of 35 to 45
mmHg confirm adequacy of ventilation.
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?
,ACLS Final Exam Questions and Answers
A+ Guide
"We initiated chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 110 per
minute to a depth of 2.4 inches and then gave 1 ventilation every
10 seconds."
"We provided chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120
compressions per minute while giving 1 ventilation every 6
seconds without pausing compressions."
"We provided chest compressions at a rate of 80 to 120 per
minute to a depth of at least 2 inches and gave 1 ventilation
every 6 seconds without pausing compressions."
"We kept the rate of chest compressions to around 100 per
minute but adjusted their depth to 1.5 inches while giving 1
ventilation every 3 seconds without pausing compression - correct
answer ✅✅"We provided chest compressions at a rate of 100 to
120 compressions per minute while giving 1 ventilation every 6
seconds without pausing compressions."
When an advanced airway has been placed in a patient who is in
cardiac arrest, compressions should be delivered continuously
(100 to 120 per minute) with no pauses for ventilations.
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?
Respiratory failure
Respiratory arrest
Cardiac arrest
Respiratory distress - correct answer ✅✅Respiratory failure
, ACLS Final Exam Questions and Answers
A+ Guide
An SaO2 level of less than 90% (PaO2 of less than 50 mmHg)
accompanied by ETCO2 values greater than 50 mmHg is
indicative of respiratory failure.
A responsive patient is choking. What method should the provider
use first to clear the obstructed airway?
Back blows
Abdominal thrusts
Magill forceps extraction
Chest compressions - correct answer ✅✅Back blows
To clear an obstructed airway in a responsive adult, first provide
up to 5 back blows to clear the obstruction.
A patient arrives at the emergency department complaining of
shortness of breath. The patient has a long history of chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease. Assessment reveals respiratory
failure. Which action would be the initial priority to address the
respiratory failure?
Establishment of vascular access
Delivery of supplemental oxygen via nasal cannula
Assisted ventilation with BVM resuscitator
A+ Guide
A patient experiences cardiac arrest, and the resuscitation team
initiates ventilations using a bag-valve-mask (BVM) resuscitator.
The development of which condition during the provision of care
would lead the team to suspect that improper BVM technique is
being used?
Hypertension
Esophageal injury
Pneumothorax
Rib fracture - correct answer ✅✅Pneumothorax
Complications can occur with the use of a BVM resuscitator due to
improper technique. Delivering excessive volume or ventilating
too fast creates excessive pressure that can damage the airways,
lungs and other organs. Excessive volume can lead to tension
pneumothorax.
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?
Rapid assessment
Basic life support assessment
Secondary assessment
Primary assessment - correct answer ✅✅Rapid assessment
,ACLS Final Exam Questions and Answers
A+ Guide
A systematic approach to assessment is necessary. The
healthcare provider should first perform a rapid assessment. A
rapid assessment is a visual survey to ensure safety, form an
initial impression about the patient's condition (including looking
for life-threatening bleeding), and determine the need for
additional resources. This would be followed by a primary
assessment and then a secondary assessment.
A patient is receiving ventilation support via bag-valve-mask
(BVM) resuscitator. Capnography is established and a blood gas is
obtained to evaluate the adequacy of the ventilations. Which
arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) value signifies adequate
ventilations?
10 to 15 mmHg
20 to 25 mmHg
25 to 30 mmHg
35 to 45 mmHg - correct answer ✅✅35 to 45 mmHg
Arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) values in the range of 35 to 45
mmHg confirm adequacy of ventilation.
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?
,ACLS Final Exam Questions and Answers
A+ Guide
"We initiated chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 110 per
minute to a depth of 2.4 inches and then gave 1 ventilation every
10 seconds."
"We provided chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120
compressions per minute while giving 1 ventilation every 6
seconds without pausing compressions."
"We provided chest compressions at a rate of 80 to 120 per
minute to a depth of at least 2 inches and gave 1 ventilation
every 6 seconds without pausing compressions."
"We kept the rate of chest compressions to around 100 per
minute but adjusted their depth to 1.5 inches while giving 1
ventilation every 3 seconds without pausing compression - correct
answer ✅✅"We provided chest compressions at a rate of 100 to
120 compressions per minute while giving 1 ventilation every 6
seconds without pausing compressions."
When an advanced airway has been placed in a patient who is in
cardiac arrest, compressions should be delivered continuously
(100 to 120 per minute) with no pauses for ventilations.
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?
Respiratory failure
Respiratory arrest
Cardiac arrest
Respiratory distress - correct answer ✅✅Respiratory failure
, ACLS Final Exam Questions and Answers
A+ Guide
An SaO2 level of less than 90% (PaO2 of less than 50 mmHg)
accompanied by ETCO2 values greater than 50 mmHg is
indicative of respiratory failure.
A responsive patient is choking. What method should the provider
use first to clear the obstructed airway?
Back blows
Abdominal thrusts
Magill forceps extraction
Chest compressions - correct answer ✅✅Back blows
To clear an obstructed airway in a responsive adult, first provide
up to 5 back blows to clear the obstruction.
A patient arrives at the emergency department complaining of
shortness of breath. The patient has a long history of chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease. Assessment reveals respiratory
failure. Which action would be the initial priority to address the
respiratory failure?
Establishment of vascular access
Delivery of supplemental oxygen via nasal cannula
Assisted ventilation with BVM resuscitator
