ACLS FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATED 2026
Q: During a resuscitation attempt using a bag-valve-mask (BVM), which
complication would most likely indicate that the team is using incorrect ventilation
technique? ✔️✔️ A: Pneumothorax. Providing air with too much force or volume
can create excessive pressure, potentially causing lung tissue to rupture.
Q: Why is it critical to avoid aggressive or overly rapid ventilation when using a
BVM resuscitator? ✔️✔️ A: Delivering air too quickly or in too high a volume
increases intrathoracic pressure, which can damage the respiratory tract and lead to
a life-threatening tension pneumothorax.
Q: If a healthcare professional witnesses a patient suddenly collapse in a clinical
setting, which specific evaluation should be performed immediately? ✔️✔️ A:
Rapid assessment. This "quick look" allows the provider to simultaneously check
for safety, responsiveness, and signs of life-threatening conditions (like breathing
and pulse) before moving into more structured assessments.
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 -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?
"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 -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 -ANSWER ✔️✔️Respiratory failure
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 -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?
ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATED 2026
Q: During a resuscitation attempt using a bag-valve-mask (BVM), which
complication would most likely indicate that the team is using incorrect ventilation
technique? ✔️✔️ A: Pneumothorax. Providing air with too much force or volume
can create excessive pressure, potentially causing lung tissue to rupture.
Q: Why is it critical to avoid aggressive or overly rapid ventilation when using a
BVM resuscitator? ✔️✔️ A: Delivering air too quickly or in too high a volume
increases intrathoracic pressure, which can damage the respiratory tract and lead to
a life-threatening tension pneumothorax.
Q: If a healthcare professional witnesses a patient suddenly collapse in a clinical
setting, which specific evaluation should be performed immediately? ✔️✔️ A:
Rapid assessment. This "quick look" allows the provider to simultaneously check
for safety, responsiveness, and signs of life-threatening conditions (like breathing
and pulse) before moving into more structured assessments.
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 -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?
"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 -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 -ANSWER ✔️✔️Respiratory failure
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 -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?
