BLS AHA FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS 2026 STUDY
EXAMS GUIDE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔Myocardial Infarction signs and symptoms - ✔✔-Chest discomfort or pain that is
severe, lasts longer than 3 to 5 minutes, goes away and comes back, or persists even
during rest
-Discomfort, pressure or pain that is persistent and ranges from discomfort to an
unbearable crushing sensation in the chest, possibly spreading to the shoulder, arm,
neck, jaw, stomach or back, and usually not relieved by resting, changing position or
taking medication
-Chest pain that comes and goes (such as angina pectoris)
-Difficulty breathing, such as at a faster rate than normal or noisy breathing
-Pale or ashen skin, especially around the face
-Sweating, especially on the face
-Dizziness or light-headedness
-Possible altered mental status or level of consciousness
-Nausea or vomiting
Although women may experience the most common signs and symptoms of MI, such as
chest pain, discomfort, nausea or vomiting, they may also experience common atypical
warning signs, such as:
-Shortness of breath.
-Stomach, back or jaw pain.
-Unexplained fatigue or malaise.
These warning signs may occur with or without chest pain. When women do experience
chest pain, it may be atypical—sudden, sharp but short-lived pain outside the
breastbone. Like women, other individuals such as those with diabetes or older adults
may present with atypical signs and symptoms.
✔✔Myocardial infarction immediate care - ✔✔In cases of suspected MI, administer two
to four low-dose (81-mg) aspirin or one 325-mg adult aspirin based on your facility's
protocols.
Make sure that the patient chews the medication.
Depending on your level of training, additional care may include administration of
oxygen, other medications and diagnostic tests. Each healthcare facility establishes
interventions and standard protocols for adult patients who are suspected or confirmed
to be experiencing an MI. As a healthcare professional engaged in clinical patient care,
it is important to be familiar with your own facility's protocols.
✔✔Obstructed airway - ✔✔If the patient is responsive but cannot cough, speak or
breathe, they are choking.
Obtain consent and immediately begin care for an obstructed airway. See Lesson 5 for
more information.
,✔✔Opioid overdose - ✔✔If the patient is unresponsive and shows signs and symptoms
of opioid overdose (e.g., pinpoint pupils, respiratory depression, unconsciousness or
severe sleepiness), follow these steps:
-If you have not already done so, call for help to activate EMS, the rapid response team
or the resuscitation team, as appropriate, and call for an AED and naloxone.
-Provide care for the condition found. This will be similar to the care you must provide
during any respiratory or cardiac arrest emergency. The primary differences are calling
for and administering naloxone.
✔✔You demonstrate high-quality CPR by keeping interruptions in CPR to less than
_____ seconds. - ✔✔10
✔✔An adult patient suffers cardiac arrest in bed and requires CPR. When compressing
the patient's chest, which technique promotes high-quality CPR? - ✔✔-Position yourself
so your shoulders are directly over your hands.
-Place one hand on top of the other and interlace your fingers or hold them up so that
they are not resting on the patient's chest.
-Keep your arms straight and lock your elbows. Compress the chest using a straight
down-and-up motion.
✔✔You arrive with an AED and prepare to apply the pads while the BLS team continues
to provide CPR. You apply the pads using the anterior/lateral pad placement. - ✔✔-
Patient's upper right chest, below the right clavicle to the right of the sternum
-Patient's lower left chest along the midaxillary line, a few inches below the left armpit
✔✔You are working with a BLS team performing CPR on a 62-year-old female patient.
Which actions demonstrate high-quality CPR? - ✔✔-Deliver smooth ventilations that last
about 1 second each and make the chest begin to rise.
-Allow for full chest recoil after each compression.
-Compress the chest at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute.
✔✔The team leader assigns roles, supports the team, monitors the delivery of CPR and
makes adjustments in real time. The team members deliver expert care within their
assigned roles, assist others as needed (as long as they can maintain their own
assigned responsibilities) and communicate effectively with the team leader and each
other. True or false? - ✔✔true
✔✔An adult patient with an endotracheal tube (ET) in place experiences cardiac arrest
and requires CPR. Which of the following statements are true when performing high-
quality CPR with an ET tube in place? - ✔✔-the provider delivers 1 ventilation every 6
seconds
-The provider performs continuous compressions without pausing for ventilations.
