ACLS Post-Test (2025\2026 update) 50 QUESTIONS AND
ANSwers
Q1. A 48-year-old man became unresponsive shortly after presenting to you with nausea and generalize
chest discomfort. You observe gasping breathing and are unsure if you feel a pulse. You should know:
A. Call for help and begin chest compressions.
B. Wait until breathing stops and then check again for a pulse.
C. Begin chest compressions only if you are certain a pulse is absent.
D. Observe the patient for 2 minutes, then reassess his breathing and pulse.-ANS>>sA. Call for help an
begin chest compressions.
Q2. Which of the following is the most likely complication of inferior wall myocardial infarction (MI)?
A. Cardiogenic shock
B. Ventricular rupture
C. Bradydysrhythmias
D. Tachydysrhythmias-ANS>>sC. Bradydysrhythmias
Q3. A 52-year-old man is complaining of palpitations that came on suddenly after walking up a short fligh
of stairs. His symptoms have been present for about 20 minutes. He denies chest pain and is not short o
breath. His skin is warm and dry; breath sounds are clear. His blood pressure (BP) is 144/88 millimeter
of mercury (mm Hg), his heart rate is 186 beats per minute (beats/min), and his ventilatory rate is 1
breaths/min. The cardiac monitor reveals the rhythm here. Vascular access has been established. Whic
of the following medications is most appropriate in this situation?
A. Dopamine or sotalol
B. Furosemide or atropine
C. Nitroglycerin (NTG) or morphine
D. Procainamide or amiodarone-ANS>>sD. Procainamide or amiodarone
Q4. Your general impression of a 78-year-old woman reveals that her eyes are closed, she is not moving
you can see no rise and fall of her chest or abdomen, and her skincolor is pale. When you arrive at th
patient’s side, you confirm that she is unresponsive. Your best action in this situation will be to:
A. Open her airway and give two breaths.
B. Apply an automated external defibrillator (AED).
C. Assess breathing and determine whether she has a pulse.
D. Prepare the necessary equipment to insert an advanced airway.-ANS>>sC. Assess breathing an
determine whether she has a pulse.
, Q5. A 60-year-old woman has suffered a cardiac arrest. A health care professional trained in endotrachea
intubation has intubated the patient. Which of the following findings would indicate inadverten
esophageal intubation?
A. Jugular vein distention
B. Subcutaneous emphysema
C. Gurgling sounds heard over the epigastrium
D. Breath sounds heard on only one side of the chest-ANS>>sC. Gurgling sounds heard over th
epigastrium
Q6. Hypotension (ie, a systolic BP of less than 90 mm Hg) after the return of spontaneous circulatio
(ROSC) may necessitate the use of:
A. Fluid boluses and isoproterenol.
B. Procainamide, epinephrine, or dopamine.
C. Epinephrine, dopamine, or norepinephrine.
D. Fluid boluses, procainamide, and isoproterenol.-ANS>>sC. Epinephrine, dopamine, or norepinephrin
Q7. Which of the following is incorrect with regard to a postevent debriefing?
A. The facilitator should use open-ended questions to encourage discussion.
B. Team members are encouraged to identify lessons learned in a nonpunitive environment.
C. The gather phase of the debriefing includes a comparison of the team’s actions with curren
resuscitation algorithms.
D. Team members are given an opportunity to reflect on their performance and how their performanc
can be improved.-ANS>>sC. The gather phase of the debriefing includes a comparison of the team
actions with current resuscitation algorithms.
Q8. Assuming there are no contraindications, which of the following can be performed as an initia
intervention for a stable but symptomatic patient with the rhythm shown?
A. Defibrillation
B. Vagal maneuvers
C. Administration of intravenous (IV) diltiazem
D. Administration of IV epinephrine-ANS>>sB. Vagal maneuvers
Q9. A 62-year-old man received IV tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) 2 hours ago after a diagnosis o
acute ischemic stroke. While assessing the patient’s vital signs, you observe swelling of the patient’s lip
and tongue. Your best course of action will be to:
A. Administer aspirin and IV heparin.
B. Administer IV antihistamines and steroids.
C. Observe and reassess the patient every 15 minutes.
D. Request an emergent brain computed tomography scan.-ANS>>sB. Administer IV antihistamines an
steroids.
