AHA PALS Post Test Questions with Answer keys

1) 33. After ROSC, a child is experiencing post-cardiac-arrest hypoperfusion. The PALS resuscitation team would administer which element to restore intravascular volume and optimize preload?

2) 40. Laboratory tests are ordered for a child who has been vomiting for three days and is diaphoretic, tachypneic, lethargic and pale. Which test would the provider use to determine the adequacy of perfusion and oxygen delivery?

3) 25. A child is experiencing shock. The emergency-response team prepares for imminent cardiac arrest when assessment reveals which finding?

4) A provider is caring for a 4-year-old child in the urgent-care clinic. Primary assessment reveals difficulty breathing and an oxygen saturation of 91 percent. The provider administers oxygen by nasal cannula with the goal of improving the child's oxygen saturation to what percentage range?

5) 34. An 11-year-old child develops ventricular tachycardia with a pulse and inadequate perfusion. The PALS team would prepare the child for which intervention?

6) 24. A child in the pediatric step-down unit is exhibiting signs of respiratory distress. When assessing this child, which circulation finding might be present?

7) 48. What is the correct IV/IO dose of epinephrine for a pediatric patient in cardiac arrest?

8) 20. A child exhibiting a narrow-complex tachycardia with adequate perfusion is to receive adenosine. The provider would be alert for which result after administering this medication?

9) 35. An 11-year-old soccer player is brought to the emergency department. After a quick assessment, the team realizes this patient is experiencing a severe asthma exacerbation. Which medication would the team administer immediately?

10) 44. The PALS resuscitation team notes the following ECG waveform and the child does not have a pulse. The team prepares to intervene to address which arrhythmia?

11) 18. A 9-year-old patient is presenting with diminished breath sounds, bradycardia, slowed respiratory rate and a low O₂ saturation level. The provider interprets these findings as indicating which condition?

12) 36. An 8-year-old child being treated in the emergency department has significant respiratory distress. The child also exhibits hives, wheezing, angioedema, tachycardia and dyspnea. The parents state that the child, who is allergic to peanuts, had eaten some popcorn that had peanuts in it. The team initiates care, preparing to administer which agent first?

13) 43. The PALS resuscitation team is providing care to an intubated child in cardiac arrest. Which of the following can be used to monitor the adequacy of the team's chest compressions?

14) 28. A healthcare provider notices petechiae on the arms and legs while performing a rapid skin assessment of a child with a high fever and respiratory distress. Based on this assessment, which condition should the provider consider?

15) 19. A child being cared for in the pediatric telemetry unit suddenly displays the following ECG waveform. The provider prepares to intervene because the child is demonstrating which type of arrhythmia?

16) 23. A child in the pediatric intensive care unit displays the following ECG waveform. The child has no pulse. The resuscitation team interprets this as which arrhythmia?

17) 30. A provider is assessing a child with suspected shock. Which statement correctly describes hypotension and shock?

18) 3. A 12-year-old is being treated in the urgent-care clinic. The mother reports that the child came home from school yesterday with a high fever, vomiting and multiple episodes of watery diarrhea. The healthcare provider obtains a rhythm strip and notes the following waveform. The provider interprets this as which type of arrhythmia?

19) 49. Which action would the PALS team initiate to manage increased intracranial pressure in a pediatric patient?

20) 6. A 2-year-old child is brought to the pediatric urgent-care clinic by the parent who says the child has had a barking cough for two days. During the rapid assessment of the child, the provider hears audible inspiratory stridor. Which common cause of partial upper-airway obstruction in children would the provider most likely suspect?

21) 1. A 10-year-old child has collapsed in the gym of the elementary school. The school nurse arrives and determines that the child is unresponsive. The school nurse then simultaneously checks for breathing and a central pulse, limiting this assessment to which time frame?

22) 42. The emergency-response team is providing care to a preschooler who is experiencing shock. The primary goal, common to all types of shock, is to restore a favorable balance between tissue perfusion and metabolic demand with a focus on what?

23) 13. A 6-year-old child is brought to the emergency department. The child has been experiencing extremely watery stools over the past several days. After completing the assessment, the healthcare provider suspects that the child may be experiencing shock. Which type of shock would the provider most likely suspect?

24) 27. A healthcare provider is performing a primary assessment of a child in respiratory distress. The provider documents increased work of breathing when which finding is observed?

25) 10. A 4-year-old child suddenly collapses in the playroom of the facility. A healthcare provider observes the event and hurries over to assess the child. The healthcare provider completes which assessment first?

26) 11. A 4-year-old patient presents with tachycardia, tachypnea, cold extremities and weak pulses. Assessment also reveals an enlarged liver and neck-vein distension. The provider interprets these assessment findings as suggesting which type of shock?