,✔✔You have been performing multiple-provider CPR on a patient in cardiac arrest. The
patient is now showing signs of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Which
action(s) would the team perform? - ✔✔-stop CPR
-Check for breathing and pulse
-Monitor the patient until the advanced cardiac life support team takes over.
✔✔You are working as part of a high-performance BLS team. Which roles would you
and the other providers most likely fill? - ✔✔-Airway manager/ventilator
-AED operator
-Team leader
-Compressor
✔✔Identify the situations in which it is safe to use an AED. - ✔✔-If the patient is
experiencing cardiac arrest as a result of a traumatic injury
-If the patient is pregnant
-If the patient is wearing jewelry or has body piercings, providing the AED pads are not
placed directly over any metallic jewelry or piercings
-If the patient has a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs),
providing the AED pads are not placed directly over the device
-If the patient is lying on a metal surface, providing the AED pads do not touch the
surface and no one is touching the patient during shock
✔✔You and another provider are performing CPR on an adult patient in cardiac arrest.
An advanced airway is not yet in place. Which actions demonstrate appropriate care? -
✔✔-You use the same hand position and compression rate and depth as you would for
single-provider CPR.
-One provider focuses on rapid assessment and starting CPR; the other calls for
additional resources and gets the AED.
-You use a compression-to-ventilation ratio of 30:2.
✔✔You and a team of trained providers are performing CPR on an adult patient. One
team member has gone to get additional resources and the AED. Which of the following
statements are true about AED use? - ✔✔-The compressor should continue providing
compressions until the AED pads are applied and the AED prompts that it is analyzing.
-Team members should rotate roles every 2 minutes, which is generally during the AED
analysis, to prevent compressor fatigue.
-After the shock is delivered, the team should immediately resume CPR. They do not
need to wait for the AED prompt.
✔✔You are evaluating the quality of CPR provided by the BLS team. Which methods
would you use for this evaluation? - ✔✔-Visual observation
-Chest compression fraction
-Feedback device
-Capnography
, ✔✔You are delivering ventilations with a bag-valve-mask (BVM) resuscitator to an adult
patient in cardiac arrest. Which actions are correct? - ✔✔-Ensure that the chest begins
to rise.
-Hold the mask in place with the E-C hand position.
-Seal the mask and open the airway by lifting the jaw into the mask.
✔✔The team leader assigns roles, supports the team, monitors the delivery of CPR and
makes adjustments in real time. The team members deliver expert care within their
assigned roles, assist others as needed (as long as they can maintain their own
assigned responsibilities) and communicate effectively with the team leader and each
other. True or false? - ✔✔true
✔✔Conduct a rapid assessment - ✔✔-perform a quick visual survey
-check for responsiveness
-opening the patient's airway and simultaneously checking for breathing and a pulse.
Then if an unresponsive patient isn't breathing normally and doesn't have a pulse, begin
CPR.
✔✔Conduct a rapid assessment, which includes performing a quick visual survey and
checking for responsiveness, opening the patient's airway and simultaneously checking
for breathing and a pulse. Then if an unresponsive patient isn't breathing normally and
doesn't have a pulse, begin CPR. - ✔✔Ensure that the patient is on a firm, flat surface.
In a healthcare setting, use a bed with a CPR feature, or place a CPR board under the
patient to provide a firm, flat surface. In other settings, move the patient to the floor or
ground before beginning CPR.
Stand or kneel beside the patient. If the patient is in bed, make sure you are at a good
working height.
✔✔Position your hands correctly - ✔✔Expose the patient's chest so you can ensure
proper hand placement and visualize chest recoil.
Place the heel of one hand in the center of the patient's chest on the lower half of the
sternum. Place your other hand on top of the first and interlace your fingers or hold
them up so that they are not resting on the patient's chest.
✔✔Position your body effectively - ✔✔Position yourself so your shoulders are directly
over your hands. Keep your arms straight and lock your elbows. Compress the chest
using a straight up-and-down motion. This allows you to use your body weight rather
than your muscular strength, which is more effective and less tiring.
✔✔Provide 30 chest compressions - ✔✔For adults, compress the chest to a depth of at
least 2 inches (5 cm). If you are using a feedback device, make sure the compressions
are no more than 2.4 inches (6 cm) deep.
