HEARTCODE PALS EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
The infant is placed on the ambulance stretcher and responds with a groan when
stimulated and has a temperature of 36.3 C (97.3 F)
-Monitor and support ABCs
-Establish IV/IO access
-Monitor heart rate, blood pressure, and pulse oximetry
-Call for assistance if needed
When you evaluate the patient, you find the lungs are clear, skin is cool and
mottled, glucose is 97 mg/dL and capillary refill time is 5 seconds. What are the
warning signs that the patient is progressing from compensated shock to
hypotensive shock?
-Hypotension (late sign)
-Increasing tachycardia
The patient still has a blood pressure of 58/38 mm Hg. Her condition would be
classified as ___________ shock.
Hypotensive
What should be included in the initial treatment for this patient?
-Rapid fluid bolus administration
-Establishing IV/IO access
The mother does not recall the infant's most recent weight. What is the most
appropriate way to rapidly determine her weight and calculate correct
medication?
Measure her by using color-coded length-based tape
, You measure the infant to be 7 kg and prepare to administer a fluid bolus of what
type?
Normal saline 20 mL/kg
What is the most appropriate method of delivering rapid fluid boluses to this
patient?
A syringe and 3-way stopcock
After the first fluid bolus is administered, the child is reassessed and her vital
signs are HR 167, BP 58/44 mm Hg, RR 56/min and SpO2 92%. Her skin is still
cool and pale and she is still lethargic and weak.
What should be the next intervention?
Deliver a second fluid bolus of 20 mL/kg and reassess
When should vasoactive therapy be considered be considered in managing
distributive shock?
If the child remains hypotensive and poorly perfused despite rapid bolus fluid
administration
How does the clinical presentation of distributive shock compare with
hypovolemic shock?
Distributive shock has more variable presentation than that of hypovolemic shock
For general shock management, administer an isotonic crytalloid bolus of __
mL/kg over __ to __ minutes
ANSWERS
The infant is placed on the ambulance stretcher and responds with a groan when
stimulated and has a temperature of 36.3 C (97.3 F)
-Monitor and support ABCs
-Establish IV/IO access
-Monitor heart rate, blood pressure, and pulse oximetry
-Call for assistance if needed
When you evaluate the patient, you find the lungs are clear, skin is cool and
mottled, glucose is 97 mg/dL and capillary refill time is 5 seconds. What are the
warning signs that the patient is progressing from compensated shock to
hypotensive shock?
-Hypotension (late sign)
-Increasing tachycardia
The patient still has a blood pressure of 58/38 mm Hg. Her condition would be
classified as ___________ shock.
Hypotensive
What should be included in the initial treatment for this patient?
-Rapid fluid bolus administration
-Establishing IV/IO access
The mother does not recall the infant's most recent weight. What is the most
appropriate way to rapidly determine her weight and calculate correct
medication?
Measure her by using color-coded length-based tape
, You measure the infant to be 7 kg and prepare to administer a fluid bolus of what
type?
Normal saline 20 mL/kg
What is the most appropriate method of delivering rapid fluid boluses to this
patient?
A syringe and 3-way stopcock
After the first fluid bolus is administered, the child is reassessed and her vital
signs are HR 167, BP 58/44 mm Hg, RR 56/min and SpO2 92%. Her skin is still
cool and pale and she is still lethargic and weak.
What should be the next intervention?
Deliver a second fluid bolus of 20 mL/kg and reassess
When should vasoactive therapy be considered be considered in managing
distributive shock?
If the child remains hypotensive and poorly perfused despite rapid bolus fluid
administration
How does the clinical presentation of distributive shock compare with
hypovolemic shock?
Distributive shock has more variable presentation than that of hypovolemic shock
For general shock management, administer an isotonic crytalloid bolus of __
mL/kg over __ to __ minutes
