1
ACLS FINAL EXAM 2026-COMPLETE EXAM SET
WITH ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS
After cardiac arrest and successful resuscitation, the patient has a return of
spontaneous circulation. The patient is unable to follow verbal commands.
Targeted temperature management is initiated. Which method(s) would be
appropriate for the resuscitation team to use?
A. Applying a cool compress to the patient's forehead
B. Using an endovascular catheter
C. Applying cooling blankets to the patient's body
D. Administering cool-mist oxygen therapy
E. Giving an ice-cold IV fluid bolus - correct-answer -B, C, E
A patient experiences cardiac arrest, and the resuscitation team initiates
ventilations using a bag-valve-mask (BVM) resuscitator. The lead development of
which condition during the provision of care would lead the team to suspect that
improper BVM technique is being used?
A. Esophageal injury
B. Pneumothorax
C. Rib fracture
,2
D. Hypertension - correct-answer -B
A patient with suspected stroke arrives at the emergency department. The patient
is diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke and is a candidate for fibrinolytic therapy.
To achieve the best outcomes, this therapy should be initiated within what time
frame?
A. Within 30 minutes of the patient's arrival
B. Within 1 hour of the patient's arrival
C. Within 2 hours of the patient's arrival
D. Within 3 hours of the patient's arrival - correct-answer -B
A 35-year-old female patient's ECG is consistent with STEMI. The ECG reveals a
new ST-segment elevation at the J point in leads V2 and V3 of at least which size?
A. 0.10 mV
B. 0.15 mV
C. 0.2 mV
D. 0.25 mV - correct-answer -B
Cardiac monitoring indicates that a patient has a ventricular tachyarrhythmia. The
patient has a pulse and is not showing any signs of hemodynamic compromise. A
, 3
12-lead ECG reveals an irregular rhythm with QRS complexes greater than 0.12
seconds in duration. Which actions would be appropriate at this time?
A. Atropine
B. Defibrillation
C. Consider an antiarrhythmic medication
D. Synchronized cardioversion - correct-answer -C.
A patient is being treated in the emergency department and is determined to have
NSTE-ACS. Invasive management is planned based on which finding?
A. Atrial tachycardia
B. Atrial fibrillation
C. Ventricular tachycardia
D. Hypoxia - correct-answer -C
A 42-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with complaints of
fatigue, shortness of breath, back pain and nausea. A 12-lead ECG is obtained and
shows ST-segment depression in leads II, III, and aVF and intermittent runs of no
sustained ventricular tachycardia. Cardiac serum markers are elevated. These
findings suggest which condition?
A. High-risk non-ST segment elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS)
ACLS FINAL EXAM 2026-COMPLETE EXAM SET
WITH ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS
After cardiac arrest and successful resuscitation, the patient has a return of
spontaneous circulation. The patient is unable to follow verbal commands.
Targeted temperature management is initiated. Which method(s) would be
appropriate for the resuscitation team to use?
A. Applying a cool compress to the patient's forehead
B. Using an endovascular catheter
C. Applying cooling blankets to the patient's body
D. Administering cool-mist oxygen therapy
E. Giving an ice-cold IV fluid bolus - correct-answer -B, C, E
A patient experiences cardiac arrest, and the resuscitation team initiates
ventilations using a bag-valve-mask (BVM) resuscitator. The lead development of
which condition during the provision of care would lead the team to suspect that
improper BVM technique is being used?
A. Esophageal injury
B. Pneumothorax
C. Rib fracture
,2
D. Hypertension - correct-answer -B
A patient with suspected stroke arrives at the emergency department. The patient
is diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke and is a candidate for fibrinolytic therapy.
To achieve the best outcomes, this therapy should be initiated within what time
frame?
A. Within 30 minutes of the patient's arrival
B. Within 1 hour of the patient's arrival
C. Within 2 hours of the patient's arrival
D. Within 3 hours of the patient's arrival - correct-answer -B
A 35-year-old female patient's ECG is consistent with STEMI. The ECG reveals a
new ST-segment elevation at the J point in leads V2 and V3 of at least which size?
A. 0.10 mV
B. 0.15 mV
C. 0.2 mV
D. 0.25 mV - correct-answer -B
Cardiac monitoring indicates that a patient has a ventricular tachyarrhythmia. The
patient has a pulse and is not showing any signs of hemodynamic compromise. A
, 3
12-lead ECG reveals an irregular rhythm with QRS complexes greater than 0.12
seconds in duration. Which actions would be appropriate at this time?
A. Atropine
B. Defibrillation
C. Consider an antiarrhythmic medication
D. Synchronized cardioversion - correct-answer -C.
A patient is being treated in the emergency department and is determined to have
NSTE-ACS. Invasive management is planned based on which finding?
A. Atrial tachycardia
B. Atrial fibrillation
C. Ventricular tachycardia
D. Hypoxia - correct-answer -C
A 42-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with complaints of
fatigue, shortness of breath, back pain and nausea. A 12-lead ECG is obtained and
shows ST-segment depression in leads II, III, and aVF and intermittent runs of no
sustained ventricular tachycardia. Cardiac serum markers are elevated. These
findings suggest which condition?
A. High-risk non-ST segment elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS)
