HEART CODE ACLS EXAM FINAL STUDY GUIDE 2026
QUESTIONS AND ACCURATE ANSWERS
how quickly does the chance of survival decline for every minute of defibrillation delay in
patients with ventricular fibrillation ((VF) who do not receive bystander CPR?
a) 7% to 10%
b) 5% to 6%
c) 11% to 13%
d) 3% to 4% - ANSWER-a
coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) equals aortic_______ pressure minus ____ atrial diastolic
pressure
a) systolic, left
b) systolic, right
c) diastolic, left
d) diastolic, right - ANSWER-D
what is an advantage of a systemic approach to patient assessment?
a) reduces the need for secondary assessment
b) standardizes treatment across systems of care
c) reduces the chances of missing important signs and symptoms
d) permits assessment modification based on patient symptoms - ANSWER-C
what is the first step in the systematic approach to patient assessment?
a) primary assessment
b) secondary assessment
c) initial impression
d) BLS assessment - ANSWER-c
what is the maximum amount of time you should simultaneously perform the pulse and
breathing checks?
,a) 15 seconds
b) 20 seconds
c) 10 seconds
d) 5 seconds - ANSWER-C
The BLS Assessment is a systematic approach to BLS for trained healthcare providers. This
approach stresses:
a) basic airway management
b) early cpr and defibrillation
c) defibrillation - ANSWER-b
while performing the BLS assessment, you initiate high-quality CPR and assist ventilation with a
bag-mask device
the AED does not recommend a shock
which action in the primary assessment should you perform first?
a) attach a quantitative waveform capnography device
b) perform fluid resuscitation
c) determine if the patient's airway is patent
d) assess the patient's oxygenation status - ANSWER-C
the initial assessment reveals a conscious patient
the patient's airway is patent, and an advanced airway is not indicated
which action in the primary assessment should you perform next?
a) check for the presence of a pulse
b) remove clothing to perform a physical examination
c) administer oxygen as needed
d) check for neurologic function - ANSWER-C
,during CPR, chest compression fraction (CCF) should be at least ___% and idealls greater than
___% - ANSWER-60, 80
among others, which of the following factors has been associated with improved survival in
patients with cardiac arrest?
a) compression-only CPR
b) presence of 2 or more rescuers
c) immediate high -quality CPR
d) manual defibrillation - ANSWER-C
which action is part of the secondary assessment of a conscious patient?
a) formulate a differential diagnosis
b) attach a monitor/defibrillator
c) give IV/IO fluids if needed
d) determine the patient's level of consciousness - ANSWER-a
which of the following are the "H" causes of reversible cardiac arrest?
1. hypocalcemia
2. hypothermia
3. hypertensive crisis
4. hypovolemia
5. hyperkalemia/hypokalemia
6. hypercalcemia
7. Heyde's syndrome
8. HELLP syndrome
9. acidosis
10. hypoxia - ANSWER-2, 4, 5, 9, 10
which of the following are the "T" causes of reversible cardiac arrest?
1. coronary thrombosis
2. pulmonary thrombosis
, 3. toxins
4. thoracic outlet syndrome
5. simple pneumothorax
6. thyrotoxicosis
7. tachycardiomyopathy
8. tension pneumothorax
9. cardiac tamponade
10. deep vein thrombosis - ANSWER-1, 2, 3, 8, 9
Symptoms of ACS - ANSWER-chest pain (tightness or pressure)
pressure fullness squeezing or pain in center o chest lasting several minutes
chest discomfort spreading to shoulder, neck one or both arms, or jaw. spread to back or
between shoulder blades
light-headed, dizzy, fainting, syncope, sweating, nausea, vomiting
unexplained SOB with or without chest discomfort
less common - epigastrium discomfort
what is the most common symptom of myocardial ischemia and infarction?
a) retrosternal chest pain
b) sweating
c) nausea
d) difficulty breathing - ANSWER-a
which demographic group experiencing acute coronary syndromes is more likely to present
without chest pain?
