ACLS Test Prep (PALS, BLS, ACLS) Questions With Correct Answers

*These 50 questions and answers are found on. You can take the test there is you would rather study in a test format. You could also us the test study feature on quizlet. Hope this helps you study some basic ACLS.* - ANSWER A 5-year-old child in supraventricular tachycardia has adequate pulses with the rhythm. Supplemental oxygen is in place and vital signs are stable except for the elevated heart rate. The most appropriate next intervention for this child is: - ANSWERVagal Maneuvers *Rationale:* Vagal maneuvers are a reasonable first intervention for supraventricular tachycardia in a hemodynamically stable patient, as this child is. A child has an advanced airway in place during cardiac arrest. How frequently should ventilations be given? - ANSWEREvery 6-8 Seconds 8-10 BPM *Rationale:* The latest AHA guidelines recommend one ventilation every six seconds, or 10 per minute, when an advanced airway is in place. You are using a bag-valve mask to resuscitate an infant, while another rescuer is performing chest compressions. What is the correct ratio of chest compressions to ventilations? - ANSWER15 chest compressions to 2 ventilations *Rationale:* The AHA suggests that during a pediatric resuscitation with two or more rescuers present, the correct ratio of chest compressions to ventilations is 15:2. You are alone performing infant CPR. What is the correct ratio of chest compressions to ventilations? - ANSWER30 chest compressions to 2 ventilations *Rationale:* The AHA suggests that during a pediatric resuscitation with only one rescuer present, the correct ratio of chest compressions to ventilations is 30:2. A 7 month old appears to be unconscious and not breathing. You check for a pulse at the ________ artery. - ANSWERBrachial *Rationale:* Rescuers should use the brachial artery in the upper arm to check for a pulse. The artery is easily palpable in infants and young children. A clear sign of upper airway obstruction is: - ANSWERA "whistling" sound during breathing *Rationale:* A "whistling" sound during breathing usually indicates *stridor.* Crying suggests full lung function, as does breath sounds in all lung fields. Decreased inspiratory effort is a non-specific sign, but may reflect a central process (i.e. consequence of head trauma). In children, which of the following is the most common form of arrest? - ANSWERRespiratory arrest *Rationale:* Respiratory distress, failure, and arrest are the most common conditions prompting PALS care. In fact, most cases of pediatric cardiac arrest are preceded by respiratory issues. In small children, a rescue breath should be given: - ANSWEROver one second *Rationale:* Rescue breaths and ventilations should be delivered over one second, regardless of the patient's age. What is the normal range of heart rates for an 8-year-old child? - ANSWER*Answer:* 60-140 per minute *(The ACLS test I took says this. This is most likely a older ACLS test. According to 2015 Handbook of Emergency Cardiovascular Care it says for a school-age child the rate is 75-118.)* *Rationale:* Normal vital sign values change as children age. It is important to know what "normal" is for the age of your patient. The child you are caring for is very pale. You know that this pallor can be caused by all of the following EXCEPT: A) Anemia B) Heat C) Shock D) Albinism - ANSWERHeat *Rationale:* Heat generally causes skin flushing and capillary dilation, which makes the skin red/pink. The other conditions result in pale skin. Anemia and shock are due to decreased blood flow through skin capillaries. Albinism is due to a congenital lack of skin pigment. Clinical signs of respiratory distress may include all of the following EXCEPT: A) Rapid respiratory rate B) Grunting respirations C) Warm, pink skin D) Diminished level of consciousness - ANSWERWarm, pink skin *Rationale:* Grunting respirations, rapid respiratory rate, and a diminished level of consciousness are signs of respiratory compromise. Warm, pink skin would not normally occur during the course of respiratory distress. Late and ominous signs of respiratory failure include all of the following EXCEPT: A) Rapid respiratory rate B) Cyanosis C) Bradycardia D) Diminished level of consciousness - ANSWERRapid respiratory rate *Rationale:* An elevated respiratory rate is a sign of early respiratory compromise. In late stages or overt respiratory failure, the respiratory rate is low or barely detectable. The 8-year-old child you are treating has a palpable pulse and a heart rate of 200. You look at the monitor and see a rapid rhythm with narrow QRS complexes. There are no discernible P waves on the monitor. The rhythm is probably: - ANSWERSupraventricular tachycardia *Rationale:* The absence of P waves rules out a sinus rhythm, even sinus tachycardia. Ventricular tachycardia creates a wide QRS complex. You are doing CPR on a child with symptomatic bradycardia. An intravenous line is in place. What is the first drug of choice for the patient? - ANSWEREpinephrine *Rationale:* If oxygenation and ventilation fail to correct symptomatic bradycardia in a child, epinephrine should be given. While atropine is the recommended initial treatment choice for symptomatic bradycardia in adults, in children it is a secondary choice. Atropine is the initial treatment in children with AV block due to primary bradycardia, however. High-quality CPR for young children includes: A) Compress to a depth of at least one third of the child's chest diameter B) Compress at a rate between 100 and 120 compressions per minute C) Minimize interruptions to chest compressions D) All of the above - ANSWERAll of the above *Rationale:* All of the features listed reflect high-quality CPR for pediatric patients. You are the team leader on a team resuscitating a child without a pulse or respirations. When you look at the monitor, you see a disorganized rhythm with chaotic electrical activity. This rhythm is most likely: - ANSWERV-Fib