AHA PALS EXAM -2025 TEST BANK QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
1. A 13-year-old patient with asthma just received oxygen and
albuterol via a nebulizer. What is the next most appropriate
intervention?
A. Administer 0.1 mg/kg of adenosine
B. Obtain a blood sample to evaluate arterial or venous blood gases
C. Reassess breath sounds and clinical status
D. Repeat the albuterol treatment - correct answer>>Reassess breath
sounds and clinical status
2. A 5-year-old child presents with lethargy, increased work of
breathing, and pale color. The primary assessment reveals that the
airway is open and the respiratory rate is 30/min, with crackles heard
on auscultation. The cardiac monitor shows sinus tachycardia at a
rate of 165/min. The pulse oximeter displays an oxygen saturation of
95% and a pulse rate of 93/min. On the basis of this information,
which of the following provides the best interpretation of the oxygen
saturation of 95% by pulse oximetry?
A. Reliable; no supplementary oxygen is indicated B.
Reliable; supplementary oxygen should be administered
C. Unreliable; no supplementary oxygen is indicated
D. Unreliable; supplementary oxygen should be administered -
correct answer>>Unreliable; supplementary oxygen should be administered
3. A 2-year-old child with a 2-day history of a barking cough presents
with audible stridor on inspiration, intercostal retractions, and
agitation. What is the most appropriate intervention for this child?
A. Lay the child flat on a stretcher
B. Suction the mouth and nose
C. Administer nebulized epinephrine
D. Administer inhaled albuterol - correct answer>>Administer
nebulized epinephrine
4. The parents of a 7-year-old child who is undergoing chemotherapy
report that the child has been febrile and has not been feeling
well, with recent onset of lethargy. Assessment reveals the
following: The child is difficult to arouse, with pale color. The
child's heart rate is 160/min, respiratory rate is 30/min, blood
, pressure is 76/45 mm Hg, capillary refill time is 5 to 6 seconds,
and temperature is 103°F (39.4°C). What is the most appropriate
intervention?
A. Obtain vascular access and administer 20 mL/kg of
isotonic crystalloid over 30 minutes
B. Obtain vascular access and administer 20 mL/kg of
isotonic crystalloid over 5 to 10 minutes
C. Obtain immediate blood cultures and chest x-ray D. Obtain
expert consultation with an oncologist to determine the
chemotherapeutic
regimen - correct answer>>Obtain vascular access and administer 20 mL/kg
of isotonic crystalloid over 5 to 10 minutes
5. A 2-year-old child presents with a 4-day history of vomiting. The
initial impression reveals an unresponsive child with intermittent
apnea and mottled color. Heart rate is 166/min, respiratory rate
is now being supported with bag-mask ventilation, capillary refill
time is 5 to 6 seconds, and temperature is 102°F (38.9°C). What is
the best method of establishing immediate vascular access?
A. Two providers may attempt peripheral vascular access twice each
B. Three providers may attempt peripheral vascular access once each
C. Place a central venous line
D. Place an intraosseous line - correct answer>>Place an intraosseous line
6. Which of the following oxygen saturations indicates the need for
additional intervention?
A. 96% on room air
B. 95% on room air
C. 93% on 4 L of oxygen
D. 97% on 50% oxygen - correct answer>>93% on 4 L of oxygen
7. A 3-year-old child presents with a 2-day history of nausea and
vomiting. She is alert, with no increase in respiratory effort, and is
pale in color. The child's heart rate is 160/min, respiratory rate is
40/min, and blood pressure is 100/70 mm Hg. Her extremities are
cool, with sluggish capillary refill. Which term best describes this
child's physiologic state?
A. Compensated shock
B. Cardiogenic shock
C. Hypotensive shock
, D. Obstructive shock - correct answer>>Compensated shock
7. What is the appropriate fluid bolus to administer for a child
with hypovolemic shock with adequate myocardial function?
a. 10 mL/kg normal saline
b. 20 mL/kg of 5% dextrose and 0.2% sodium chloride
c. 20 mL/kg normal saline
d. 10 mL/kg lactated Ringer's - correct answer>>20 mL/kg normal saline
8. A 3-year-old child presents with dehydration after a 2-day history
of vomiting and diarrhea. The child after has received 2 fluid
boluses of 20 mL/ kg of normal saline. After the second bolus, the
child is alert and interacting. Her heart rate is 110/ min,
respiratory rate is 30/min, and blood pressure is 92/64 mm Hg.
Her capillary refill time is 2 seconds, and oxygen saturation is
98%. What is the most appropriate next intervention for this child?
a. Administer another 20 mL/kg normal saline fluid bolus
b. Administer 10 mL/kg of packed red cells
c. Continue to monitor and reevaluate the child
d. Initiate a dopamine drip of 20 mcg/kg per minute -
correct answer>>Continue to monitor and reevaluate the child
9. An alert toddler presents with a barking cough, moderate
stridor, and moderate retractions. The child's color is pink.
What is the most appropriate initial intervention?
a. Obtain a chest radiograph
b. Administer nebulized epinephrine
c. Prepare for a surgical airway
d. Use an epinephrine autoinjector - correct answer>>Administer
nebulized epinephrine
10. A 3-year-old child presents with a high fever and a
petechial rash. The child is lethargic, has no signs of increased
work of breathing, and is pale in color. His heart rate is 180/min,
respiratory rate is 30/min, blood pressure is 80/68 mm Hg.
Capillary refill time is 4 seconds, and oxygen saturation is 88%.
Airway and lungs are clear. Peripheral pulses are diminished.
