PALS Practice Exam Questions and
Answers Latest Versions 2025
Graded A+
What is the preferred technique for infant compressions whenqthere are 2 or more rescuers pres
ent?
A) 2 finger technique
B) 1 thumb-encircling hands technique
C) 1 finger technique
D) 2 thumb encircling hands technique -
D
What are the 4 universal steps for operation ofqan AED? -
1. Turn on the AED
2. Attachqpads to the patient
3. Analyze theqheart rhythm
4. Deliver indicated shock
If the AED indicates no shock advised, what should beqthe next action?
A) call for help
B) give 2 rescue breaths
C) analyze heart rhythmqagain
D) start chest compressions -
D
What doesqtheqA-B-C inqthe pediatric assessment triangle (PAT) stand for? -
Appearance
Work of breathing
Circulation
When is the pediatric assessment triangle (PAT) performed to makeqanqinitial assessment?
A) during the transfer of care
B) during the secondary assessment
C) during the primary assessment
D) during the "from the doorway" observation -
D
What sequence is used when caring for aqseriously ill or injured child to help determine the best
treatment or intervention? The , , sequence -
Evaluate, identify, and intervene
Theqevaluate -identify-intervene sequence should beqcontinued until
A) the child is stable
B) the child is ready for discharge
C) interventions are provided for the child
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,D) the child is ready for transport -
A
Theqprimary assessment includes the ABCDE approach. What doesqit assess?
A) airway, breathing, circulation, disability, and exposure
B) assessment, breathing, color, disability, and exposure
C) airway, breath sounds, circulation, disability, and exposure
D) assessment, breath sounds, circulation, disability and exposure -
A
How is the airway assessed?
A) heckling theqpulse
B) immediately callingqfor help
C) determining if the airway is open/patent
D) looking for the patient to move -
C
In the primary assessment, how should you pen the airway of a child who is not suspected of ha
ving a cervical spine injury?
A) withqa jaw thrust
B) by flexing the neck
C) with a head tilt-chin lift
D) withqendotracheal intubation -
C
In infants, the abdomen may move the chest
A) less than
B) more than -
B
What is a characteristic of normal chest rise?
A) asymmetrical during inspirationq
B) symmetrical during expiration
C) asymmetrical during expiration
D) symmetrical during inspiration -
D
is usually high-
pitched breathing during inspiration, whereas isqusually during expiration -
Stridor, wheezing
Snoring and gurgling are a result airway obstruction
A) upper
B) lower -
A
Crackles happen during , and grunting happens during
A) inspiration, inspiration
B) expiration, expiration
C) inspiration, expiration
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,D) expiration, inspirationq-
C
Oxygen saturation less than indicates low oxygen saturation, which is known as hypo
xemia
A) 98%
B) 96%
C) 94% -
C
Pulse oximetry indicates oxygen but not oxygen delivery
A) inhalation
B) levels
C) saturation -
C
Conditions that air resistance lead to increasedqrespiratory -
Increase, effort
What are signs of increased respiratory effort that can lead to fatigue andqrespiratory failure?
1. Retractions
2. Nasal flaring
3. Apnea
4. Head bobbingq
5. Unlabored breathing
6. Seesaw respirations -
1, 2, 4, 6
Determine the respiratory rate by counting the number of times the chest rises inq secon
ds and multiplying by -
30, 2
Tachypnea is often the fast sign of respiratory in infants
A) arrest
B) failure
C) distress -
C
Hypotension for children 1 to 10. Years of age is a systolic blood pressure of less thanq
A) 40 mm Hg + (2x the ageqin years)
B) 60 mm Hg + (2x the age in years)
C) 70 mm Hg + (2x the age in years)
D) 50 mm Hg + (2x the ageqin years) -
C
Automated blood pressure cuffs may provide readings whenqthe child is in shock
A) inaccurately low
B) inaccurately high
C) accurateq-
B
3|Page
, What does a prolonged capillary refill time indicate?
A) increased stroke volume
B) low cardiac rate
C) low cardiac output
D) increased cardiac output -
C
Normal capillary refill time is second(s) or less
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) 5 -
B
What pulses should bqassessedqto monitor systemic perfusion in a child?
A) peripheral and central
B) femoral and carotid
C) peel and radial
D) carotid and brachial -
A
What do weak central pulses indicate a need for immediate intervention to prevent?
A) sepsis
B) cardiac arrest
C) hypovolemia
D) respiratory arrest -
B
When oxygenqdelivery to the extremities becomes inadequate, the and are t
he first to exhibit signs -
Hands and feet
What should be used to assess skin temperature?
A) the palm of the hand
B) the back of the hand
C) the side of theqface
D) the bottomqof the wrist -
B
If pupils do not inqresponse to bright light, consider increased pressure -
Constrict, intracranial
If is not identified and treated immediately, t can result in injury -
Hypoglycemia, brain
What are the 4 indicators of the AVPU scale that areqused to determine responsiveness
1. Responsive
2. Verbal
4|Page
Answers Latest Versions 2025
Graded A+
What is the preferred technique for infant compressions whenqthere are 2 or more rescuers pres
ent?
