PALS POST TEST 2025 COMPREHENSIVE EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
CORE DOMAINS
* Pediatric Basic Life Support (PBLS)
* Recognition of Respiratory Distress and Failure
* Recognition of Shock and Cardiovascular Compromise
* Cardiac Arrest Management and Rhythm Recognition
* Advanced Airway Management Techniques
* Pharmacology and Medication Administration
* Pediatric Assessment Algorithms
* Post-Cardiac Arrest Care
* Ethics, Legal Standards, and Team Dynamics
INTRODUCTION
*The purpose of this comprehensive exam is to evaluate proficiency in managing pediatric emergencies. P
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
A 4-year-old child presents with stridor at rest, drooling, and a tripod posture. What is the most likely
diagnosis?
A. Croup
B. Foreign body aspiration
C. Epiglottitis
,D. Bronchiolitis
🟢C
🔴 RATIONALE: The classic presentation of epiglottitis includes the sudden onset of high fever,
drooling, dysphagia, and a tripod positioning to maintain airway patency.
During pediatric resuscitation, what is the preferred site for intraosseous (IO) access?
A. Distal femur
B. Proximal tibia
C. Distal radius
D. Humerus
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: The proximal tibia is the most commonly used and recommended site for IO
access in pediatric patients due to its proximity to the surface and ease of identification.
Which of the following is the most appropriate dose of epinephrine for a child in cardiac arrest
(1:10,000 solution)?
A. 0.01 mg/kg
B. 0.1 mg/kg
C. 1 mg/kg
D. 0.05 mg/kg
🟢A
🔴 RATIONALE: The standard dose for intravenous or intraosseous epinephrine in pediatric cardiac
arrest is 0.01 mg/kg (0.1 mL/kg of the 1:10,000 concentration).
A child with hypovolemic shock is unresponsive to two fluid boluses. What is the next step?
A. Start dopamine infusion
B. Consider blood transfusion
C. Administer epinephrine bolus
,D. Increase fluid bolus to 40 mL/kg
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: When a patient remains hypotensive despite the administration of two 20 mL/kg
isotonic crystalloid boluses, the suspicion for hemorrhagic shock increases, and blood transfusion is
indicated.
What is the primary cause of cardiac arrest in pediatric patients?
A. Cardiac arrhythmia
B. Respiratory failure
C. Trauma
D. Congenital heart disease
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: Unlike adults, where primary cardiac events are common, most pediatric cardiac
arrests are secondary to progressive respiratory failure or shock.
Which rhythm is commonly associated with pulseless arrest in children?
A. Sinus tachycardia
B. Pulseless electrical activity (PEA)
C. Atrial fibrillation
D. SVT
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: PEA and asystole are the most common rhythms identified in pediatric cardiac
arrest, whereas ventricular fibrillation is less common.
What is the maximum recommended dose of adenosine for the first dose in SVT?
A. 3 mg
B. 6 mg
C. 10 mg
, D. 12 mg
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: The initial recommended dose of adenosine for pediatric SVT is 0.1 mg/kg, with a
maximum initial dose of 6 mg.
When managing a child with severe asthma, which medication should be administered first?
A. Intravenous magnesium sulfate
B. Inhaled beta-2 agonist (albuterol)
C. Intravenous corticosteroids
D. Epinephrine IM
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: Inhaled beta-2 agonists are the first-line therapy for relieving bronchospasm in
acute pediatric asthma exacerbations.
You are assessing a child with compensated shock. Which sign is most indicative of this stage?
A. Hypotension
B. Altered mental status
C. Tachycardia with normal blood pressure
D. Absent peripheral pulses
🟢C
🔴 RATIONALE: Compensated shock is characterized by the body's ability to maintain perfusion
(normal BP) through compensatory mechanisms like tachycardia and increased systemic vascular
resistance.
What is the correct ratio of chest compressions to ventilations for a single rescuer in a child?