27) 15. A 7-year-old child collapses on the playground at school. The school nurse is called to the scene and determines that the child is unresponsive, is not breathing and has no pulse. The nurse initiates CPR. At what rate and depth would the nurse deliver compressions to this child?

28) A provider is forming an initial impression of a child using the Pediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT). For which part of the PAT may the provider use the mnemonic TICLS to assess the patient?

29) 46. The PALS team leader is conducting a debriefing session with the team. Which topic would the team leader most likely address during the session?

30) 9. A 4-year-old child is brought to the emergency department by the parents. Assessment reveals that the child has only gasping respirations and the pulse rate is 65 beats per minute. Which action would the provider initiate first?

31) 8. A 30-month-old child has been diagnosed with moderate croup. Which medication(s) would the provider administer?

32) 14. A 6-year-old patient is brought to the emergency department after a bicycle accident. Assessment reveals chest pain on inspiration, diminished breath sounds on the right side and respiratory distress. The provider suspects obstructive shock caused by what condition?

33) 29. A PALS resuscitation team is preparing to defibrillate a child experiencing cardiac arrest. For which rhythm would this action be appropriate?

34) 17. A 9-year-old child is brought to the emergency department because the child suddenly collapsed at school. The child's ECG reveals the following waveform, and primary-assessment findings indicate that the child has inadequate perfusion. Which primary-assessment finding indicates this?

35) 2. A 12-year-old child being evaluated in the pediatric intensive care unit displays the following ECG waveform. The team interprets this as which arrhythmia?

36) 26. A child is experiencing supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) with adequate perfusion and is to receive treatment. Which initial treatment would the provider administer?

37) 50. While performing a rapid assessment and formulating an initial impression using the Pediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT), the provider assesses the child's circulation. Which information would be important to consider?

38) 7. A 2-year-old child of unknown weight arrives at the emergency department in cardiac arrest. When preparing to administer medications, which action would be appropriate for the team to take?

39) 22. A child in cardiac arrest experiences return of spontaneous circulation but is exhibiting signs of post-cardiac-arrest syndrome (PCAS). The PALS resuscitation team determines that the child is experiencing a systemic response to ischemia/reperfusion. The team bases this determination on which finding?

40) 5. A 2-year-old child arrives at the emergency department with the parents. The child is unresponsive, is not breathing and has no pulse. Two emergency-department providers begin high-quality CPR. Which action(s) by the providers demonstrates high-quality CPR?

41) 16. A 7-year-old patient with septic shock has received three balanced/buffered crystalloid fluid boluses (60 mL/kg) and reassessment reveals capillary refill of 3 seconds, diminished pulses, narrow pulse pressure and cool, mottled extremities. The emergency-response team interprets these findings as indicating which type of septic shock?

42) 45. The PALS team is providing post-cardiac-arrest care to an 8-year-old child in the pediatric intensive care unit. Which intervention would the team implement to achieve the primary goal of post-cardiac-arrest care, after assuring adequate oxygenation and ventilation?

43) 21. A child experiencing bradycardia with inadequate perfusion despite supporting oxygenation and ventilation is receiving compressions. Despite these efforts, the child's status remains unchanged. Which medication would the emergency-response team expect to administer next?

44) 12. A 5-year-old child with a history of a chronic neuromuscular disease is experiencing respiratory distress. The child is breathing spontaneously and receiving supplemental oxygen. Which additional intervention is a critical component of airway management for this patient?

45) 39. Assessment of a 3-month-old infant admitted with respiratory distress reveals fever, grunting and a wet, “junky” cough. The infant’s parents said the child had a recent respiratory infection with a fever. A rapid respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) test is positive. Which condition would the provider most likely suspect as the cause?

46) 38. An unresponsive 7-year-old child with no pulse is brought to the pediatric urgent-care center by his parents and CPR is initiated. The cardiac monitor reveals ventricular fibrillation. Which action would the PALS team take first?

47) 4. A 15-year-old patient is being evaluated during a follow-up visit after being diagnosed with Lyme disease 2 months ago. A rhythm strip is obtained as shown below. The provider interprets this rhythm as indicating which arrhythmia?

48) 47. What is considered inadequate perfusion when assessing/caring for a pediatric patient with an arrhythmia?

49) 41. Primary assessment of a 10-year-old child reveals septic shock. As part of the secondary assessment—if not already done as part of initial sepsis care—laboratory testing is completed to evaluate the child's status. Which laboratory tests would be ordered for this child?

50) 37. An advanced airway was placed in a 5-year-old child. Which action would be most appropriate for the team to take to confirm correct placement?