PALS Chapter 7: Bradycardia Practice Test 2025

Last Updated on June 28, 2025

Pediatric Advanced Life Support PALS Chapter 7: Bradycardia Practice Test 2025 Questions and Answers Quiz. Bradycardia is a heart rate slower than usual for a child’s age. Bradycardia in children and infants should be evaluated, but not all bradycardia needs to be medically managed.

Intervention is required when bradycardia is symptomatic and compromises cardiovascular function. This commonly means that the heart is beating too slowly to maintain blood pressure, causing shock, poor tissue perfusion, and/or a change in mental status.

Symptomatic bradycardia may present with several signs and symptoms, including low blood pressure, pulmonary edema or congestion, abnormal heart rhythm, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, confusion, and/or syncope. Bradycardia most commonly becomes symptomatic when it is new to the person (acute heart rate slowing).

PALS Chapter 7: Bradycardia Practice Test

PALS Chapter 7: Bradycardia

PALS Practice Test
Chapter 7: Bradycardia
Total Items: 20 MCQs
Time Limit: N/A

1 / 20

1) If CPR is started due to severe bradycardia, what is the compression rate per minute?

A) 60–80

B) 140–160

C) 100–120

D) 80–100

2 / 20

2) What is considered symptomatic bradycardia in pediatric patients?

A) Bradycardia with signs of poor perfusion

B) Bradycardia without chest pain

C) Mild fatigue with normal HR

D) Any HR <100

3 / 20

3) What is the primary medication used to treat symptomatic bradycardia in children?

A) Dopamine

B) Atropine

C) Lidocaine

D) Epinephrine

4 / 20

4) A child has symptomatic bradycardia unresponsive to both epinephrine and atropine. What is the next most appropriate step?

A) Chest tube insertion

B) Defibrillation

C) High-dose epinephrine

D) Transthoracic pacing

5 / 20

5) Why should atropine not be given in doses less than 0.1 mg in children?

A) Causes rebound tachycardia

B) Raises blood pressure too quickly

C) Induces apnea

D) May worsen bradycardia

6 / 20

6) What is the maximum recommended IV dose of atropine for a child?

A) 1.0 mg

B) 0.5 mg

C) 0.3 mg

D) 0.1 mg

7 / 20

7) In bradycardia due to toxin ingestion, which agency might help guide treatment?

A) American Heart Association

B) CDC

C) Poison Control

D) Department of Transportation

8 / 20

8) A child with a heart rate of 50 bpm is alert and breathing normally. What is the best next step?

A) Give atropine

B) Begin pacing

C) Monitor and reassess

D) Start CPR

9 / 20

9) What dose of epinephrine is recommended for pediatric bradycardia?

A) 0.1 mg/kg

B) 0.01 mg/kg

C) 1 mg/kg

D) 0.5 mg/kg

10 / 20

10) A child’s heart rate drops to 30 bpm with poor perfusion despite oxygen and CPR. What is the next step?

A) Administer epinephrine

B) Deliver a shock

C) Apply a cold compress

D) Wait and reassess in 5 minutes

11 / 20

11) When should CPR be started in a child with bradycardia?

A) At any heart rate below 100

B) If the heart rate is under 60 bpm with signs of poor perfusion

C) When the child is unresponsive

D) Only if the heart stops

12 / 20

12) What is one key goal when managing pediatric bradycardia?

A) Slow down heart rate

B) Decrease blood pressure

C) Improve oxygenation and perfusion

D) Give fluids continuously

13 / 20

13) Which of the following is most often the cause of bradycardia in children?

A) Genetic mutation

B) Primary cardiac disease

C) Hypoxia

D) Drug overdose

14 / 20

14) What intervention improves oxygenation and may help reverse bradycardia in hypoxic patients?

A) Sedation

B) Atropine

C) Fluid bolus

D) High-flow oxygen

15 / 20

15) In bradycardia with a pulse, which treatment is started before considering pacing?

A) Sodium bicarbonate

B) Epinephrine and atropine

C) Adenosine

D) Defibrillation

16 / 20

16) Which of the following is NOT typically a cause of bradycardia in children?

A) Hyperthermia

B) Hypoxia

C) Hypothermia

D) Severe infection

17 / 20

17) Which drug may be effective in bradycardia due to vagal stimulation?

A) Atropine

B) Sodium bicarbonate

C) Adenosine

D) Amiodarone

18 / 20

18) Which rhythm is commonly seen before a pediatric cardiac arrest?

A) Sinus tachycardia

B) Atrial fibrillation

C) Ventricular fibrillation

D) Symptomatic bradycardia

19 / 20

19) What physical finding supports a diagnosis of symptomatic bradycardia?

A) Sweating

B) Weak or absent pulses

C) Irregular respiratory pattern

D) High blood pressure

20 / 20

20) What type of pacing is recommended when bradycardia does not respond to medications?

A) Permanent pacing

B) Overdrive pacing

C) Transcutaneous pacing

D) Transesophageal pacing

Your score is

See also:

Free PALS Practice Test 2025 Official Study Guide [PDF]

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