A. 15:2
B. 30:2
C. 5:1
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
CORE DOMAINS
* Pediatric Basic Life Support (PBLS)
* Recognition of Respiratory Distress and Failure
* Recognition of Shock and Cardiovascular Compromise
* Cardiac Arrest Management and Rhythm Recognition
* Advanced Airway Management Techniques
* Pharmacology and Medication Administration
* Pediatric Assessment Algorithms
* Post-Cardiac Arrest Care
* Ethics, Legal Standards, and Team Dynamics
INTRODUCTION
*The purpose of this comprehensive exam is to evaluate proficiency in managing pediatric emergencies. P
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
A 4-year-old child presents with stridor at rest, drooling, and a tripod posture. What is the most likely
diagnosis?
A. Croup
B. Foreign body aspiration
C. Epiglottitis
,D. Bronchiolitis
🟢C
🔴 RATIONALE: The classic presentation of epiglottitis includes the sudden onset of high fever,
drooling, dysphagia, and a tripod positioning to maintain airway patency.
During pediatric resuscitation, what is the preferred site for intraosseous (IO) access?
A. Distal femur
B. Proximal tibia
C. Distal radius
D. Humerus
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: The proximal tibia is the most commonly used and recommended site for IO
access in pediatric patients due to its proximity to the surface and ease of identification.
Which of the following is the most appropriate dose of epinephrine for a child in cardiac arrest
(1:10,000 solution)?
A. 0.01 mg/kg
B. 0.1 mg/kg
C. 1 mg/kg
D. 0.05 mg/kg
🟢A
🔴 RATIONALE: The standard dose for intravenous or intraosseous epinephrine in pediatric cardiac
arrest is 0.01 mg/kg (0.1 mL/kg of the 1:10,000 concentration).
A child with hypovolemic shock is unresponsive to two fluid boluses. What is the next step?
A. Start dopamine infusion
B. Consider blood transfusion
C. Administer epinephrine bolus
,D. Increase fluid bolus to 40 mL/kg
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: When a patient remains hypotensive despite the administration of two 20 mL/kg
isotonic crystalloid boluses, the suspicion for hemorrhagic shock increases, and blood transfusion is
indicated.
What is the primary cause of cardiac arrest in pediatric patients?
A. Cardiac arrhythmia
B. Respiratory failure
C. Trauma
D. Congenital heart disease
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: Unlike adults, where primary cardiac events are common, most pediatric cardiac
arrests are secondary to progressive respiratory failure or shock.
Which rhythm is commonly associated with pulseless arrest in children?
A. Sinus tachycardia
B. Pulseless electrical activity (PEA)
C. Atrial fibrillation
D. SVT
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: PEA and asystole are the most common rhythms identified in pediatric cardiac
arrest, whereas ventricular fibrillation is less common.
What is the maximum recommended dose of adenosine for the first dose in SVT?
A. 3 mg
B. 6 mg
C. 10 mg
, D. 12 mg
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: The initial recommended dose of adenosine for pediatric SVT is 0.1 mg/kg, with a
maximum initial dose of 6 mg.
When managing a child with severe asthma, which medication should be administered first?
A. Intravenous magnesium sulfate
B. Inhaled beta-2 agonist (albuterol)
C. Intravenous corticosteroids
D. Epinephrine IM
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: Inhaled beta-2 agonists are the first-line therapy for relieving bronchospasm in
acute pediatric asthma exacerbations.
You are assessing a child with compensated shock. Which sign is most indicative of this stage?
A. Hypotension
B. Altered mental status
C. Tachycardia with normal blood pressure
D. Absent peripheral pulses
🟢C
🔴 RATIONALE: Compensated shock is characterized by the body's ability to maintain perfusion
(normal BP) through compensatory mechanisms like tachycardia and increased systemic vascular
resistance.
What is the correct ratio of chest compressions to ventilations for a single rescuer in a child?
A. 15:2
B. 30:2
C. 5:1
