NREMT Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Cognitive ExamCardiology & ResuscitationEasy
A 50-year-old male is found unresponsive, pulseless, and apneic. CPR is initiated immediately by bystanders. Upon your arrival, the AED is attached and advises 'NO SHOCK ADVISED.' What is the MOST appropriate next action?
- AContinue chest compressions.
- BCheck for a pulse.
- CDeliver two rescue breaths.
- DRemove the AED pads.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Continue chest compressions.
If the AED advises 'NO SHOCK ADVISED' for a pulseless patient, it means the rhythm is non-shockable (e.g., asystole or pulseless electrical activity - PEA). The appropriate action is to immediately resume or continue high-quality chest compressions and ventilations for 2 minutes before the AED re-analyzes.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. A pulse check is performed after 2 minutes (5 cycles) of CPR, not immediately after a 'no shock' message.
- C. While rescue breaths are part of CPR, the priority after 'no shock advised' is to continue the full cycle of chest compressions and ventilations.
- D. The AED pads should remain attached to allow for subsequent rhythm analysis.
AED 'No Shock Advised' Protocol
The sequence of actions to take when an AED determines the patient's cardiac rhythm is not shockable.
- Means the rhythm is likely asystole or PEA.
- Defibrillation is not effective for these rhythms.
- Immediate resumption of high-quality CPR is critical.
- AED will re-analyze after 2 minutes of CPR.
Memory trick: Shock or no shock, CPR's the clock!