ADVANCED CARDIAC LIFE SUPPORT (ACLS) TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION | OFFICIAL AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION (AHA) COURSE WITH HANDS-ON SKILLS SESSIONS, PRACTICE TESTS & STUDY MATERIALS 2025-2026

Components of the BLS assessment

1. Check responsiveness

2. Shout for help and get AED

3. Check pulse and breathing

4. If no pulse, start CPR

5. If pulse, start rescue breathing

6. Check for shockable rhythm and defibrillate as needed

Interruptions in chest compressions should be limited to no more than _____ seconds

10

Chest compressions should be made to a depth of _____ inches

2

How many chest compressions should be administered per minute?

100-120

The "bradycardia with a pulse" algorithm should be considered for use when the heart rate is <_____ bpm

50

What is the 1st step in implementing the "bradycardia with a pulse" algorithm?

Identify and treat underlying cause

-Maintain patient airway

-Oxygen

-Cardiac monitor

-IV access

-EKG

If a bradycardic patient has adequate perfusion, what is the recommended treatment according to the "bradycardia with a pulse" algorithm?

Monitor and observe

If a bradycardic patient has poor perfusion (hypotension, shock, ADHF, altered mental status), what is the recommended treatment according to the "bradycardia with a pulse" algorithm?

Atropine 0.5 mg IV bolus

Maximum amount of atropine that can be administered to a patient

3 mg

Atropine should be administered how often in treating a bradycardic patient?

Every 3-5 minutes

If atropine is ineffective in treating bradycardia, what treatment options are there according to the "bradycardia with a pulse" algorithm?

1. Transcutaneous pacing

2. Dopamine 2-20 mcg/kg/min IV infusion

3. Epinephrine 2-10 mcg/min IV infusion

Most common causes of cardiac arrest (H's and T's)

Hypovolemia

Hypoxia

Hydrogen ion (acidosis)

Hypo or Hyper kalemia

Hypothermia

Tension pneumothorax

Tamponade

Toxins

Thrombosis (pulmonary and coronary)

What are the two most common underlying and reversible causes of pulseless electrical activity?

1. Hypovolemia

2. Hypoxia

Hypovolemia initially presents in a patient as sinus (bradycardia/tachycardia) and (hypotension/hypertension)

Tachycardia

Hypotension

According to the "adult tachycardia with a pulse" algorithm, what is the recommended treatment for a patient with tachyarrhythmia and hypotension, altered mental status, or shock?

Synchronized cardioversion

What is the recommended treatment for tachycardia with wide QRS according to the "adult tachycardia with a pulse" algorithm?

1. IV access and EKG

2. Consider adenosine ONLY if monomorphic and regular

What is the recommended drug for tachycardia without a wide QRS according to the "adult tachycardia with a pulse" algorithm?

Adenosine 6 mg rapid IV push

-Follow with NS flush

Alternative treatment for stable wide QRS tachycardia according to the "adult tachycardia with a pulse" algorithm

1. Procainamide 25-50 mg/min IV

2. Amiodarone 150 mg IV over 10 minutes

3. Sotalol 100 mg IV over 5 minutes

What are the shockable heart rhythms according to the "adult cardiac arrest" algorithm?

1. Ventricular fibrillation

2. Pulseless ventricular tachycardia

Asystole and pulseless electrical activity are (non-shockable/shockable) rhythms

Non-shockable

How long should CPR intervals occur between shock assessments?

2 minutes

When giving CPR, the compression-ventilation ratio is _____ compressions to _____ ventilations

30

2

What drug should be administered in cardiac arrest (VF, pVT, asystole, PEA) according to the "adult cardiac arrest" algorithm?

Epinephrine 1 mg IV every 3-5 minutes

What is an alternative to epinephrine according to the "adult cardiac arrest" algorithm?

Amiodarone 300 mg IV bolus

If a patient is intubated, how should CPR and breaths be administered?

Continuous CPR

1 breath every 6 seconds

Once a patient has returned to normal rhythm after cardiac arrest, what is the next step for post cardiac arrest care?

Send patient to cath lab

What does the mnemonic "MOVIES" stand for when assessing a patient for advanced life support?

Monitoring

Oxygen

Vitals

IV access

EKG

Sugar level