PALS EXAM ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
1. Hypotension for children 1-10 years of age is a SBP of less than:
A) 50 + (2 x age in years)
B) 40 + (2 x age in years)
C) 70 + (2 x age in years)
D) 60 + (2 x age in years): C) 70 + (2 x age in years)
2. What does a prolonged capillary refill time indicate?
A) low cardiac rate
B) increased stroke volume
C) increased cardiac output
D) low cardiac output: D) low cardiac output
3. What pulses should be assessed to monitor systemic perfusion in a
child?
A) carotid and brachial
B) pedal and radial
C) peripheral and central
femoral and carotid: C) peripheral and central
,4. How long should assessing for breathing and a pulse take?
A) no longer than 20 seconds
B) no longer than 10 seconds
C) no longer than 15 seconds
D) no longer than 5 seconds: B) no longer than 10 seconds
5. What should you do to check for breathing?
A) look for chest rise and fall
B) place your hand on the chest
C) look at the nose to check for nasal flaring
D) listen for lung sounds: A) look for chest rise and fall
6. Where do you check a pulse on an infant and child?:
Infant: brachial Child: femoral or carotid
7. If the child does not have normal breathing and a pulse of 64 bpm
is present, you will need to:
A) begin CPR
B) monitor
C) provide rescue breathing: C) provide rescue breathing
8. For an unwitnessed cardiac arrest, what should you do after
determining unresponsiveness and there is no breathing and no
,pulse?
A) shout for help
B) perform high quality CPR for 2 minutes
C) provide rescue breaths
D) activate the emergency response system: B) perform high quality CPR for 2
minutes
9. The appropriate rate for compressions for children is
100-120/min. What is the correct depth for children?
A) approximately 2 inches (one third the AP diameter)
B) approximately 3 inches (one half AP diameter)
C)approximately 4 inches (two thirds AP diameter): A) approximately 2 inches
(one third the AP diameter)
10. What is the compression to ventilation ratio for 1- and 2-
rescuer CPR for children and infants?
A) 15:2 for both
B) 30:2 for both
C) single rescuer 15:2, 2 rescuers 30:2
D) single rescuer 30:2, 2 rescuers 15:2: D) single rescuer 30:2, 2 rescuers 15:2
11. How should 1-rescuer infant compressions be delivered?
A) with 2 fingers or 2 thumbs
, B) with 1 finger or 2 thumbs
C) with 2 hands or 2 fingers
D) with 1 hand or 2 fingers: A) with 2 fingers or 2 thumbs
12. What is the preferred technique for infant compressions when
there are 2 or more rescuers present?
A) 1 finger technique
B) 1 thumb encircling hands technique
C) 2 thumb encircling hands technique
D) 2 finger technique: C) 2 thumb encircling hands technique
13. If the AED indicates no shock advised, what should be the next
action?
A) start chest compressions
B) call for help
C) remove AED pads
D) give 2 rescue breaths: A) start chest compressions
14. When is the Pediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT) performed to
make an initial assessment?
A) during the "from the doorway" observation
B) during the primary assessment
C) during the transfer of care
ANSWERS
1. Hypotension for children 1-10 years of age is a SBP of less than:
A) 50 + (2 x age in years)
B) 40 + (2 x age in years)
C) 70 + (2 x age in years)
D) 60 + (2 x age in years): C) 70 + (2 x age in years)
2. What does a prolonged capillary refill time indicate?
A) low cardiac rate
B) increased stroke volume
C) increased cardiac output
D) low cardiac output: D) low cardiac output
3. What pulses should be assessed to monitor systemic perfusion in a
child?
A) carotid and brachial
B) pedal and radial
C) peripheral and central
femoral and carotid: C) peripheral and central
,4. How long should assessing for breathing and a pulse take?
A) no longer than 20 seconds
B) no longer than 10 seconds
C) no longer than 15 seconds
D) no longer than 5 seconds: B) no longer than 10 seconds
5. What should you do to check for breathing?
A) look for chest rise and fall
B) place your hand on the chest
C) look at the nose to check for nasal flaring
D) listen for lung sounds: A) look for chest rise and fall
6. Where do you check a pulse on an infant and child?:
Infant: brachial Child: femoral or carotid
7. If the child does not have normal breathing and a pulse of 64 bpm
is present, you will need to:
A) begin CPR
B) monitor
C) provide rescue breathing: C) provide rescue breathing
8. For an unwitnessed cardiac arrest, what should you do after
determining unresponsiveness and there is no breathing and no
,pulse?
A) shout for help
B) perform high quality CPR for 2 minutes
C) provide rescue breaths
D) activate the emergency response system: B) perform high quality CPR for 2
minutes
9. The appropriate rate for compressions for children is
100-120/min. What is the correct depth for children?
A) approximately 2 inches (one third the AP diameter)
B) approximately 3 inches (one half AP diameter)
C)approximately 4 inches (two thirds AP diameter): A) approximately 2 inches
(one third the AP diameter)
10. What is the compression to ventilation ratio for 1- and 2-
rescuer CPR for children and infants?
A) 15:2 for both
B) 30:2 for both
C) single rescuer 15:2, 2 rescuers 30:2
D) single rescuer 30:2, 2 rescuers 15:2: D) single rescuer 30:2, 2 rescuers 15:2
11. How should 1-rescuer infant compressions be delivered?
A) with 2 fingers or 2 thumbs
, B) with 1 finger or 2 thumbs
C) with 2 hands or 2 fingers
D) with 1 hand or 2 fingers: A) with 2 fingers or 2 thumbs
12. What is the preferred technique for infant compressions when
there are 2 or more rescuers present?
A) 1 finger technique
B) 1 thumb encircling hands technique
C) 2 thumb encircling hands technique
D) 2 finger technique: C) 2 thumb encircling hands technique
13. If the AED indicates no shock advised, what should be the next
action?
A) start chest compressions
B) call for help
C) remove AED pads
D) give 2 rescue breaths: A) start chest compressions
14. When is the Pediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT) performed to
make an initial assessment?
A) during the "from the doorway" observation
B) during the primary assessment
C) during the transfer of care
