PALS Exam Questions & Correct Solutions
Which of the following indicates mild respiratory distress? - Answer: Mild increase
in respiratory effort
Which of the following indicates severe respiratory distress? - Answer: Marked
tachypnea &/or apnea
Which of the following statements about respiratory failure is true? - Answer:
May occur w/o signs of respiratory distress
Which is most likely to be present in a child who has respiratory distress [not
respiratory failure]? - Answer: Ability to maintain a patent airway
What steps should be taken as part of initial management of a child in respiratory
distress? - Answer: Support an open airway
Page 1 of 41
,Monitor O2 saturation by pulse oximetry
Monitor heart rate, rhythm, & bp
Which are ideal characteristics of face masks for ventilation? - Answer: Covers
mouth & nose
Has a soft rim
Transparent
What is the rationale for using a transparent mask? - Answer: Allows you to see
the color of the child's lips
What is the function of the nonrebreathing outlet valve of a self-inflating bag? -
Answer: Prevents rebreathing of carbon dioxide
Which of the following is required to appropriately ventilate a child with a flow-
inflating bag? - Answer: Tidal volume needs to be delivered at the correct rate
What should be checked to ensure proper function of a bag-mask system? -
Answer: The pop-off valve can be closed
Oxygen tubing is connected to the device & the oxygen source
How is sniffing position achieved in an infant or a child? - Answer: Ensure that the
external ear canal is anterior to the shoulder
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,Where may padding be required under when properly positioning a child older
than 2 years of age to maintain a patent airway? - Answer: The occiput
What actions are appropriate when providing 1-person bag-mask ventilation? -
Answer: Perform a head tilt, insert an oral airway, & squeeze the bag until chest
rise
What does the E-C clamp technique include? - Answer: Using the third, fourth, &
fifth fingers of one hand along the jaw to lift it forward
Using the thumb & index finger of the same hand to hold the face mask
When may a 2-person bag-mask technique be preferable? - Answer: When
making a seal is difficult
When there is significant airway resistance
When suctioning a patient, which of the following should be monitored? -
Answer: Clinical appearance
Oxygen saturation
Heart rate
What should you do to help reduce the risk of hypoxemia during suctioning? -
Answer: Limit suction attempts to 10 seconds or less
Under what circumstance should you use an oropharyngeal airway? - Answer: The
child must be unconscious
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, What can happen if the oropharyngeal airway is too large? - Answer: It can block
the airway
When measuring for an oropharyngeal airway, it should extend from the corner of
the mouth to the angle of the [blank]. - Answer: Jaw
The inspired oxygen concentration of a low-flow oxygen delivery system is
between [blank] % to [blank] %. - Answer: 22
60
The appropriate flow rate for a simple mask is [blank] to [blank] L/min. - Answer:
6
10
For a nonrebreathing mask to be effective, the oxygen flow rate must be at least
[blank] L/min. - Answer: 10
High-flow oxygen systems reliably deliver an oxygen concentration of greater than
[blank] %. - Answer: 60
The gas flow rate for a nebulizer treatment is [blank] to [blank] L/min. - Answer: 5
6
Page 4 of 41
Which of the following indicates mild respiratory distress? - Answer: Mild increase
in respiratory effort
Which of the following indicates severe respiratory distress? - Answer: Marked
tachypnea &/or apnea
Which of the following statements about respiratory failure is true? - Answer:
May occur w/o signs of respiratory distress
Which is most likely to be present in a child who has respiratory distress [not
respiratory failure]? - Answer: Ability to maintain a patent airway
What steps should be taken as part of initial management of a child in respiratory
distress? - Answer: Support an open airway
Page 1 of 41
,Monitor O2 saturation by pulse oximetry
Monitor heart rate, rhythm, & bp
Which are ideal characteristics of face masks for ventilation? - Answer: Covers
mouth & nose
Has a soft rim
Transparent
What is the rationale for using a transparent mask? - Answer: Allows you to see
the color of the child's lips
What is the function of the nonrebreathing outlet valve of a self-inflating bag? -
Answer: Prevents rebreathing of carbon dioxide
Which of the following is required to appropriately ventilate a child with a flow-
inflating bag? - Answer: Tidal volume needs to be delivered at the correct rate
What should be checked to ensure proper function of a bag-mask system? -
Answer: The pop-off valve can be closed
Oxygen tubing is connected to the device & the oxygen source
How is sniffing position achieved in an infant or a child? - Answer: Ensure that the
external ear canal is anterior to the shoulder
Page 2 of 41
,Where may padding be required under when properly positioning a child older
than 2 years of age to maintain a patent airway? - Answer: The occiput
What actions are appropriate when providing 1-person bag-mask ventilation? -
Answer: Perform a head tilt, insert an oral airway, & squeeze the bag until chest
rise
What does the E-C clamp technique include? - Answer: Using the third, fourth, &
fifth fingers of one hand along the jaw to lift it forward
Using the thumb & index finger of the same hand to hold the face mask
When may a 2-person bag-mask technique be preferable? - Answer: When
making a seal is difficult
When there is significant airway resistance
When suctioning a patient, which of the following should be monitored? -
Answer: Clinical appearance
Oxygen saturation
Heart rate
What should you do to help reduce the risk of hypoxemia during suctioning? -
Answer: Limit suction attempts to 10 seconds or less
Under what circumstance should you use an oropharyngeal airway? - Answer: The
child must be unconscious
Page 3 of 41
, What can happen if the oropharyngeal airway is too large? - Answer: It can block
the airway
When measuring for an oropharyngeal airway, it should extend from the corner of
the mouth to the angle of the [blank]. - Answer: Jaw
The inspired oxygen concentration of a low-flow oxygen delivery system is
between [blank] % to [blank] %. - Answer: 22
60
The appropriate flow rate for a simple mask is [blank] to [blank] L/min. - Answer:
6
10
For a nonrebreathing mask to be effective, the oxygen flow rate must be at least
[blank] L/min. - Answer: 10
High-flow oxygen systems reliably deliver an oxygen concentration of greater than
[blank] %. - Answer: 60
The gas flow rate for a nebulizer treatment is [blank] to [blank] L/min. - Answer: 5
6
Page 4 of 41