Which of the following is the most appropriate initial intervention?
a. Provide 100% oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask B. Obtain IV access
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
1. A 13-year-old patient with asthma just received oxygen and
albuterol via a nebulizer. What is the next most appropriate
intervention?
A. Administer 0.1 mg/kg of adenosine
B. Obtain a blood sample to evaluate arterial or venous blood gases
C. Reassess breath sounds and clinical status
D. Repeat the albuterol treatment - correct answer>>Reassess breath
sounds and clinical status
2. A 5-year-old child presents with lethargy, increased work of
breathing, and pale color. The primary assessment reveals that the
airway is open and the respiratory rate is 30/min, with crackles heard
on auscultation. The cardiac monitor shows sinus tachycardia at a
rate of 165/min. The pulse oximeter displays an oxygen saturation of
95% and a pulse rate of 93/min. On the basis of this information,
which of the following provides the best interpretation of the oxygen
saturation of 95% by pulse oximetry?
A. Reliable; no supplementary oxygen is indicated B.
Reliable; supplementary oxygen should be administered
C. Unreliable; no supplementary oxygen is indicated
D. Unreliable; supplementary oxygen should be administered -
correct answer>>Unreliable; supplementary oxygen should be administered
3. A 2-year-old child with a 2-day history of a barking cough presents
with audible stridor on inspiration, intercostal retractions, and
agitation. What is the most appropriate intervention for this child?
A. Lay the child flat on a stretcher
B. Suction the mouth and nose
C. Administer nebulized epinephrine
D. Administer inhaled albuterol - correct answer>>Administer
nebulized epinephrine
4. The parents of a 7-year-old child who is undergoing chemotherapy
report that the child has been febrile and has not been feeling
well, with recent onset of lethargy. Assessment reveals the
following: The child is difficult to arouse, with pale color. The
child's heart rate is 160/min, respiratory rate is 30/min, blood
, pressure is 76/45 mm Hg, capillary refill time is 5 to 6 seconds,
and temperature is 103°F (39.4°C). What is the most appropriate
intervention?
A. Obtain vascular access and administer 20 mL/kg of
isotonic crystalloid over 30 minutes
B. Obtain vascular access and administer 20 mL/kg of
isotonic crystalloid over 5 to 10 minutes
C. Obtain immediate blood cultures and chest x-ray D. Obtain
expert consultation with an oncologist to determine the
chemotherapeutic
regimen - correct answer>>Obtain vascular access and administer 20 mL/kg
of isotonic crystalloid over 5 to 10 minutes
5. A 2-year-old child presents with a 4-day history of vomiting. The
initial impression reveals an unresponsive child with intermittent
apnea and mottled color. Heart rate is 166/min, respiratory rate
is now being supported with bag-mask ventilation, capillary refill
time is 5 to 6 seconds, and temperature is 102°F (38.9°C). What is
the best method of establishing immediate vascular access?
A. Two providers may attempt peripheral vascular access twice each
B. Three providers may attempt peripheral vascular access once each
C. Place a central venous line
D. Place an intraosseous line - correct answer>>Place an intraosseous line
6. Which of the following oxygen saturations indicates the need for
additional intervention?
A. 96% on room air
B. 95% on room air
C. 93% on 4 L of oxygen
D. 97% on 50% oxygen - correct answer>>93% on 4 L of oxygen
7. A 3-year-old child presents with a 2-day history of nausea and
vomiting. She is alert, with no increase in respiratory effort, and is
pale in color. The child's heart rate is 160/min, respiratory rate is
40/min, and blood pressure is 100/70 mm Hg. Her extremities are
cool, with sluggish capillary refill. Which term best describes this
child's physiologic state?
A. Compensated shock
B. Cardiogenic shock
C. Hypotensive shock
, D. Obstructive shock - correct answer>>Compensated shock
7. What is the appropriate fluid bolus to administer for a child
with hypovolemic shock with adequate myocardial function?
a. 10 mL/kg normal saline
b. 20 mL/kg of 5% dextrose and 0.2% sodium chloride
c. 20 mL/kg normal saline
d. 10 mL/kg lactated Ringer's - correct answer>>20 mL/kg normal saline
8. A 3-year-old child presents with dehydration after a 2-day history
of vomiting and diarrhea. The child after has received 2 fluid
boluses of 20 mL/ kg of normal saline. After the second bolus, the
child is alert and interacting. Her heart rate is 110/ min,
respiratory rate is 30/min, and blood pressure is 92/64 mm Hg.
Her capillary refill time is 2 seconds, and oxygen saturation is
98%. What is the most appropriate next intervention for this child?
a. Administer another 20 mL/kg normal saline fluid bolus
b. Administer 10 mL/kg of packed red cells
c. Continue to monitor and reevaluate the child
d. Initiate a dopamine drip of 20 mcg/kg per minute -
correct answer>>Continue to monitor and reevaluate the child
9. An alert toddler presents with a barking cough, moderate
stridor, and moderate retractions. The child's color is pink.
What is the most appropriate initial intervention?
a. Obtain a chest radiograph
b. Administer nebulized epinephrine
c. Prepare for a surgical airway
d. Use an epinephrine autoinjector - correct answer>>Administer
nebulized epinephrine
10. A 3-year-old child presents with a high fever and a
petechial rash. The child is lethargic, has no signs of increased
work of breathing, and is pale in color. His heart rate is 180/min,
respiratory rate is 30/min, blood pressure is 80/68 mm Hg.
Capillary refill time is 4 seconds, and oxygen saturation is 88%.
Airway and lungs are clear. Peripheral pulses are diminished.
Which of the following is the most appropriate initial intervention?
a. Provide 100% oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask B. Obtain IV access
