Certified Pediatric Advanced Life Support Instructor
(PALS-I) Practice Exam Verified Questions, Correct
Answers, and Detailed Explanations for Computer
Science Students||Already Graded A+
1. The primary purpose of the PALS course is to:
A. Teach advanced surgical techniques
B. Improve outcomes for pediatric patients in cardiac arrest or life-
threatening emergencies
C. Train nurses to administer medications only
D. Certify clinicians for adult resuscitation
Answer: B
Rationale: The PALS course focuses on improving pediatric patient
outcomes during cardiopulmonary arrest, respiratory failure, and
shock, not surgical techniques or adult-only resuscitation.
2. Which of the following is the correct compression-to-ventilation
ratio for 2-rescuer CPR in a child?
A. 15:2
B. 30:2
C. 5:1
D. 3:1
Answer: A
Rationale: For 2 rescuers performing CPR on children (age 1–8), the
recommended compression-to-ventilation ratio is 15:2.
3. Which of the following is the most reliable indicator of effective
chest compressions during pediatric CPR?
,A. Pulse palpation
B. Capillary refill
C. End-tidal CO₂ (ETCO₂) monitoring
D. Blood pressure measurement
Answer: C
Rationale: ETCO₂ provides immediate feedback on chest compression
quality, reflecting perfusion and CO₂ elimination.
4. The initial dose of epinephrine for pediatric cardiac arrest is:
A. 0.01 mg/kg IV/IO
B. 0.1 mg/kg IV/IO
C. 1 mg IV/IO
D. 10 mg/kg IV/IO
Answer: A
Rationale: The recommended epinephrine dose for children in cardiac
arrest is 0.01 mg/kg IV/IO every 3–5 minutes.
5. In PALS, a “shockable rhythm” in pediatric cardiac arrest
includes:
A. Asystole
B. Pulseless electrical activity (PEA)
C. Ventricular fibrillation (VF)
D. Sinus bradycardia
Answer: C
Rationale: Only VF and pulseless ventricular tachycardia (pVT) are
considered shockable rhythms; asystole and PEA are non-shockable.
6. A 6-year-old child presents with sudden pallor, wheezing, and
hypotension after eating peanuts. The first-line treatment is:
,A. IV fluids only
B. Epinephrine IM
C. Corticosteroids only
D. Albuterol nebulizer only
Answer: B
Rationale: Severe anaphylaxis requires immediate intramuscular
epinephrine. Supportive measures (fluids, antihistamines,
corticosteroids) are adjuncts.
7. Which is the most common cause of pediatric cardiac arrest?
A. Arrhythmia
B. Respiratory failure
C. Myocardial infarction
D. Trauma
Answer: B
Rationale: In children, cardiac arrest is usually secondary to
respiratory failure or shock rather than primary arrhythmias.
8. What is the recommended compression depth for a child during
CPR?
A. 1 inch (2.5 cm)
B. 1.5 inches (4 cm)
C. At least 2 inches (5 cm)
D. Approximately 1/3 of the chest’s anterior–posterior diameter
Answer: D
Rationale: Pediatric compressions should be about 1/3 the chest
depth, which is roughly 2 inches (5 cm) in older children.
, 9. When performing bag-mask ventilation on an infant, the
recommended rate is:
A. 8–10 breaths/min
B. 12–20 breaths/min
C. 20–30 breaths/min
D. 40–50 breaths/min
Answer: B
Rationale: Pediatric rescue breathing with a bag-mask is 12–20
breaths per minute, ensuring adequate oxygenation without
excessive ventilation.
10. The most critical intervention for pediatric shock is:
A. Antibiotics
B. Fluid resuscitation
C. Vasopressors as first-line
D. Oxygen via nasal cannula
Answer: B
Rationale: Rapid IV/IO fluid resuscitation is essential in pediatric
shock to restore perfusion before considering vasopressors.
11. Which of the following rhythms is associated with sudden
collapse but a pulse may initially be present?
A. Ventricular fibrillation
B. Bradycardia
C. Pulseless electrical activity
D. Asystole
Answer: A
Rationale: VF can present with sudden collapse and may initially have
a weak pulse before progressing to pulselessness.
