PALS HEARTCODE 2 PRACTICE EVALUATION
2026 QUESTION BANK FULL SOLUTION SET
◉ What are the signs of increased respiratory effort that can lead to
fatigue & respiratory failure?
Answer: Nasal flaring
Retractions
Head bobbing
Seesaw respirations
◉ Determine the respiratory rate by counting the number of times
the chest rises in [blank] seconds & multiplying by [blank].
Answer: 30
2
◉ Tachypnea is often the first sign of respiratory [blank] in infants.
Answer: Distress
◉ What do central chemoreceptors respond to?
Answer: Hydrogen ions in the cerebrospinal fluid
◉ Why may excessive ventilation during CPR be harmful?
,Answer: It impedes venous return
It increases intrathoracic pressure
◉ What should you do if you cannot achieve effective ventilation
with a bag-mask device?
Answer: Reposition the airway
Verify the mask size
◉ How are effective oxygenation & ventilation assessed?
Answer: Oxygen saturation
Exhaled carbon dioxide
Visible chest rise w/ each breath
◉ How can gastric inflation impair bag-mask ventilation?
Answer: It decreases lung compliance
◉ What is the most appropriate precautionary action to minimize
gastric inflation during a bag-mask ventilation?
Answer: Deliver each breath over about 1 second
◉ Which is true about the difference between hypoxemia & tissue
hypoxia?
,Answer: Tissue hypoxia can occur with normal arterial oxygen
saturation
◉ What does hyperventilation, which refers to increased alveolar
ventilation, result in?
Answer: PaCO2 less than 35 mm Hg
◉ What happens to the arterial oxygen level in a child w/ severe
anemia?
Answer: May increase when dissolved oxygen is increased
◉ Which is true of increased carbon dioxide tension in arterial
blood?
Answer: May be caused by disordered control of breathing
◉ What happens when ventilation is inadequate?
Answer: PaCO2 increases
◉ What is a critical symptom of hypercarbia?
Answer: Decreased level of consciousness
◉ Which of the following indicates mild respiratory distress?
Answer: Mild increase in respiratory effort
, ◉ Which of the following indicates severe respiratory distress?
Answer: Marked tachypnea &/or apnea
◉ Which of the following statements about respiratory failure is
true?
Answer: May occur w/o signs of respiratory distress
◉ Which is most likely to be present in a child who has respiratory
distress [not respiratory failure]?
Answer: Ability to maintain a patent airway
◉ What steps should be taken as part of initial management of a
child in respiratory distress?
Answer: Support an open airway
Monitor O2 saturation by pulse oximetry
Monitor heart rate, rhythm, & bp
◉ Which are ideal characteristics of face masks for ventilation?
Answer: Covers mouth & nose
Has a soft rim
Transparent
2026 QUESTION BANK FULL SOLUTION SET
◉ What are the signs of increased respiratory effort that can lead to
fatigue & respiratory failure?
Answer: Nasal flaring
Retractions
Head bobbing
Seesaw respirations
◉ Determine the respiratory rate by counting the number of times
the chest rises in [blank] seconds & multiplying by [blank].
Answer: 30
2
◉ Tachypnea is often the first sign of respiratory [blank] in infants.
Answer: Distress
◉ What do central chemoreceptors respond to?
Answer: Hydrogen ions in the cerebrospinal fluid
◉ Why may excessive ventilation during CPR be harmful?
,Answer: It impedes venous return
It increases intrathoracic pressure
◉ What should you do if you cannot achieve effective ventilation
with a bag-mask device?
Answer: Reposition the airway
Verify the mask size
◉ How are effective oxygenation & ventilation assessed?
Answer: Oxygen saturation
Exhaled carbon dioxide
Visible chest rise w/ each breath
◉ How can gastric inflation impair bag-mask ventilation?
Answer: It decreases lung compliance
◉ What is the most appropriate precautionary action to minimize
gastric inflation during a bag-mask ventilation?
Answer: Deliver each breath over about 1 second
◉ Which is true about the difference between hypoxemia & tissue
hypoxia?
,Answer: Tissue hypoxia can occur with normal arterial oxygen
saturation
◉ What does hyperventilation, which refers to increased alveolar
ventilation, result in?
Answer: PaCO2 less than 35 mm Hg
◉ What happens to the arterial oxygen level in a child w/ severe
anemia?
Answer: May increase when dissolved oxygen is increased
◉ Which is true of increased carbon dioxide tension in arterial
blood?
Answer: May be caused by disordered control of breathing
◉ What happens when ventilation is inadequate?
Answer: PaCO2 increases
◉ What is a critical symptom of hypercarbia?
Answer: Decreased level of consciousness
◉ Which of the following indicates mild respiratory distress?
Answer: Mild increase in respiratory effort
, ◉ Which of the following indicates severe respiratory distress?
Answer: Marked tachypnea &/or apnea
◉ Which of the following statements about respiratory failure is
true?
Answer: May occur w/o signs of respiratory distress
◉ Which is most likely to be present in a child who has respiratory
distress [not respiratory failure]?
Answer: Ability to maintain a patent airway
◉ What steps should be taken as part of initial management of a
child in respiratory distress?
Answer: Support an open airway
Monitor O2 saturation by pulse oximetry
Monitor heart rate, rhythm, & bp
◉ Which are ideal characteristics of face masks for ventilation?
Answer: Covers mouth & nose
Has a soft rim
Transparent
