PALS POST TEST PRACTICE PAPER 2026
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ You are caring for a child in persistent ventricular fibrillation.
Which of the following would be best describe the child's cardiac
condition? Answer: The heart is not pumping blood at all
◉ You are called to treat a 5 yo with a 3 day history of worsening
respiratory distress. The child responds only to pain. The HR is
initially 45/min & regular with poor capillary refill. You provide
BMB with high-flow oxygen that produces good chest rise with full &
clear bilateral breath sounds. The HR rises in response to
ventilation, but after you suction the posterior pharynx, bradycardia
recurs (40/min). Which of the following interventions would be
most appropriate for you to do first? Answer: Resume BMV
◉ You are caring for an 8 mo withe bradycardia & very poor
perfusion that has persisted despite effective ventilations with high-
flow oxygen. You should begin chest compressions if the HR is:
Answer: Less than 60/min
◉ You are caring for a 2 yo with a 1 day history of respiratory
distress & stridor. The pt is alert. The child's RR is 32/min with good
chest rise. Sp02 is 98% in room air. The HR is 128/min & capillary
, refill is normal. Skin is warm, pink, & dry. At this point you should:
Answer: Keep the pt calm & comfortable
◉ You are caring for a 7 yo with respiratory distress that has
worsened over the past few hours. The child is alert & in moderate
respiratory with prolonged exhalation time. The RR is 28/min with
bilateral expiratory wheezes. The HR is 112/min with good capillary
refill. The wheezing in this pt indicates: Answer: Lower airway
obstruction
◉ Which of the following assessments is most useful in evaluating
the effectiveness of BMV? Answer: Observation of visible chest rise
◉ You are assessing a 6 yo child who appears unconscious after
striking his head on a concrete step. You pinch the pt's chest & the pt
grabs your hand. You would document this response as: Answer:
Localization of painful stimulus
◉ You are caring for an 8 yo child who was struck by a car. The child
is alert, very anxious, & in respiratory distress. The child is receiving
high-flow oxygen by face mask, has a RR of 60/min, the HR is
150/min, SBP is 70 mmHg, & a Sp02 of 86% & falling. Breath sounds
& chest rise are absent over the right chest. Which of the following is
the most likely cause of this child's distress? Answer: Tension
pneumothroax
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ You are caring for a child in persistent ventricular fibrillation.
Which of the following would be best describe the child's cardiac
condition? Answer: The heart is not pumping blood at all
◉ You are called to treat a 5 yo with a 3 day history of worsening
respiratory distress. The child responds only to pain. The HR is
initially 45/min & regular with poor capillary refill. You provide
BMB with high-flow oxygen that produces good chest rise with full &
clear bilateral breath sounds. The HR rises in response to
ventilation, but after you suction the posterior pharynx, bradycardia
recurs (40/min). Which of the following interventions would be
most appropriate for you to do first? Answer: Resume BMV
◉ You are caring for an 8 mo withe bradycardia & very poor
perfusion that has persisted despite effective ventilations with high-
flow oxygen. You should begin chest compressions if the HR is:
Answer: Less than 60/min
◉ You are caring for a 2 yo with a 1 day history of respiratory
distress & stridor. The pt is alert. The child's RR is 32/min with good
chest rise. Sp02 is 98% in room air. The HR is 128/min & capillary
, refill is normal. Skin is warm, pink, & dry. At this point you should:
Answer: Keep the pt calm & comfortable
◉ You are caring for a 7 yo with respiratory distress that has
worsened over the past few hours. The child is alert & in moderate
respiratory with prolonged exhalation time. The RR is 28/min with
bilateral expiratory wheezes. The HR is 112/min with good capillary
refill. The wheezing in this pt indicates: Answer: Lower airway
obstruction
◉ Which of the following assessments is most useful in evaluating
the effectiveness of BMV? Answer: Observation of visible chest rise
◉ You are assessing a 6 yo child who appears unconscious after
striking his head on a concrete step. You pinch the pt's chest & the pt
grabs your hand. You would document this response as: Answer:
Localization of painful stimulus
◉ You are caring for an 8 yo child who was struck by a car. The child
is alert, very anxious, & in respiratory distress. The child is receiving
high-flow oxygen by face mask, has a RR of 60/min, the HR is
150/min, SBP is 70 mmHg, & a Sp02 of 86% & falling. Breath sounds
& chest rise are absent over the right chest. Which of the following is
the most likely cause of this child's distress? Answer: Tension
pneumothroax
