PALS FINAL RED CROSS EXAM GUIDE 2024

A 4-month old infant is brought to the emergency department in cardiac arrest. Which condition would the team identify as the most common cause of cardiac arrest in an infant of this age? - sudden infant death syndrome is the most common cause in infants younger than 6 months of age. The PALS resuscitation team is providing care to an intubated child in cardiac arrest. Which result best determines the adequacy of the team's chest compressions? - End-tidal carbon dioxide level between 15 and 20 mmHg The emergency response team is providing care to a preschooler who is experiencing shock. Which therapeutic goal, common to all types of shock, does the team work to achieve? - The primary therapeutic goal in shock, regardless of cause, is to restore a favorable balance between oxygen delivery and oxygen demand. A 9-year-old child is brought to the emergency department because the child suddenly collapsed at school. The child's ECG reveals the following waveform, and primary assessment findings indicate that the child is hemodynamically unstable. Which primary assessment findings indicate this? - Decreased level of consciousness, Hypotension, Difficulty breathing, Mottling A child is experiencing shock. The emergency response team prepares for imminent cardiac arrest when assessment reveals which finding(s)? - Hypotension, Bradycardia, Diminished central pulses An 11-year-old soccer player is brought to the emergency department. After a quick assessment, the team realizes this patient is experiencing a severe asthma exacerbation. Which medication would the team administer first? - Albuterol plus ipratropium bromide The PALS team is providing post-cardiac arrest care to an 8-year-old child in the pediatric intensive care unit. Which intervention would the team implement to achieve the primary goal of post-cardiac arrest care? - Ensuring adequate mean arterial pressure child in the pediatric intensive care unit displays the following ECG waveform and does not have a palpable central pulse. The resuscitation team interprets this as which arrhythmia? - pulseless ventricular tachycardia (pVT) Which action would the PALS resuscitation team initiate to minimize increased intracranial pressure after cardiac arrest? - Maintain the head in midline position with 30-degree elevation A 4-year-old child suddenly collapses in the playroom of the facility. A healthcare provider observes the event and hurries over to assess the child. The healthcare provider completes which assessment first? - Rapid assessment A provider is forming an initial impression of a child using the Pediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT). During which step of the PAT may the provider use the mnemonic TICLS to assess the patient? - Appearance A 9-year-old patient is presenting with decreased breath sounds, bradycardia, slowed respiratory rate and a low O2 saturation level. The provider interprets these findings as indicating which condition? - Respiratory failure Assessment of a 3-month-old infant admitted with respiratory distress reveals fever, grunting and a wet, "junky" cough. The infant's parents said the child had a recent respiratory infection with a fever. A rapid respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) test is positive. Which condition would the provider most likely suspect as the cause? - Bronchiolitis A PALS resuscitation team is preparing to defibrillate a child experiencing cardiac arrest. For which rhythm(s) would this action be appropriate? - Ventricular fibrillation (VF), Pulseless ventricular tachycardia (pVT), A 4-year-old child is brought to the emergency department by the parents. Assessment reveals that the child is gasping and the pulse rate is 65 beats per minute. Which action would the provider initiate first? - Deliver 1 BVM ventilation every 3 to 5 seconds The PALS team leader is conducting a debriefing session with the team. Which topic(s) would the team leader most likely address during the session? - Summary of the event, including what actions were taken, Discussion of the pros and cons of the interventions, Identification of ways to improve, Evaluation of the objective data gathered during the event An advanced airway was placed in a 5-year-old child. Which action(s) would be most appropriate for the team to take to confirm correct placement? - Auscultate over the lungs and epigastrium for air movement, Observe for bilateral chest rise, Evaluate results of capnography. A 12-year-old is being treated in the urgent care clinic. The mother reports that the child came home from school yesterday with a high fever, vomiting and multiple episodes of watery diarrhea. The healthcare provider obtains a rhythm strip and notes the following waveform. The provider interprets this as which type of arrhythmia? - Sinus tachycardia A child being cared for in the pediatric telemetry unit suddenly displays the following ECG waveform. The provider prepares to intervene because the child is demonstrating which type of arrhythmia? - Supraventricular tachycardia