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

A) Hyperthermia

B) Hypoxia

C) Severe infection

D) Hypothermia

2 / 20

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

A) Give atropine

B) Start CPR

C) Monitor and reassess

D) Begin pacing

3 / 20

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

A) Amiodarone

B) Sodium bicarbonate

C) Adenosine

D) Atropine

4 / 20

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

A) Sinus tachycardia

B) Symptomatic bradycardia

C) Ventricular fibrillation

D) Atrial fibrillation

5 / 20

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

A) Transthoracic pacing

B) High-dose epinephrine

C) Defibrillation

D) Chest tube insertion

6 / 20

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

A) Give fluids continuously

B) Slow down heart rate

C) Improve oxygenation and perfusion

D) Decrease blood pressure

7 / 20

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

A) Fluid bolus

B) Sedation

C) Atropine

D) High-flow oxygen

8 / 20

8) 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

9 / 20

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

A) Primary cardiac disease

B) Drug overdose

C) Genetic mutation

D) Hypoxia

10 / 20

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

A) 0.5 mg/kg

B) 0.01 mg/kg

C) 1 mg/kg

D) 0.1 mg/kg

11 / 20

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

A) Weak or absent pulses

B) Irregular respiratory pattern

C) High blood pressure

D) Sweating

12 / 20

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

A) Epinephrine and atropine

B) Defibrillation

C) Adenosine

D) Sodium bicarbonate

13 / 20

13) What is considered symptomatic bradycardia in pediatric patients?

A) Any HR <100

B) Bradycardia with signs of poor perfusion

C) Mild fatigue with normal HR

D) Bradycardia without chest pain

14 / 20

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

A) 60–80

B) 80–100

C) 100–120

D) 140–160

15 / 20

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

A) Only if the heart stops

B) At any heart rate below 100

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

D) When the child is unresponsive

16 / 20

16) 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) Causes rebound tachycardia

D) Induces apnea

17 / 20

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

A) 0.3 mg

B) 0.5 mg

C) 1.0 mg

D) 0.1 mg

18 / 20

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

A) Lidocaine

B) Epinephrine

C) Atropine

D) Dopamine

19 / 20

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

A) Transcutaneous pacing

B) Transesophageal pacing

C) Overdrive pacing

D) Permanent pacing

20 / 20

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

A) CDC

B) American Heart Association

C) Department of Transportation

D) Poison Control

Your score is

See also:

Free PALS Practice Test 2025 Official Study Guide [PDF]

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