ACLS Study Guide 2026 Exam
Questions and Verified Answers
| Already Graded A+
Which of the following statements about about the science of CPR is NOT
correct in regards to the 2015 AHA guidelines?
a) a rate of 100 to 120 chest compressions per minute
b) a compression depth of at least 2 inches in adults?
c) switch compressor about every 5 minutes
d) chest compression fraction of at least 60% but ideally greater than 80 %
,e) allow complete chest recoil after each compression - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔c -
switch compressor about every 2 minutes or sooner if fatigued
page 173
When administering epinephrine to a patient in cardiac arrest, the MAIN
desired effect is:·
A: vasoconstriction, which improves coronary and cerebral perfusion.·
B: beta-1 receptor stimulation, which increases cardiac contractility.· C:
coronary artery dilation, which decreases the myocardial workload.·
D: bronchodilation, which facilitates positive-pressure ventilation. - 🧠
ANSWER ✔✔answer is A;
Reason: Epinephrine stimulates alpha and beta receptors. However, it is
used during cardiac arrest because of its vasopressor effects that result
from stimulation of alpha-1 receptors. In conjunction with high-quality CPR,
epinephrine's vasoconstrictive effects improve coronary and cerebral
perfusion, thus keeping these organs viable until the underlying cardiac
dysrhythmia can be terminated
A 54-year-old woman is pulseless and apneic. Your partner and an
emergency medical responder are performing well-coordinated CPR. After
,2 minutes of CPR, the cardiac monitor reveals coarse ventricular fibrillation.
You should:·
A: deliver a single shock and immediately resume CPR.·
B: shock the patient three times with 360 monophasic joules.·
C: defibrillate at once and then reassess the rhythm and pulse.·
D: assess for a carotid pulse for no longer than 10 seconds. - 🧠 ANSWER
✔✔answer is A;
Reason: A single shock (360 monophasic joules or the biphasic equivalent)
should be administered to the patient with V-Fib or pulseless V-Tach
cardiac arrest. Immediately following this single shock, begin or resume
CPR, starting with chest compressions. Assessing the patient's cardiac
rhythm and pulse immediately following defibrillation causes an
unnecessary delay in CPR, and delays in CPR have been directly linked to
poor patient outcomes. Most patients who are defibrillated—especially if
their arrest interval is prolonged—remain in V-Fib/pulseless V-Tach or
convert to another non-perfusing rhythm (ie, asystole, PEA). Either way,
the patient is still in cardiac arrest and needs immediate CPR. After 2
minutes of CPR, reassess the patient's rhythm, and if necessary, a pulse (if
COPYRIGHT©PROFFKERRYMARTIN 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025. COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 619652435. TERMS OF USE.
PRIVACY STATEMENT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
, an organized cardiac rhythm appears), and repeat defibrillation (single
shock) if indicated, followed immediately by CPR.
Your first action after establishing return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC)
in a patient—regardless of his or her arrest rhythm and duration—is to
assess the patient's ________________________.
a) ventilatory status
b) cardiac status
c) level of consciousness
d) none of the above - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔Answer is A
Your first action after establishing return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC)
in a patient—regardless of his or her arrest rhythm and duration—is to
assess the patient's ventilatory status.
During the ________________ cycles of CPR, vascular access can be
obtained, cardiac drugs can be administered, and the patient's airway can
be secured with an advanced device if necessary. It is absolutely critical to
minimize interruptions in chest compressions; if you must interrupt
compressions, do so for no longer than ____ seconds.
Questions and Verified Answers
| Already Graded A+
Which of the following statements about about the science of CPR is NOT
correct in regards to the 2015 AHA guidelines?
a) a rate of 100 to 120 chest compressions per minute
b) a compression depth of at least 2 inches in adults?
c) switch compressor about every 5 minutes
d) chest compression fraction of at least 60% but ideally greater than 80 %
,e) allow complete chest recoil after each compression - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔c -
switch compressor about every 2 minutes or sooner if fatigued
page 173
When administering epinephrine to a patient in cardiac arrest, the MAIN
desired effect is:·
A: vasoconstriction, which improves coronary and cerebral perfusion.·
B: beta-1 receptor stimulation, which increases cardiac contractility.· C:
coronary artery dilation, which decreases the myocardial workload.·
D: bronchodilation, which facilitates positive-pressure ventilation. - 🧠
ANSWER ✔✔answer is A;
Reason: Epinephrine stimulates alpha and beta receptors. However, it is
used during cardiac arrest because of its vasopressor effects that result
from stimulation of alpha-1 receptors. In conjunction with high-quality CPR,
epinephrine's vasoconstrictive effects improve coronary and cerebral
perfusion, thus keeping these organs viable until the underlying cardiac
dysrhythmia can be terminated
A 54-year-old woman is pulseless and apneic. Your partner and an
emergency medical responder are performing well-coordinated CPR. After
,2 minutes of CPR, the cardiac monitor reveals coarse ventricular fibrillation.
You should:·
A: deliver a single shock and immediately resume CPR.·
B: shock the patient three times with 360 monophasic joules.·
C: defibrillate at once and then reassess the rhythm and pulse.·
D: assess for a carotid pulse for no longer than 10 seconds. - 🧠 ANSWER
✔✔answer is A;
Reason: A single shock (360 monophasic joules or the biphasic equivalent)
should be administered to the patient with V-Fib or pulseless V-Tach
cardiac arrest. Immediately following this single shock, begin or resume
CPR, starting with chest compressions. Assessing the patient's cardiac
rhythm and pulse immediately following defibrillation causes an
unnecessary delay in CPR, and delays in CPR have been directly linked to
poor patient outcomes. Most patients who are defibrillated—especially if
their arrest interval is prolonged—remain in V-Fib/pulseless V-Tach or
convert to another non-perfusing rhythm (ie, asystole, PEA). Either way,
the patient is still in cardiac arrest and needs immediate CPR. After 2
minutes of CPR, reassess the patient's rhythm, and if necessary, a pulse (if
COPYRIGHT©PROFFKERRYMARTIN 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025. COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 619652435. TERMS OF USE.
PRIVACY STATEMENT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
, an organized cardiac rhythm appears), and repeat defibrillation (single
shock) if indicated, followed immediately by CPR.
Your first action after establishing return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC)
in a patient—regardless of his or her arrest rhythm and duration—is to
assess the patient's ________________________.
a) ventilatory status
b) cardiac status
c) level of consciousness
d) none of the above - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔Answer is A
Your first action after establishing return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC)
in a patient—regardless of his or her arrest rhythm and duration—is to
assess the patient's ventilatory status.
During the ________________ cycles of CPR, vascular access can be
obtained, cardiac drugs can be administered, and the patient's airway can
be secured with an advanced device if necessary. It is absolutely critical to
minimize interruptions in chest compressions; if you must interrupt
compressions, do so for no longer than ____ seconds.
