Pediatric shock recognition Exam question
and correct answers (verified answers 100%)
Q&A 2026/2027 INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Which finding is often the earliest sign of shock in a child?
A. Hypotension
B. Bradycardia
C. Tachycardia
D. Cyanosis
Answer: C. Tachycardia
Rationale: Children compensate for shock by increasing heart rate. Hypotension is
usually a late and ominous sign.
2. A nurse suspects compensated shock in a child when which assessment
finding is present?
A. Normal blood pressure with tachycardia
B. Severe hypotension
C. Cardiac arrest
D. Pulselessness
Answer: A. Normal blood pressure with tachycardia
Rationale: During compensated shock, blood pressure remains normal despite
signs of poor perfusion.
3. Which assessment finding indicates poor peripheral perfusion in pediatric
shock?
,A. Warm extremities
B. Capillary refill less than 2 seconds
C. Delayed capillary refill
D. Bounding pulses
Answer: C. Delayed capillary refill
Rationale: Delayed capillary refill reflects decreased blood flow to peripheral
tissues.
4. What capillary refill time is considered abnormal in children?
A. Less than 1 second
B. Less than 2 seconds
C. Greater than 2 seconds
D. Exactly 2 seconds
Answer: C. Greater than 2 seconds
Rationale: Capillary refill longer than 2 seconds may indicate inadequate tissue
perfusion.
5. Which pulse characteristic is commonly associated with pediatric shock?
A. Bounding pulses
B. Weak, thready pulses
C. Irregular pulses only
D. Absent carotid pulse
Answer: B. Weak, thready pulses
Rationale: Reduced cardiac output often results in weak peripheral pulses.
6. Which mental status change may be an early sign of shock in children?
,A. Coma
B. Irritability
C. Fixed pupils
D. Seizure activity only
Answer: B. Irritability
Rationale: Irritability and anxiety are common early indicators of decreased
cerebral perfusion.
7. Which blood pressure finding suggests decompensated pediatric shock?
A. Elevated systolic pressure
B. Narrow pulse pressure only
C. Hypotension
D. Normal blood pressure
Answer: C. Hypotension
Rationale: Hypotension occurs late in pediatric shock and signals decompensation.
8. A child with shock is likely to have which skin finding?
A. Warm, dry skin
B. Cool, pale skin
C. Flushed skin only
D. Jaundice
Answer: B. Cool, pale skin
Rationale: Peripheral vasoconstriction causes cool, pale skin during shock.
9. Which urine output indicates possible inadequate perfusion in a child?
, A. 2 mL/kg/hr
B. 1.5 mL/kg/hr
C. 1 mL/kg/hr
D. Less than 1 mL/kg/hr
Answer: D. Less than 1 mL/kg/hr
Rationale: Reduced urine output is a sign of decreased renal perfusion.
10. Which sign is most concerning for progression from compensated to
decompensated shock?
A. Tachycardia
B. Delayed capillary refill
C. Hypotension
D. Cool extremities
Answer: C. Hypotension
Rationale: Hypotension indicates compensatory mechanisms are failing.
11. A child with septic shock may initially present with:
A. Cold extremities only
B. Warm, flushed skin
C. Bradycardia
D. Fixed pupils
Answer: B. Warm, flushed skin
Rationale: Early septic shock may produce vasodilation, resulting in warm
extremities.
12. Which respiratory change is commonly seen in pediatric shock?
and correct answers (verified answers 100%)
Q&A 2026/2027 INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Which finding is often the earliest sign of shock in a child?
A. Hypotension
B. Bradycardia
C. Tachycardia
D. Cyanosis
Answer: C. Tachycardia
Rationale: Children compensate for shock by increasing heart rate. Hypotension is
usually a late and ominous sign.
2. A nurse suspects compensated shock in a child when which assessment
finding is present?
A. Normal blood pressure with tachycardia
B. Severe hypotension
C. Cardiac arrest
D. Pulselessness
Answer: A. Normal blood pressure with tachycardia
Rationale: During compensated shock, blood pressure remains normal despite
signs of poor perfusion.
3. Which assessment finding indicates poor peripheral perfusion in pediatric
shock?
,A. Warm extremities
B. Capillary refill less than 2 seconds
C. Delayed capillary refill
D. Bounding pulses
Answer: C. Delayed capillary refill
Rationale: Delayed capillary refill reflects decreased blood flow to peripheral
tissues.
4. What capillary refill time is considered abnormal in children?
A. Less than 1 second
B. Less than 2 seconds
C. Greater than 2 seconds
D. Exactly 2 seconds
Answer: C. Greater than 2 seconds
Rationale: Capillary refill longer than 2 seconds may indicate inadequate tissue
perfusion.
5. Which pulse characteristic is commonly associated with pediatric shock?
A. Bounding pulses
B. Weak, thready pulses
C. Irregular pulses only
D. Absent carotid pulse
Answer: B. Weak, thready pulses
Rationale: Reduced cardiac output often results in weak peripheral pulses.
6. Which mental status change may be an early sign of shock in children?
,A. Coma
B. Irritability
C. Fixed pupils
D. Seizure activity only
Answer: B. Irritability
Rationale: Irritability and anxiety are common early indicators of decreased
cerebral perfusion.
7. Which blood pressure finding suggests decompensated pediatric shock?
A. Elevated systolic pressure
B. Narrow pulse pressure only
C. Hypotension
D. Normal blood pressure
Answer: C. Hypotension
Rationale: Hypotension occurs late in pediatric shock and signals decompensation.
8. A child with shock is likely to have which skin finding?
A. Warm, dry skin
B. Cool, pale skin
C. Flushed skin only
D. Jaundice
Answer: B. Cool, pale skin
Rationale: Peripheral vasoconstriction causes cool, pale skin during shock.
9. Which urine output indicates possible inadequate perfusion in a child?
, A. 2 mL/kg/hr
B. 1.5 mL/kg/hr
C. 1 mL/kg/hr
D. Less than 1 mL/kg/hr
Answer: D. Less than 1 mL/kg/hr
Rationale: Reduced urine output is a sign of decreased renal perfusion.
10. Which sign is most concerning for progression from compensated to
decompensated shock?
A. Tachycardia
B. Delayed capillary refill
C. Hypotension
D. Cool extremities
Answer: C. Hypotension
Rationale: Hypotension indicates compensatory mechanisms are failing.
11. A child with septic shock may initially present with:
A. Cold extremities only
B. Warm, flushed skin
C. Bradycardia
D. Fixed pupils
Answer: B. Warm, flushed skin
Rationale: Early septic shock may produce vasodilation, resulting in warm
extremities.
12. Which respiratory change is commonly seen in pediatric shock?