a) females
b) adolescents
c) patients taking beta-blockers
d) smokers - ANSWER-a
QUESTIONS AND ACCURATE ANSWERS
how quickly does the chance of survival decline for every minute of defibrillation delay in
patients with ventricular fibrillation ((VF) who do not receive bystander CPR?
a) 7% to 10%
b) 5% to 6%
c) 11% to 13%
d) 3% to 4% - ANSWER-a
coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) equals aortic_______ pressure minus ____ atrial diastolic
pressure
a) systolic, left
b) systolic, right
c) diastolic, left
d) diastolic, right - ANSWER-D
what is an advantage of a systemic approach to patient assessment?
a) reduces the need for secondary assessment
b) standardizes treatment across systems of care
c) reduces the chances of missing important signs and symptoms
d) permits assessment modification based on patient symptoms - ANSWER-C
what is the first step in the systematic approach to patient assessment?
a) primary assessment
b) secondary assessment
c) initial impression
d) BLS assessment - ANSWER-c
what is the maximum amount of time you should simultaneously perform the pulse and
breathing checks?
,a) 15 seconds
b) 20 seconds
c) 10 seconds
d) 5 seconds - ANSWER-C
The BLS Assessment is a systematic approach to BLS for trained healthcare providers. This
approach stresses:
a) basic airway management
b) early cpr and defibrillation
c) defibrillation - ANSWER-b
while performing the BLS assessment, you initiate high-quality CPR and assist ventilation with a
bag-mask device
the AED does not recommend a shock
which action in the primary assessment should you perform first?
a) attach a quantitative waveform capnography device
b) perform fluid resuscitation
c) determine if the patient's airway is patent
d) assess the patient's oxygenation status - ANSWER-C
the initial assessment reveals a conscious patient
the patient's airway is patent, and an advanced airway is not indicated
which action in the primary assessment should you perform next?
a) check for the presence of a pulse
b) remove clothing to perform a physical examination
c) administer oxygen as needed
d) check for neurologic function - ANSWER-C
,during CPR, chest compression fraction (CCF) should be at least ___% and idealls greater than
___% - ANSWER-60, 80
among others, which of the following factors has been associated with improved survival in
patients with cardiac arrest?
a) compression-only CPR
b) presence of 2 or more rescuers
c) immediate high -quality CPR
d) manual defibrillation - ANSWER-C
which action is part of the secondary assessment of a conscious patient?
a) formulate a differential diagnosis
b) attach a monitor/defibrillator
c) give IV/IO fluids if needed
d) determine the patient's level of consciousness - ANSWER-a
which of the following are the "H" causes of reversible cardiac arrest?
1. hypocalcemia
2. hypothermia
3. hypertensive crisis
4. hypovolemia
5. hyperkalemia/hypokalemia
6. hypercalcemia
7. Heyde's syndrome
8. HELLP syndrome
9. acidosis
10. hypoxia - ANSWER-2, 4, 5, 9, 10
which of the following are the "T" causes of reversible cardiac arrest?
1. coronary thrombosis
2. pulmonary thrombosis
, 3. toxins
4. thoracic outlet syndrome
5. simple pneumothorax
6. thyrotoxicosis
7. tachycardiomyopathy
8. tension pneumothorax
9. cardiac tamponade
10. deep vein thrombosis - ANSWER-1, 2, 3, 8, 9
Symptoms of ACS - ANSWER-chest pain (tightness or pressure)
pressure fullness squeezing or pain in center o chest lasting several minutes
chest discomfort spreading to shoulder, neck one or both arms, or jaw. spread to back or
between shoulder blades
light-headed, dizzy, fainting, syncope, sweating, nausea, vomiting
unexplained SOB with or without chest discomfort
less common - epigastrium discomfort
what is the most common symptom of myocardial ischemia and infarction?
a) retrosternal chest pain
b) sweating
c) nausea
d) difficulty breathing - ANSWER-a
which demographic group experiencing acute coronary syndromes is more likely to present
without chest pain?
a) females
b) adolescents
c) patients taking beta-blockers
d) smokers - ANSWER-a