Q10. During a cardiac arrest, multiple attempts to establish a peripheral IV have proved unsuccessfu
Your best course of action at this time will be to:
A. Insert a central line.
B. Attempt intraosseous access.
ANSwers
Q1. A 48-year-old man became unresponsive shortly after presenting to you with nausea and generalize
chest discomfort. You observe gasping breathing and are unsure if you feel a pulse. You should know:
A. Call for help and begin chest compressions.
B. Wait until breathing stops and then check again for a pulse.
C. Begin chest compressions only if you are certain a pulse is absent.
D. Observe the patient for 2 minutes, then reassess his breathing and pulse.-ANS>>sA. Call for help an
begin chest compressions.
Q2. Which of the following is the most likely complication of inferior wall myocardial infarction (MI)?
A. Cardiogenic shock
B. Ventricular rupture
C. Bradydysrhythmias
D. Tachydysrhythmias-ANS>>sC. Bradydysrhythmias
Q3. A 52-year-old man is complaining of palpitations that came on suddenly after walking up a short fligh
of stairs. His symptoms have been present for about 20 minutes. He denies chest pain and is not short o
breath. His skin is warm and dry; breath sounds are clear. His blood pressure (BP) is 144/88 millimeter
of mercury (mm Hg), his heart rate is 186 beats per minute (beats/min), and his ventilatory rate is 1
breaths/min. The cardiac monitor reveals the rhythm here. Vascular access has been established. Whic
of the following medications is most appropriate in this situation?
A. Dopamine or sotalol
B. Furosemide or atropine
C. Nitroglycerin (NTG) or morphine
D. Procainamide or amiodarone-ANS>>sD. Procainamide or amiodarone
Q4. Your general impression of a 78-year-old woman reveals that her eyes are closed, she is not moving
you can see no rise and fall of her chest or abdomen, and her skincolor is pale. When you arrive at th
patient’s side, you confirm that she is unresponsive. Your best action in this situation will be to:
A. Open her airway and give two breaths.
B. Apply an automated external defibrillator (AED).
C. Assess breathing and determine whether she has a pulse.
D. Prepare the necessary equipment to insert an advanced airway.-ANS>>sC. Assess breathing an
determine whether she has a pulse.
, Q5. A 60-year-old woman has suffered a cardiac arrest. A health care professional trained in endotrachea
intubation has intubated the patient. Which of the following findings would indicate inadverten
esophageal intubation?
A. Jugular vein distention
B. Subcutaneous emphysema
C. Gurgling sounds heard over the epigastrium
D. Breath sounds heard on only one side of the chest-ANS>>sC. Gurgling sounds heard over th
epigastrium
Q6. Hypotension (ie, a systolic BP of less than 90 mm Hg) after the return of spontaneous circulatio
(ROSC) may necessitate the use of:
A. Fluid boluses and isoproterenol.
B. Procainamide, epinephrine, or dopamine.
C. Epinephrine, dopamine, or norepinephrine.
D. Fluid boluses, procainamide, and isoproterenol.-ANS>>sC. Epinephrine, dopamine, or norepinephrin
Q7. Which of the following is incorrect with regard to a postevent debriefing?
A. The facilitator should use open-ended questions to encourage discussion.
B. Team members are encouraged to identify lessons learned in a nonpunitive environment.
C. The gather phase of the debriefing includes a comparison of the team’s actions with curren
resuscitation algorithms.
D. Team members are given an opportunity to reflect on their performance and how their performanc
can be improved.-ANS>>sC. The gather phase of the debriefing includes a comparison of the team
actions with current resuscitation algorithms.
Q8. Assuming there are no contraindications, which of the following can be performed as an initia
intervention for a stable but symptomatic patient with the rhythm shown?
A. Defibrillation
B. Vagal maneuvers
C. Administration of intravenous (IV) diltiazem
D. Administration of IV epinephrine-ANS>>sB. Vagal maneuvers
Q9. A 62-year-old man received IV tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) 2 hours ago after a diagnosis o
acute ischemic stroke. While assessing the patient’s vital signs, you observe swelling of the patient’s lip
and tongue. Your best course of action will be to:
A. Administer aspirin and IV heparin.
B. Administer IV antihistamines and steroids.
C. Observe and reassess the patient every 15 minutes.
D. Request an emergent brain computed tomography scan.-ANS>>sB. Administer IV antihistamines an
steroids.
Q10. During a cardiac arrest, multiple attempts to establish a peripheral IV have proved unsuccessfu
Your best course of action at this time will be to:
A. Insert a central line.
B. Attempt intraosseous access.
