Page 1 of 26
ACLS FINAL ACTUAL EXAM WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS AND
WELL EXPLAINED RATIONALE
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
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 patient experiences cardiac arrest, and the resuscitation team initiates
ventilations using a bag-valve-mask (BVM) resuscitator. The development
of which condition during the provision of care would lead the team to
suspect that improper BVM technique is being used?
Hypertension
Esophageal injury
Pneumothorax
Rib fracture
Pneumothorax
Complications can occur with the use of a BVM resuscitator due to
improper technique. Delivering excessive volume or ventilating too fast
creates excessive pressure that can damage the airways, lungs and other
organs. Excessive volume can lead to tension pneumothorax.
, Page 2 of 26
A person suddenly collapses while sitting in the sunroom of a healthcare
facility. A healthcare provider observes the event and hurries over to
assess the situation. The healthcare provider performs which assessment
first?
Rapid assessment
Basic life support assessment
Secondary assessment
Primary assessment
Rapid assessment
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
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
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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 compressions."
"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.
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
Back blows
To clear an obstructed airway in a responsive adult, first provide up to 5
back blows to clear the obstruction.
ACLS FINAL ACTUAL EXAM WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS AND
WELL EXPLAINED RATIONALE
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
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 patient experiences cardiac arrest, and the resuscitation team initiates
ventilations using a bag-valve-mask (BVM) resuscitator. The development
of which condition during the provision of care would lead the team to
suspect that improper BVM technique is being used?
Hypertension
Esophageal injury
Pneumothorax
Rib fracture
Pneumothorax
Complications can occur with the use of a BVM resuscitator due to
improper technique. Delivering excessive volume or ventilating too fast
creates excessive pressure that can damage the airways, lungs and other
organs. Excessive volume can lead to tension pneumothorax.
, Page 2 of 26
A person suddenly collapses while sitting in the sunroom of a healthcare
facility. A healthcare provider observes the event and hurries over to
assess the situation. The healthcare provider performs which assessment
first?
Rapid assessment
Basic life support assessment
Secondary assessment
Primary assessment
Rapid assessment
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
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
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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 compressions."
"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.
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
Back blows
To clear an obstructed airway in a responsive adult, first provide up to 5
back blows to clear the obstruction.
