AHA PALS EXAM 2024-2025
ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
An 8-year-old child had a sudden onset of palpitations and light-headedness. At
the time of evaluation the child is alert. His respiratory rate is 26/ min, and his
blood pressure is 104/70 mm Hg. A cardiac monitor is applied, and the rhythm
below is noted. What is the most appropriate initial intervention?
A. Provide synchronized cardioversion at 0.5 to 1 J/kg
B. Attempt vagal maneuvers
C. Administer adenosine 0.1 mg/kg over 5 minutes D. Administer amiodarone 5
mg/kg over 20 minutes - Attempt vagal maneuvers
A 10-year-old child had a sudden witnessed cardiac arrest and received
immediate bystander CPR and defibrillation within 3 minutes. He had a return
of spontaneous circulation. The child remains unresponsive and has an
advanced airway in place. There is no history of trauma or signs of shock. What
is the target range for oxygen saturation for this child?
A. 92% to 100%
B. 92% to 99%
C. 94% to 99%
D. 94% to 100% - 94% to 99%
,A 3-month-old infant with bronchiolitis is suctioned to remove upper airway
secretions. The infant's heart rate decreases from 155/min to 65/min as shown
below. The infant remains alert, with easily palpable pulses. Capillary refill time
is 1 second. What is the most appropriate initial intervention?
A. Administer oxygen and ensure adequate ventilation; be prepared to intervene
further if heart rate does not increase
B. Establish IV/IO access and administer epinephrine 0.01 mg/kg IV
C. Establish IV/IO access and administer atropine 0.02 mg/kg IV
D. Call for help and prepare to provide transthoracic pacing/transvenous pacing
- Administer oxygen and ensure adequate ventilation; be prepared to intervene
further if heart rate
A 3-month-old infant with bronchiolitis is intubated for management of
respiratory failure. During transport, the infant develops bradycardia with a
heart rate of 60/min, and the infant's oxygen saturation decreases to 75%. There
are breath sounds on the right side, but no air entry is heard on the left side.
What is the most appropriate initial intervention?
A. Administer epinephrine 0.01 mg/kg IV
B. Place a chest tube on the left
C. Verify the endotracheal tube position
D. Aggressively suction the endotracheal tube - Verify the endotracheal tube
position
For a 6-month-old infant with supraventricular tachycardia and adequate
perfusion, which of the following is the preferred vagal maneuver?
A. Ocular pressure
B. Carotid pressure
C. Valsalva maneuver
D. Ice to the face - Ice to the face
, A child presents with severe respiratory distress, urticaria, stridor, and
tachycardia about 10 minutes after eating peanuts. What is the most appropriate
initial medication for this child?
A. Nebulized albuterol
B. Epinephrine IM
C. Isotonic crystalloid IV
D. Methylprednisolone - Epinephrine IM
A 2-year-old child was found submerged in a swimming pool. She is
unresponsive, not breathing, and pulseless. In addition to performing high-
quality CPR and establishing vascular access, which of the following is the
most appropriate intervention?
A. Give atropine 0.02 mg/kg lIO/IV
B. Apply cricoid pressure
C. Give epinephrine 0.01 mg/kg IO/IV
D. Provide transthoracic pacing - Give epinephrine 0.01 mg/kg IO/IV
A 3-year-old child is unresponsive, not breathing, and pulseless. High-quality
CPR is in progress. A cardiac monitor is applied, and the rhythm below is
noted. What is the next appropriate intervention?
A. Attempt defibrillation with a 2 J/kg shock
B. Administer epinephrine 0.01 mg/kg
C. Consider placement of an advanced airway
D. Administer amiodarone 5 mg/kg - Attempt defibrillation with a 2 J/kg shock
A pulseless 6-week-old infant arrives in the emergency department, and high-
quality CPR is in progress. The initial rhythm strip is shown below. CPR
ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
An 8-year-old child had a sudden onset of palpitations and light-headedness. At
the time of evaluation the child is alert. His respiratory rate is 26/ min, and his
blood pressure is 104/70 mm Hg. A cardiac monitor is applied, and the rhythm
below is noted. What is the most appropriate initial intervention?
A. Provide synchronized cardioversion at 0.5 to 1 J/kg
B. Attempt vagal maneuvers
C. Administer adenosine 0.1 mg/kg over 5 minutes D. Administer amiodarone 5
mg/kg over 20 minutes - Attempt vagal maneuvers
A 10-year-old child had a sudden witnessed cardiac arrest and received
immediate bystander CPR and defibrillation within 3 minutes. He had a return
of spontaneous circulation. The child remains unresponsive and has an
advanced airway in place. There is no history of trauma or signs of shock. What
is the target range for oxygen saturation for this child?
A. 92% to 100%
B. 92% to 99%
C. 94% to 99%
D. 94% to 100% - 94% to 99%
,A 3-month-old infant with bronchiolitis is suctioned to remove upper airway
secretions. The infant's heart rate decreases from 155/min to 65/min as shown
below. The infant remains alert, with easily palpable pulses. Capillary refill time
is 1 second. What is the most appropriate initial intervention?
A. Administer oxygen and ensure adequate ventilation; be prepared to intervene
further if heart rate does not increase
B. Establish IV/IO access and administer epinephrine 0.01 mg/kg IV
C. Establish IV/IO access and administer atropine 0.02 mg/kg IV
D. Call for help and prepare to provide transthoracic pacing/transvenous pacing
- Administer oxygen and ensure adequate ventilation; be prepared to intervene
further if heart rate
A 3-month-old infant with bronchiolitis is intubated for management of
respiratory failure. During transport, the infant develops bradycardia with a
heart rate of 60/min, and the infant's oxygen saturation decreases to 75%. There
are breath sounds on the right side, but no air entry is heard on the left side.
What is the most appropriate initial intervention?
A. Administer epinephrine 0.01 mg/kg IV
B. Place a chest tube on the left
C. Verify the endotracheal tube position
D. Aggressively suction the endotracheal tube - Verify the endotracheal tube
position
For a 6-month-old infant with supraventricular tachycardia and adequate
perfusion, which of the following is the preferred vagal maneuver?
A. Ocular pressure
B. Carotid pressure
C. Valsalva maneuver
D. Ice to the face - Ice to the face
, A child presents with severe respiratory distress, urticaria, stridor, and
tachycardia about 10 minutes after eating peanuts. What is the most appropriate
initial medication for this child?
A. Nebulized albuterol
B. Epinephrine IM
C. Isotonic crystalloid IV
D. Methylprednisolone - Epinephrine IM
A 2-year-old child was found submerged in a swimming pool. She is
unresponsive, not breathing, and pulseless. In addition to performing high-
quality CPR and establishing vascular access, which of the following is the
most appropriate intervention?
A. Give atropine 0.02 mg/kg lIO/IV
B. Apply cricoid pressure
C. Give epinephrine 0.01 mg/kg IO/IV
D. Provide transthoracic pacing - Give epinephrine 0.01 mg/kg IO/IV
A 3-year-old child is unresponsive, not breathing, and pulseless. High-quality
CPR is in progress. A cardiac monitor is applied, and the rhythm below is
noted. What is the next appropriate intervention?
A. Attempt defibrillation with a 2 J/kg shock
B. Administer epinephrine 0.01 mg/kg
C. Consider placement of an advanced airway
D. Administer amiodarone 5 mg/kg - Attempt defibrillation with a 2 J/kg shock
A pulseless 6-week-old infant arrives in the emergency department, and high-
quality CPR is in progress. The initial rhythm strip is shown below. CPR
