2025 Penn Foster Anesthesia Practice Exam – Complete Prep Guide

After the initiation of basic life support (BLS), the next appropriate step in the chain of survival is the transition to advanced life support (ALS). BLS focuses on assessing and managing the individual's airway, breathing, and circulation through techniques such as chest compressions and rescue breaths. Once BLS has been established and maintained, ALS encompasses a broader range of interventions, including advanced airway management, medication administration, and the use of cardiac monitoring.

ALS is essential for patients in cardiac arrest or those exhibiting severe respiratory challenges, as it provides a more comprehensive medical response, often carried out by trained healthcare providers. This transition is crucial, as it increases the chances of survival and recovery for the patient, building upon the foundation that BLS has established.

The other options do not represent the immediate next step following BLS. The return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) may occur as a result of effective BLS and subsequent ALS and is not a procedural step. Monitoring vital signs is certainly a critical part of ongoing patient care but occurs within the larger context of the BLS/ALS continuum rather than immediately following BLS. Defibrillation may be part of the ALS protocol, but it is not the only component and does not encapsulate the full scope of