How often should a rescuer reassess the patient's pulse during CPR?

The correct response is that a rescuer should reassess the patient's pulse every 2 minutes during CPR. This timing aligns with the guidelines for high-quality CPR, which emphasize the importance of minimizing interruptions in chest compressions. During the assessment, it's vital to determine if there is any return of spontaneous circulation. Reassessing every 2 minutes allows for an adequate interval to monitor the patient’s response to the resuscitation efforts without causing unnecessary disruptions to the rhythm of chest compressions, which is crucial in maintaining blood flow to vital organs.

Choosing to assess pulse every 5 seconds would lead to too frequent interruptions in compressions, negatively impacting the effectiveness of CPR. Assessing every 30 seconds may not provide sufficient time to note any changes in the patient's condition, while evaluating only when the patient shows improvement disregards the need for continuous monitoring, which is essential to determine whether further interventions are required. Thus, the guideline of reassessing every 2 minutes balances the need for effective chest compressions with the necessity of monitoring the patient’s status.