EXAMS GUIDE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔Myocardial Infarction signs and symptoms - ✔✔-Chest discomfort or pain that is
severe, lasts longer than 3 to 5 minutes, goes away and comes back, or persists even
during rest
-Discomfort, pressure or pain that is persistent and ranges from discomfort to an
unbearable crushing sensation in the chest, possibly spreading to the shoulder, arm,
neck, jaw, stomach or back, and usually not relieved by resting, changing position or
taking medication
-Chest pain that comes and goes (such as angina pectoris)
-Difficulty breathing, such as at a faster rate than normal or noisy breathing
-Pale or ashen skin, especially around the face
-Sweating, especially on the face
-Dizziness or light-headedness
-Possible altered mental status or level of consciousness
-Nausea or vomiting
Although women may experience the most common signs and symptoms of MI, such as
chest pain, discomfort, nausea or vomiting, they may also experience common atypical
warning signs, such as:
-Shortness of breath.
-Stomach, back or jaw pain.
-Unexplained fatigue or malaise.
These warning signs may occur with or without chest pain. When women do experience
chest pain, it may be atypical—sudden, sharp but short-lived pain outside the
breastbone. Like women, other individuals such as those with diabetes or older adults
may present with atypical signs and symptoms.
✔✔Myocardial infarction immediate care - ✔✔In cases of suspected MI, administer two
to four low-dose (81-mg) aspirin or one 325-mg adult aspirin based on your facility's
protocols.
Make sure that the patient chews the medication.
Depending on your level of training, additional care may include administration of
oxygen, other medications and diagnostic tests. Each healthcare facility establishes
interventions and standard protocols for adult patients who are suspected or confirmed
to be experiencing an MI. As a healthcare professional engaged in clinical patient care,
it is important to be familiar with your own facility's protocols.
✔✔Obstructed airway - ✔✔If the patient is responsive but cannot cough, speak or
breathe, they are choking.
Obtain consent and immediately begin care for an obstructed airway. See Lesson 5 for
more information.
,✔✔Opioid overdose - ✔✔If the patient is unresponsive and shows signs and symptoms
of opioid overdose (e.g., pinpoint pupils, respiratory depression, unconsciousness or
severe sleepiness), follow these steps:
-If you have not already done so, call for help to activate EMS, the rapid response team
or the resuscitation team, as appropriate, and call for an AED and naloxone.
-Provide care for the condition found. This will be similar to the care you must provide
during any respiratory or cardiac arrest emergency. The primary differences are calling
for and administering naloxone.
✔✔You demonstrate high-quality CPR by keeping interruptions in CPR to less than
_____ seconds. - ✔✔10
✔✔An adult patient suffers cardiac arrest in bed and requires CPR. When compressing
the patient's chest, which technique promotes high-quality CPR? - ✔✔-Position yourself
so your shoulders are directly over your hands.
-Place one hand on top of the other and interlace your fingers or hold them up so that
they are not resting on the patient's chest.
-Keep your arms straight and lock your elbows. Compress the chest using a straight
down-and-up motion.
✔✔You arrive with an AED and prepare to apply the pads while the BLS team continues
to provide CPR. You apply the pads using the anterior/lateral pad placement. - ✔✔-
Patient's upper right chest, below the right clavicle to the right of the sternum
-Patient's lower left chest along the midaxillary line, a few inches below the left armpit
✔✔You are working with a BLS team performing CPR on a 62-year-old female patient.
Which actions demonstrate high-quality CPR? - ✔✔-Deliver smooth ventilations that last
about 1 second each and make the chest begin to rise.
-Allow for full chest recoil after each compression.
-Compress the chest at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute.
✔✔The team leader assigns roles, supports the team, monitors the delivery of CPR and
makes adjustments in real time. The team members deliver expert care within their
assigned roles, assist others as needed (as long as they can maintain their own
assigned responsibilities) and communicate effectively with the team leader and each
other. True or false? - ✔✔true
✔✔An adult patient with an endotracheal tube (ET) in place experiences cardiac arrest
and requires CPR. Which of the following statements are true when performing high-
quality CPR with an ET tube in place? - ✔✔-the provider delivers 1 ventilation every 6
seconds
-The provider performs continuous compressions without pausing for ventilations.
