Certified Cardiographic Technician (CCT) Practice Exam 2026 - Free CCT Practice Questions and Study Guide

Performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is indicated in situations where a patient shows no pulse and is unresponsive, which is exactly the circumstance described by the correct answer. This scenario indicates that the heart is not functioning adequately to circulate blood, leading to a lack of oxygenated blood flow to vital organs. In such critical scenarios, CPR is essential to provide temporary circulation and maintain some level of oxygenation until advanced medical help arrives or normal heart function is restored.

The other circumstances described do not warrant CPR. For example, a patient who is responsive yet experiencing chest pain implies that the heart may still be functioning, and they may require different forms of medical attention rather than immediate CPR. An unresponsive patient with a pulse suggests that the heart is still beating, meaning they may need assessment for other treatments but not CPR. Lastly, a patient complaining of difficulty breathing, while potentially serious, does not automatically indicate that CPR is needed unless there is a simultaneous loss of consciousness and pulse.