Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
Exam Practice Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2027 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf
Q1. A 4-year-old child is found unresponsive and not breathing normally.
You check for a pulse and cannot definitely feel one within 10 seconds.
What should you do next?
A. Give two rescue breaths
B. Start chest compressions
C. Obtain an ECG
D. Administer epinephrine immediately
Answer: B. Start chest compressions
Rationale: In an unresponsive child who is not breathing normally and has
no definite pulse within 10 seconds, high-quality CPR should be initiated
immediately.
,Q2. During pediatric CPR with two rescuers, what is the recommended chest
compression-to-ventilation ratio for a child without an advanced airway?
A. 15:2
B. 30:2
C. 5:1
D. 10:2
Answer: A. 15:2
Rationale: For two-rescuer CPR in infants and children, the recommended
compression-to-ventilation ratio is 15:2 when there is no advanced airway.
Q3. What is the recommended chest compression rate during pediatric CPR?
A. 60–80/min
B. 80–100/min
C. 100–120/min
D. 120–150/min
Answer: C. 100–120/min
Rationale: High-quality pediatric CPR requires chest compressions at a rate
of 100–120 per minute.
Q4. What is the recommended compression depth for a child during CPR?
,A. At least one-fourth of the chest depth
B. At least one-third of the anterior-posterior diameter of the chest
C. Exactly 1 cm
D. At least one-half of the chest depth
Answer: B. At least one-third of the anterior-posterior diameter of the
chest
Rationale: Pediatric chest compressions should compress the chest at least
one-third of its anterior-posterior diameter, approximately 5 cm (2 inches)
in a child.
Q5. A child has a pulse but is not breathing adequately. What ventilation
rate is generally appropriate when providing rescue breathing?
A. 1 breath every 2–3 seconds
B. 1 breath every 10 seconds
C. 1 breath every 15 seconds
D. 30 breaths per minute
Answer: A. 1 breath every 2–3 seconds
Rationale: A child with a pulse but inadequate or absent breathing should
receive rescue breaths at approximately 20–30 breaths per minute, or one
breath every 2–3 seconds.
Q6. Which finding is most consistent with compensated shock in a child?
, A. Severe hypotension
B. Bradycardia with absent pulses
C. Tachycardia with prolonged capillary refill
D. Fixed and dilated pupils
Answer: C. Tachycardia with prolonged capillary refill
Rationale: Children can maintain blood pressure during early shock
through increased heart rate and systemic vascular resistance.
Tachycardia, cool extremities, and prolonged capillary refill are common
early findings.
Q7. Which finding is generally considered a late and concerning sign of
pediatric shock?
A. Tachycardia
B. Cool extremities
C. Delayed capillary refill
D. Hypotension
Answer: D. Hypotension
Rationale: Children can compensate for significant circulatory compromise
before blood pressure falls. Hypotension is therefore a late and ominous
sign of shock.
Exam Practice Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2027 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf
Q1. A 4-year-old child is found unresponsive and not breathing normally.
You check for a pulse and cannot definitely feel one within 10 seconds.
What should you do next?
A. Give two rescue breaths
B. Start chest compressions
C. Obtain an ECG
D. Administer epinephrine immediately
Answer: B. Start chest compressions
Rationale: In an unresponsive child who is not breathing normally and has
no definite pulse within 10 seconds, high-quality CPR should be initiated
immediately.
,Q2. During pediatric CPR with two rescuers, what is the recommended chest
compression-to-ventilation ratio for a child without an advanced airway?
A. 15:2
B. 30:2
C. 5:1
D. 10:2
Answer: A. 15:2
Rationale: For two-rescuer CPR in infants and children, the recommended
compression-to-ventilation ratio is 15:2 when there is no advanced airway.
Q3. What is the recommended chest compression rate during pediatric CPR?
A. 60–80/min
B. 80–100/min
C. 100–120/min
D. 120–150/min
Answer: C. 100–120/min
Rationale: High-quality pediatric CPR requires chest compressions at a rate
of 100–120 per minute.
Q4. What is the recommended compression depth for a child during CPR?
,A. At least one-fourth of the chest depth
B. At least one-third of the anterior-posterior diameter of the chest
C. Exactly 1 cm
D. At least one-half of the chest depth
Answer: B. At least one-third of the anterior-posterior diameter of the
chest
Rationale: Pediatric chest compressions should compress the chest at least
one-third of its anterior-posterior diameter, approximately 5 cm (2 inches)
in a child.
Q5. A child has a pulse but is not breathing adequately. What ventilation
rate is generally appropriate when providing rescue breathing?
A. 1 breath every 2–3 seconds
B. 1 breath every 10 seconds
C. 1 breath every 15 seconds
D. 30 breaths per minute
Answer: A. 1 breath every 2–3 seconds
Rationale: A child with a pulse but inadequate or absent breathing should
receive rescue breaths at approximately 20–30 breaths per minute, or one
breath every 2–3 seconds.
Q6. Which finding is most consistent with compensated shock in a child?
, A. Severe hypotension
B. Bradycardia with absent pulses
C. Tachycardia with prolonged capillary refill
D. Fixed and dilated pupils
Answer: C. Tachycardia with prolonged capillary refill
Rationale: Children can maintain blood pressure during early shock
through increased heart rate and systemic vascular resistance.
Tachycardia, cool extremities, and prolonged capillary refill are common
early findings.
Q7. Which finding is generally considered a late and concerning sign of
pediatric shock?
A. Tachycardia
B. Cool extremities
C. Delayed capillary refill
D. Hypotension
Answer: D. Hypotension
Rationale: Children can compensate for significant circulatory compromise
before blood pressure falls. Hypotension is therefore a late and ominous
sign of shock.