,✔✔You have been performing multiple-provider CPR on a patient in cardiac arrest. The
patient is now showing signs of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Which
action(s) would the team perform? - ✔✔-stop CPR
-Check for breathing and pulse
-Monitor the patient until the advanced cardiac life support team takes over.
✔✔You are working as part of a high-performance BLS team. Which roles would you
and the other providers most likely fill? - ✔✔-Airway manager/ventilator
-AED operator
-Team leader
-Compressor
✔✔Identify the situations in which it is safe to use an AED. - ✔✔-If the patient is
experiencing cardiac arrest as a result of a traumatic injury
-If the patient is pregnant
-If the patient is wearing jewelry or has body piercings, providing the AED pads are not
placed directly over any metallic jewelry or piercings
-If the patient has a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs),
providing the AED pads are not placed directly over the device
-If the patient is lying on a metal surface, providing the AED pads do not touch the
surface and no one is touching the patient during shock
✔✔You and another provider are performing CPR on an adult patient in cardiac arrest.
An advanced airway is not yet in place. Which actions demonstrate appropriate care? -
✔✔-You use the same hand position and compression rate and depth as you would for
single-provider CPR.
-One provider focuses on rapid assessment and starting CPR; the other calls for
additional resources and gets the AED.
-You use a compression-to-ventilation ratio of 30:2.
✔✔You and a team of trained providers are performing CPR on an adult patient. One
team member has gone to get additional resources and the AED. Which of the following
statements are true about AED use? - ✔✔-The compressor should continue providing
compressions until the AED pads are applied and the AED prompts that it is analyzing.
-Team members should rotate roles every 2 minutes, which is generally during the AED
analysis, to prevent compressor fatigue.
-After the shock is delivered, the team should immediately resume CPR. They do not
need to wait for the AED prompt.
✔✔You are evaluating the quality of CPR provided by the BLS team. Which methods
would you use for this evaluation? - ✔✔-Visual observation
-Chest compression fraction
-Feedback device
-Capnography
, ✔✔You are delivering ventilations with a bag-valve-mask (BVM) resuscitator to an adult
patient in cardiac arrest. Which actions are correct? - ✔✔-Ensure that the chest begins
to rise.
-Hold the mask in place with the E-C hand position.
-Seal the mask and open the airway by lifting the jaw into the mask.
✔✔The team leader assigns roles, supports the team, monitors the delivery of CPR and
makes adjustments in real time. The team members deliver expert care within their
assigned roles, assist others as needed (as long as they can maintain their own
assigned responsibilities) and communicate effectively with the team leader and each
other. True or false? - ✔✔true
✔✔Conduct a rapid assessment - ✔✔-perform a quick visual survey
-check for responsiveness
-opening the patient's airway and simultaneously checking for breathing and a pulse.
Then if an unresponsive patient isn't breathing normally and doesn't have a pulse, begin
CPR.
✔✔Conduct a rapid assessment, which includes performing a quick visual survey and
checking for responsiveness, opening the patient's airway and simultaneously checking
for breathing and a pulse. Then if an unresponsive patient isn't breathing normally and
doesn't have a pulse, begin CPR. - ✔✔Ensure that the patient is on a firm, flat surface.
In a healthcare setting, use a bed with a CPR feature, or place a CPR board under the
patient to provide a firm, flat surface. In other settings, move the patient to the floor or
ground before beginning CPR.
Stand or kneel beside the patient. If the patient is in bed, make sure you are at a good
working height.
✔✔Position your hands correctly - ✔✔Expose the patient's chest so you can ensure
proper hand placement and visualize chest recoil.
Place the heel of one hand in the center of the patient's chest on the lower half of the
sternum. Place your other hand on top of the first and interlace your fingers or hold
them up so that they are not resting on the patient's chest.
✔✔Position your body effectively - ✔✔Position yourself so your shoulders are directly
over your hands. Keep your arms straight and lock your elbows. Compress the chest
using a straight up-and-down motion. This allows you to use your body weight rather
than your muscular strength, which is more effective and less tiring.
✔✔Provide 30 chest compressions - ✔✔For adults, compress the chest to a depth of at
least 2 inches (5 cm). If you are using a feedback device, make sure the compressions
are no more than 2.4 inches (6 cm) deep.