(PALS-I) Practice Exam Verified Questions, Correct
Answers, and Detailed Explanations for Computer
Science Students||Already Graded A+
1. The primary purpose of the PALS course is to:
A. Teach advanced surgical techniques
B. Improve outcomes for pediatric patients in cardiac arrest or life-
threatening emergencies
C. Train nurses to administer medications only
D. Certify clinicians for adult resuscitation
Answer: B
Rationale: The PALS course focuses on improving pediatric patient
outcomes during cardiopulmonary arrest, respiratory failure, and
shock, not surgical techniques or adult-only resuscitation.
2. Which of the following is the correct compression-to-ventilation
ratio for 2-rescuer CPR in a child?
A. 15:2
B. 30:2
C. 5:1
D. 3:1
Answer: A
Rationale: For 2 rescuers performing CPR on children (age 1–8), the
recommended compression-to-ventilation ratio is 15:2.
3. Which of the following is the most reliable indicator of effective
chest compressions during pediatric CPR?
,A. Pulse palpation
B. Capillary refill
C. End-tidal CO₂ (ETCO₂) monitoring
D. Blood pressure measurement
Answer: C
Rationale: ETCO₂ provides immediate feedback on chest compression
quality, reflecting perfusion and CO₂ elimination.
4. The initial dose of epinephrine for pediatric cardiac arrest is:
A. 0.01 mg/kg IV/IO
B. 0.1 mg/kg IV/IO
C. 1 mg IV/IO
D. 10 mg/kg IV/IO
Answer: A
Rationale: The recommended epinephrine dose for children in cardiac
arrest is 0.01 mg/kg IV/IO every 3–5 minutes.
5. In PALS, a “shockable rhythm” in pediatric cardiac arrest
includes:
A. Asystole
B. Pulseless electrical activity (PEA)
C. Ventricular fibrillation (VF)
D. Sinus bradycardia
Answer: C
Rationale: Only VF and pulseless ventricular tachycardia (pVT) are
considered shockable rhythms; asystole and PEA are non-shockable.
6. A 6-year-old child presents with sudden pallor, wheezing, and
hypotension after eating peanuts. The first-line treatment is:
,A. IV fluids only
B. Epinephrine IM
C. Corticosteroids only
D. Albuterol nebulizer only
Answer: B
Rationale: Severe anaphylaxis requires immediate intramuscular
epinephrine. Supportive measures (fluids, antihistamines,
corticosteroids) are adjuncts.
7. Which is the most common cause of pediatric cardiac arrest?
A. Arrhythmia
B. Respiratory failure
C. Myocardial infarction
D. Trauma
Answer: B
Rationale: In children, cardiac arrest is usually secondary to
respiratory failure or shock rather than primary arrhythmias.
8. What is the recommended compression depth for a child during
CPR?
A. 1 inch (2.5 cm)
B. 1.5 inches (4 cm)
C. At least 2 inches (5 cm)
D. Approximately 1/3 of the chest’s anterior–posterior diameter
Answer: D
Rationale: Pediatric compressions should be about 1/3 the chest
depth, which is roughly 2 inches (5 cm) in older children.
, 9. When performing bag-mask ventilation on an infant, the
recommended rate is:
A. 8–10 breaths/min
B. 12–20 breaths/min
C. 20–30 breaths/min
D. 40–50 breaths/min
Answer: B
Rationale: Pediatric rescue breathing with a bag-mask is 12–20
breaths per minute, ensuring adequate oxygenation without
excessive ventilation.
10. The most critical intervention for pediatric shock is:
A. Antibiotics
B. Fluid resuscitation
C. Vasopressors as first-line
D. Oxygen via nasal cannula
Answer: B
Rationale: Rapid IV/IO fluid resuscitation is essential in pediatric
shock to restore perfusion before considering vasopressors.
11. Which of the following rhythms is associated with sudden
collapse but a pulse may initially be present?
A. Ventricular fibrillation
B. Bradycardia
C. Pulseless electrical activity
D. Asystole
Answer: A
Rationale: VF can present with sudden collapse and may initially have
a weak pulse before progressing to pulselessness.
