ACLS Written Exam
Questions and
Answers
User [Date] [Course title]
,You find an unresponsive pt. who is not breathing. After activating the emergency response system, you
determine there is no pulse. What is your next action? - Correct Answer: Start chest compressions of at
least 100 per min.
You are evaluating a 58-year-old man with chest pain. The blood pressure is 92/50 mm Hg, the heart
rate is 92/min, the nonlabored respiratory rate is 14 breaths/min, and the pulse oximetry reading is
97%. What assessment step is most important now? - Correct Answer: Obtaining a 12 lead ECG.
What is the preferred method of access for epi administration during cardiac arrest in most pts? -
Correct Answer: Peripheral IV
An AED does not promptly analyze a rythm. What is your next step? - Correct Answer: Begin chest
compressions.
You have completed 2 minutes of CPR. The ECG monitor displays the lead II rhythm below, and the
patient has no pulse. Another member of your team resumes chest compressions, and an IV is in place.
What management step is your next priority? - Correct Answer: Administer 1mg of epinephrine
During a pause in CPR, you see this lead II ECG rhythm on the monitor. The patient has no pulse. What is
the next action? - Correct Answer: Resume compressions
What is a common but sometimes fatal mistake in cardiac arrest management? - Correct Answer:
Prolonged interruptions in chest compressions.
Which action is a componant of high-quality chest comressions? - Correct Answer: Allowing complete
chest recoil
Which action increases the chance of successful conversion of ventricular fibrillation? - Correct Answer:
Providing quality compressions immediately before a defibrillation attempt.
Which situation BEST describes pulseless electrical activity? - Correct Answer: Sinus rythm without a
pulse
, What is the BEST strategy for performing high-quality CPR on a patient with an advanced airway in
place? - Correct Answer: Provide continuous chest compressions without pauses and 10 ventilations per
minute.
Three minutes after witnessing a cardiac arrest, one member of your team inserts an endotracheal tube
while another performs continuous chest compressions. During subsequent ventilation, you notice the
presence of a waveform on the capnography screen and a PETCO2 level of 8 mm Hg. What is the
significance of this finding? - Correct Answer: Chest compressions may not be effective.
The use of quantitative capnography in intubated patients - Correct Answer: allows for monitoring of
CPR quality.
For the past 25 minutes, an EMS crew has attempted resuscitation of a patient who originally presented
in ventricular fibrillation. After the first shock, the ECG screen displayed asystole, which has persisted
despite 2 doses of epinephrine, a fluid bolus, and high-quality CPR. What is your next treatment? -
Correct Answer: Consider terminating resuscitive efforts after consulting medical control.
Which is a safe and effective practice within the defibrillation sequence? - Correct Answer: Be sure
oxygen is not blowing over the patient's chest during the shock.
During your assessment, your patient suddenly loses consciousness. After calling for help and
determining that the patient is not breathing, you are unsure whether the patient has a pulse. What is
your next action? - Correct Answer: Begin chest compressions.
What is an advantage of using hands-free defibrillation pads instead of defibrillation paddles? - Correct
Answer: Hands-free pads allow for a more rapid defibrillation.
What action is recommended to help minimize interruptions in chest compressions during CPR? -
Correct Answer: Continue CPR while charging the defibrillator.
Which action is included in the BLS survey? - Correct Answer: Early defibrillation
Questions and
Answers
User [Date] [Course title]
,You find an unresponsive pt. who is not breathing. After activating the emergency response system, you
determine there is no pulse. What is your next action? - Correct Answer: Start chest compressions of at
least 100 per min.
You are evaluating a 58-year-old man with chest pain. The blood pressure is 92/50 mm Hg, the heart
rate is 92/min, the nonlabored respiratory rate is 14 breaths/min, and the pulse oximetry reading is
97%. What assessment step is most important now? - Correct Answer: Obtaining a 12 lead ECG.
What is the preferred method of access for epi administration during cardiac arrest in most pts? -
Correct Answer: Peripheral IV
An AED does not promptly analyze a rythm. What is your next step? - Correct Answer: Begin chest
compressions.
You have completed 2 minutes of CPR. The ECG monitor displays the lead II rhythm below, and the
patient has no pulse. Another member of your team resumes chest compressions, and an IV is in place.
What management step is your next priority? - Correct Answer: Administer 1mg of epinephrine
During a pause in CPR, you see this lead II ECG rhythm on the monitor. The patient has no pulse. What is
the next action? - Correct Answer: Resume compressions
What is a common but sometimes fatal mistake in cardiac arrest management? - Correct Answer:
Prolonged interruptions in chest compressions.
Which action is a componant of high-quality chest comressions? - Correct Answer: Allowing complete
chest recoil
Which action increases the chance of successful conversion of ventricular fibrillation? - Correct Answer:
Providing quality compressions immediately before a defibrillation attempt.
Which situation BEST describes pulseless electrical activity? - Correct Answer: Sinus rythm without a
pulse
, What is the BEST strategy for performing high-quality CPR on a patient with an advanced airway in
place? - Correct Answer: Provide continuous chest compressions without pauses and 10 ventilations per
minute.
Three minutes after witnessing a cardiac arrest, one member of your team inserts an endotracheal tube
while another performs continuous chest compressions. During subsequent ventilation, you notice the
presence of a waveform on the capnography screen and a PETCO2 level of 8 mm Hg. What is the
significance of this finding? - Correct Answer: Chest compressions may not be effective.
The use of quantitative capnography in intubated patients - Correct Answer: allows for monitoring of
CPR quality.
For the past 25 minutes, an EMS crew has attempted resuscitation of a patient who originally presented
in ventricular fibrillation. After the first shock, the ECG screen displayed asystole, which has persisted
despite 2 doses of epinephrine, a fluid bolus, and high-quality CPR. What is your next treatment? -
Correct Answer: Consider terminating resuscitive efforts after consulting medical control.
Which is a safe and effective practice within the defibrillation sequence? - Correct Answer: Be sure
oxygen is not blowing over the patient's chest during the shock.
During your assessment, your patient suddenly loses consciousness. After calling for help and
determining that the patient is not breathing, you are unsure whether the patient has a pulse. What is
your next action? - Correct Answer: Begin chest compressions.
What is an advantage of using hands-free defibrillation pads instead of defibrillation paddles? - Correct
Answer: Hands-free pads allow for a more rapid defibrillation.
What action is recommended to help minimize interruptions in chest compressions during CPR? -
Correct Answer: Continue CPR while charging the defibrillator.
Which action is included in the BLS survey? - Correct Answer: Early defibrillation