A) 2 finger technique
B) 1 thumb-encircling hands technique
C) 1 finger technique
D) 2 thumb encircling hands technique -
D
What are the 4 universal steps for operation ofqan AED? -
1. Turn on the AED
2. Attachqpads to the patient
3. Analyze theqheart rhythm
4. Deliver indicated shock
If the AED indicates no shock advised, what should beqthe next action?
A) call for help
B) give 2 rescue breaths
C) analyze heart rhythmqagain
D) start chest compressions -
D
What doesqtheqA-B-C inqthe pediatric assessment triangle (PAT) stand for? -
Appearance
Work of breathing
Circulation
When is the pediatric assessment triangle (PAT) performed to makeqanqinitial assessment?
A) during the transfer of care
B) during the secondary assessment
C) during the primary assessment
D) during the "from the doorway" observation -
D
What sequence is used when caring for aqseriously ill or injured child to help determine the best
treatment or intervention? The , , sequence -
Evaluate, identify, and intervene
Theqevaluate -identify-intervene sequence should beqcontinued until
A) the child is stable
B) the child is ready for discharge
C) interventions are provided for the child
1|Page
,D) the child is ready for transport -
A
Theqprimary assessment includes the ABCDE approach. What doesqit assess?
A) airway, breathing, circulation, disability, and exposure
B) assessment, breathing, color, disability, and exposure
C) airway, breath sounds, circulation, disability, and exposure
D) assessment, breath sounds, circulation, disability and exposure -
A
How is the airway assessed?
A) heckling theqpulse
B) immediately callingqfor help
C) determining if the airway is open/patent
D) looking for the patient to move -
C
In the primary assessment, how should you pen the airway of a child who is not suspected of ha
ving a cervical spine injury?
A) withqa jaw thrust
B) by flexing the neck
C) with a head tilt-chin lift
D) withqendotracheal intubation -
C
In infants, the abdomen may move the chest
A) less than
B) more than -
B
What is a characteristic of normal chest rise?
A) asymmetrical during inspirationq
B) symmetrical during expiration
C) asymmetrical during expiration
D) symmetrical during inspiration -
D
is usually high-
pitched breathing during inspiration, whereas isqusually during expiration -
Stridor, wheezing
Snoring and gurgling are a result airway obstruction
A) upper
B) lower -
A
Crackles happen during , and grunting happens during
A) inspiration, inspiration
B) expiration, expiration
C) inspiration, expiration
2|Page
,D) expiration, inspirationq-
C
Oxygen saturation less than indicates low oxygen saturation, which is known as hypo
xemia
A) 98%
B) 96%
C) 94% -
C
Pulse oximetry indicates oxygen but not oxygen delivery
A) inhalation
B) levels
C) saturation -
C
Conditions that air resistance lead to increasedqrespiratory -
Increase, effort
What are signs of increased respiratory effort that can lead to fatigue andqrespiratory failure?
1. Retractions
2. Nasal flaring
3. Apnea
4. Head bobbingq
5. Unlabored breathing
6. Seesaw respirations -
1, 2, 4, 6
Determine the respiratory rate by counting the number of times the chest rises inq secon
ds and multiplying by -
30, 2
Tachypnea is often the fast sign of respiratory in infants
A) arrest
B) failure
C) distress -
C
Hypotension for children 1 to 10. Years of age is a systolic blood pressure of less thanq
A) 40 mm Hg + (2x the ageqin years)
B) 60 mm Hg + (2x the age in years)
C) 70 mm Hg + (2x the age in years)
D) 50 mm Hg + (2x the ageqin years) -
C
Automated blood pressure cuffs may provide readings whenqthe child is in shock
A) inaccurately low
B) inaccurately high
C) accurateq-
B
3|Page
, What does a prolonged capillary refill time indicate?
A) increased stroke volume
B) low cardiac rate
C) low cardiac output
D) increased cardiac output -
C
Normal capillary refill time is second(s) or less
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) 5 -
B
What pulses should bqassessedqto monitor systemic perfusion in a child?
A) peripheral and central
B) femoral and carotid
C) peel and radial
D) carotid and brachial -
A
What do weak central pulses indicate a need for immediate intervention to prevent?
A) sepsis
B) cardiac arrest
C) hypovolemia
D) respiratory arrest -
B
When oxygenqdelivery to the extremities becomes inadequate, the and are t
he first to exhibit signs -
Hands and feet
What should be used to assess skin temperature?
A) the palm of the hand
B) the back of the hand
C) the side of theqface
D) the bottomqof the wrist -
B
If pupils do not inqresponse to bright light, consider increased pressure -
Constrict, intracranial
If is not identified and treated immediately, t can result in injury -
Hypoglycemia, brain
What are the 4 indicators of the AVPU scale that areqused to determine responsiveness
1. Responsive
2. Verbal
4|Page