PALS Updated FINAL EXAM
questions and answers 2026
1. A 12-year-old child being evaluated in the pediatric intensive care unit displays
the following ECG waveform. The team interprets this as which arrhythmia?
second degree
2. Laboratory tests are ordered for a child who has been vomiting for 3 days and
is diaphoretic, tachypneic, lethargic and pale. Which test would the provider
use to determine the adequacy of oxygen delivery? Lactate
3. 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
4. A 4-year-old child is brought to the emergency department by the parents.
Assessment reveals that the child has only gasping respirations 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.
, 5. A 15-year-old patient is being evaluated during a follow-up visit after being
diagnosed with Lyme disease 2 months ago. A rhythm strip is obtained as
shown below. The provider interprets this rhythm as indicating which
arrhythmia?
First-degree atrioventricular (AV) block
6. A child in cardiac arrest experiences return of spontaneous circulation but is
exhibiting signs of post-cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS). The PALS
resuscitation team determines that the child is experiencing a systemic
response to ischemia/reperfusion. The team bases this determination on which
finding(s)?
Hypotension
Fever
Hyperglycemia
7. A 2-year-old child arrives at the emergency department with the parents. The
child is unresponsive, is not breathing and has no pulse. Two emergency
department providers begin high-quality CPR. Which action(s) by the
providers demonstrates high-quality CPR?
Allowing the chest to recoil fully after each compression
Providing ventilations that last about 1 second each
Compressing the chest about 2 inches
Giving 2 ventilations to every 15 compressions
questions and answers 2026
1. A 12-year-old child being evaluated in the pediatric intensive care unit displays
the following ECG waveform. The team interprets this as which arrhythmia?
second degree
2. Laboratory tests are ordered for a child who has been vomiting for 3 days and
is diaphoretic, tachypneic, lethargic and pale. Which test would the provider
use to determine the adequacy of oxygen delivery? Lactate
3. 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
4. A 4-year-old child is brought to the emergency department by the parents.
Assessment reveals that the child has only gasping respirations 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.
, 5. A 15-year-old patient is being evaluated during a follow-up visit after being
diagnosed with Lyme disease 2 months ago. A rhythm strip is obtained as
shown below. The provider interprets this rhythm as indicating which
arrhythmia?
First-degree atrioventricular (AV) block
6. A child in cardiac arrest experiences return of spontaneous circulation but is
exhibiting signs of post-cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS). The PALS
resuscitation team determines that the child is experiencing a systemic
response to ischemia/reperfusion. The team bases this determination on which
finding(s)?
Hypotension
Fever
Hyperglycemia
7. A 2-year-old child arrives at the emergency department with the parents. The
child is unresponsive, is not breathing and has no pulse. Two emergency
department providers begin high-quality CPR. Which action(s) by the
providers demonstrates high-quality CPR?
Allowing the chest to recoil fully after each compression
Providing ventilations that last about 1 second each
Compressing the chest about 2 inches
Giving 2 ventilations to every 15 compressions
