PALS Chapter 7: Bradycardia Practice Test 2025

Last Updated on May 10, 2025

Pediatric Advanced Life Support PALS Chapter 7: Bradycardia Practice Test 2025 Questions 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 cause several signs and symptoms, including low blood pressure, pulmonary edema/congestion, abnormal 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) A child’s heart rate drops to 30 bpm with poor perfusion despite oxygen and CPR. What is the next step?

A) Deliver a shock

B) Administer epinephrine

C) Wait and reassess in 5 minutes

D) Apply a cold compress

2 / 20

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

A) Sodium bicarbonate

B) Amiodarone

C) Atropine

D) Adenosine

3 / 20

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

A) Raises blood pressure too quickly

B) May worsen bradycardia

C) Induces apnea

D) Causes rebound tachycardia

4 / 20

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

A) Poison Control

B) Department of Transportation

C) CDC

D) American Heart Association

5 / 20

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

A) Start CPR

B) Give atropine

C) Monitor and reassess

D) Begin pacing

6 / 20

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

A) Irregular respiratory pattern

B) Weak or absent pulses

C) High blood pressure

D) Sweating

7 / 20

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

A) Overdrive pacing

B) Transesophageal pacing

C) Permanent pacing

D) Transcutaneous pacing

8 / 20

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

A) 0.01 mg/kg

B) 0.1 mg/kg

C) 0.5 mg/kg

D) 1 mg/kg

9 / 20

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

A) Symptomatic bradycardia

B) Atrial fibrillation

C) Sinus tachycardia

D) Ventricular fibrillation

10 / 20

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

A) Hypothermia

B) Hyperthermia

C) Severe infection

D) Hypoxia

11 / 20

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

A) Defibrillation

B) Transthoracic pacing

C) Chest tube insertion

D) High-dose epinephrine

12 / 20

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

A) Drug overdose

B) Primary cardiac disease

C) Hypoxia

D) Genetic mutation

13 / 20

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

A) Defibrillation

B) Epinephrine and atropine

C) Adenosine

D) Sodium bicarbonate

14 / 20

14) What is considered symptomatic bradycardia in pediatric patients?

A) Bradycardia without chest pain

B) Any HR <100

C) Bradycardia with signs of poor perfusion

D) Mild fatigue with normal HR

15 / 20

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

A) Fluid bolus

B) Sedation

C) High-flow oxygen

D) Atropine

16 / 20

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

A) Decrease blood pressure

B) Give fluids continuously

C) Slow down heart rate

D) Improve oxygenation and perfusion

17 / 20

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

A) Atropine

B) Dopamine

C) Lidocaine

D) Epinephrine

18 / 20

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

A) At any heart rate below 100

B) When the child is unresponsive

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

D) Only if the heart stops

19 / 20

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

A) 0.3 mg

B) 1.0 mg

C) 0.1 mg

D) 0.5 mg

20 / 20

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

A) 60–80

B) 100–120

C) 140–160

D) 80–100

Your score is

See also:

Free PALS Practice Test 2025 Official Study Guide [PDF]