PALS EXAM A QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains
Pediatric Assessment and Recognition of Sick Child
Respiratory Distress and Respiratory Failure Management
Shock Types, Recognition, and Interventions
Pediatric Cardiac Arrest Algorithms and CPR
Brady cardia and Tachycardia Management
Pediatric ECG Rhythm Identification
Airway Management and Ventilation Techniques
Medication Dosing and Emergency Drug Administration
High-Quality CPR and Resuscitation Team Dynamics
Post-Cardiac Arrest Care and Stabilization
,This comprehensive PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) assessment is designed to evaluate healthcare
providers' mastery of pediatric emergency recognition and treatment protocols. The exam assesses critical
skills including pediatric assessment funnel methodology, respiratory distress versus failure differentiation,
shock recognition and management, cardiac arrest algorithm application, bradycardia and tachycardia
interventions, and appropriate medication dosing. The multiple-choice and scenario-based structure
emphasizes real-world clinical application, requiring providers to make rapid decision-making choices
similar to actual pediatric emergency situations. Success on this exam demonstrates readiness to respond
confidently to life-threatening pediatric emergencies with the expectation of saving a child's life.
Section One: Questions 1–100
Question 1
A 3-year-old child presents with stridor, retractions, and a respiratory rate of 32/min. Lungs are clear on
auscultation. What is the most likely location of airway obstruction?
A. Lower airway obstruction
B. Parenchymal lung disease
C. Upper airway obstruction
D. Bronchospasm
🟢 C. Upper airway obstruction
,🔴 RATIONALE: Stridor (high-pitched inspiratory sound) combined with retractions and clear lung
auscultation strongly indicates upper airway obstruction. Common causes include croup or foreign body
aspiration. Lower airway obstruction would present with wheezing, and parenchymal disease would show
abnormal lung sounds.
Question 2
For infants and children, what is the compression-to-ventilation ratio for 2-rescuer CPR?
A. 30:2
B. 15:2
C. 5:1
D. 10:1
🟢 B. 15:2
🔴 RATIONALE: For 2-rescuer CPR in infants and children, the recommended compression-to-ventilation
ratio is 15:2. This ratio applies to children needing advanced life support measures and ensures adequate
ventilation while providing effective chest compressions. The 30:2 ratio is used for 1-rescuer infant CPR and
adult CPR.
Question 3
A 10-year-old child has a heart rate of 88/min, respiratory rate of 18/min, temperature of 37.2°C, and blood
pressure of 110/65 mmHg. Which finding is most concerning?
, A. Heart rate of 88/min
B. Respiratory rate of 18/min
C. Temperature of 37.2°C
D. All findings are within normal range
🟢 D. All findings are within normal range
🔴 RATIONALE: A heart rate of 88/min is within the normal range for a 10-year-old child (normal: 70-
110/min). Respiratory rate of 18/min is normal (normal: 12-20/min), and temperature of 37.2°C is normal.
Blood pressure of 110/65 mmHg is also within normal limits for this age.
Question 4
An unresponsive infant is not breathing and has no pulse. What is the first action you should take?
A. Activate the emergency response system immediately
B. Initiate CPR for 1 minute before activating emergency response
C. Administer epinephrine immediately
D. Check for a pulse for 5 minutes
🟢 B. Initiate CPR for 1 minute before activating emergency response
🔴 RATIONALE: For an unresponsive infant who is not breathing and has no pulse, when you are alone,
initiate CPR for 1 minute before activating the emergency response system. This increases survival chance by
providing early CPR before additional help arrives. If another person is present, activate emergency response
immediately.
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains
Pediatric Assessment and Recognition of Sick Child
Respiratory Distress and Respiratory Failure Management
Shock Types, Recognition, and Interventions
Pediatric Cardiac Arrest Algorithms and CPR
Brady cardia and Tachycardia Management
Pediatric ECG Rhythm Identification
Airway Management and Ventilation Techniques
Medication Dosing and Emergency Drug Administration
High-Quality CPR and Resuscitation Team Dynamics
Post-Cardiac Arrest Care and Stabilization
,This comprehensive PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) assessment is designed to evaluate healthcare
providers' mastery of pediatric emergency recognition and treatment protocols. The exam assesses critical
skills including pediatric assessment funnel methodology, respiratory distress versus failure differentiation,
shock recognition and management, cardiac arrest algorithm application, bradycardia and tachycardia
interventions, and appropriate medication dosing. The multiple-choice and scenario-based structure
emphasizes real-world clinical application, requiring providers to make rapid decision-making choices
similar to actual pediatric emergency situations. Success on this exam demonstrates readiness to respond
confidently to life-threatening pediatric emergencies with the expectation of saving a child's life.
Section One: Questions 1–100
Question 1
A 3-year-old child presents with stridor, retractions, and a respiratory rate of 32/min. Lungs are clear on
auscultation. What is the most likely location of airway obstruction?
A. Lower airway obstruction
B. Parenchymal lung disease
C. Upper airway obstruction
D. Bronchospasm
🟢 C. Upper airway obstruction
,🔴 RATIONALE: Stridor (high-pitched inspiratory sound) combined with retractions and clear lung
auscultation strongly indicates upper airway obstruction. Common causes include croup or foreign body
aspiration. Lower airway obstruction would present with wheezing, and parenchymal disease would show
abnormal lung sounds.
Question 2
For infants and children, what is the compression-to-ventilation ratio for 2-rescuer CPR?
A. 30:2
B. 15:2
C. 5:1
D. 10:1
🟢 B. 15:2
🔴 RATIONALE: For 2-rescuer CPR in infants and children, the recommended compression-to-ventilation
ratio is 15:2. This ratio applies to children needing advanced life support measures and ensures adequate
ventilation while providing effective chest compressions. The 30:2 ratio is used for 1-rescuer infant CPR and
adult CPR.
Question 3
A 10-year-old child has a heart rate of 88/min, respiratory rate of 18/min, temperature of 37.2°C, and blood
pressure of 110/65 mmHg. Which finding is most concerning?
, A. Heart rate of 88/min
B. Respiratory rate of 18/min
C. Temperature of 37.2°C
D. All findings are within normal range
🟢 D. All findings are within normal range
🔴 RATIONALE: A heart rate of 88/min is within the normal range for a 10-year-old child (normal: 70-
110/min). Respiratory rate of 18/min is normal (normal: 12-20/min), and temperature of 37.2°C is normal.
Blood pressure of 110/65 mmHg is also within normal limits for this age.
Question 4
An unresponsive infant is not breathing and has no pulse. What is the first action you should take?
A. Activate the emergency response system immediately
B. Initiate CPR for 1 minute before activating emergency response
C. Administer epinephrine immediately
D. Check for a pulse for 5 minutes
🟢 B. Initiate CPR for 1 minute before activating emergency response
🔴 RATIONALE: For an unresponsive infant who is not breathing and has no pulse, when you are alone,
initiate CPR for 1 minute before activating the emergency response system. This increases survival chance by
providing early CPR before additional help arrives. If another person is present, activate emergency response
immediately.
