PALS Updated FINAL EXAM | Questions with 100% Verified
Answers | Latest Update 2026/2027
Question: 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?
Answer: second degree
Question: 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?
Answer: Lactate
Question: 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?
Answer: Respiratory failure
Question: 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?
Answer: Deliver 1 BVM ventilation every 3 to 5 seconds.
Question: 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?
Answer: First-degree atrioventricular (AV) block
Question: 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)?
Answer: Hypotension
Fever
Hyperglycemia
, Question: 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?
Answer: 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
Question: A PALS resuscitation team is preparing to defibrillate a child
experiencing cardiac arrest. For which rhythm(s) would this
action be appropriate?
Answer: VF and pVT are shockable cardiac arrest rhythms.
Question: A provider is assessing a child with suspected shock. Which
statement correctly describes hypotension and shock?
Answer: Hypotension is not a consistent feature of shock;
Question: A provider is caring for a 4-year-old child in the urgent care
clinic. Primary assessment reveals difficulty breathing and
an oxygen saturation of 91%. The provider administers
oxygen by nasal cannula with the goal of improving the
child’s oxygen saturation above what percentage?
Answer: Supplemental oxygen should be administered as needed to maintain an oxygen
saturation above 94%.
Question: An 11-year-old soccer player is brought to the emergency
department. After a quick assessment, the team realizes this
patient is experiencing a severe asthma exacerbation. Which
medication would the team administer first?
Answer: Albuterol plus ipratropium bromid
Question: A child in the pediatric step-down unit is exhibiting signs of
respiratory distress. When assessing this child, which
circulation finding might be present?
Answer: Pallor is a circulation finding that may be seen in patients with respiratory distress.
Question: A healthcare provider is performing a primary assessment
of a child in respiratory distress. The provider documents
increased work of breathing when which findings are
observed?
Answer: Nasal flaring, use of accessory muscles to breathe and intercostal, substernal or
suprasternal retractions are all indicators of increased work or effort of breathing.
Grunting and inspiratory stridor are abnormal breath sounds.
Answers | Latest Update 2026/2027
Question: 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?
Answer: second degree
Question: 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?
Answer: Lactate
Question: 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?
Answer: Respiratory failure
Question: 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?
Answer: Deliver 1 BVM ventilation every 3 to 5 seconds.
Question: 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?
Answer: First-degree atrioventricular (AV) block
Question: 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)?
Answer: Hypotension
Fever
Hyperglycemia
, Question: 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?
Answer: 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
Question: A PALS resuscitation team is preparing to defibrillate a child
experiencing cardiac arrest. For which rhythm(s) would this
action be appropriate?
Answer: VF and pVT are shockable cardiac arrest rhythms.
Question: A provider is assessing a child with suspected shock. Which
statement correctly describes hypotension and shock?
Answer: Hypotension is not a consistent feature of shock;
Question: A provider is caring for a 4-year-old child in the urgent care
clinic. Primary assessment reveals difficulty breathing and
an oxygen saturation of 91%. The provider administers
oxygen by nasal cannula with the goal of improving the
child’s oxygen saturation above what percentage?
Answer: Supplemental oxygen should be administered as needed to maintain an oxygen
saturation above 94%.
Question: An 11-year-old soccer player is brought to the emergency
department. After a quick assessment, the team realizes this
patient is experiencing a severe asthma exacerbation. Which
medication would the team administer first?
Answer: Albuterol plus ipratropium bromid
Question: A child in the pediatric step-down unit is exhibiting signs of
respiratory distress. When assessing this child, which
circulation finding might be present?
Answer: Pallor is a circulation finding that may be seen in patients with respiratory distress.
Question: A healthcare provider is performing a primary assessment
of a child in respiratory distress. The provider documents
increased work of breathing when which findings are
observed?
Answer: Nasal flaring, use of accessory muscles to breathe and intercostal, substernal or
suprasternal retractions are all indicators of increased work or effort of breathing.
Grunting and inspiratory stridor are abnormal breath sounds.
