AHA PALS PRACTICE EXAM 2024/2025 WITH 100%
CORRECT ANSWERS
1. A 5-year-old child presents with lethargy, increased work of breathing, and pale color. The primary
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assessment reveals that the airway is open and the respiratory rate is 30/min, with crackles heard on
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
auscultation. The cardiac monitor shows sinus tachycardia at a rate of 165/min. The pulse oximeter displays an
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
oxygen saturation of 95% and a pulse rate of 93/min. On the basis of this information, which of the following
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provides the best interpretation of the oxygen saturation of 95% by pulse oximetry?
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
A. Reliable; no supplementary oxygen is indicated B. Reliable; supplementary oxygen should be administered
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C. Unreliable; no supplementary oxygen is indicated
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D. Unreliable; supplementary oxygen should be administered - correct answer Unreliable; supplementary
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oxygen should be administered
r r r
2. A 3-year-old child was recently diagnosed with leukemia and has been treated with chemotherapy. The child
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presents with lethargy and a high fever. Heart rate is 195/min, respiratory rate is 36/min, blood pressure is
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
85/40 mm Hg, and capillary refill time is less than 2 seconds. What is the child's most likely condition?
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A. Septic shock
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B. Hypovolemic shock
r r r
C. Significant bradycardia
r r r
,D. Cardiogenic shock - correct answer Septic shock
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3. A 2-week-old infant presents with irritability and a history of poor feeding. Blood pressure is 55/40 mm Hg.
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What term describes this infant's blood pressure?
r r r r r r r
A. Hypotensive
r r
B. Normal
r r
C. Hypertensive
r r
D. Compensated - correct answer Hypotensive
r r r r r
4. During a resuscitation attempt, the team leader orders an initial dose of epinephrine at 0.1 mg/kg to be given
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
10. What should the team member do?
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A. Administer the drug as ordered
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B. Administer 0.01 mg/kg of epinephrine
r r r r r r
C. Respectfully ask the team leader to clarify the dose
r r r r r r r r r r
D. Refuse to administer the drug - correct answer Respectfully ask the team leader to clarify the dose
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5. Which of the following is a characteristic of respiratory failure?
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A. Inadequate oxygenation and/or ventilation
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B. Hypotension
r r
C. An increase in serum pH (alkalosis)
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D. Abnormal respiratory sounds - correct answer Inadequate oxygenation and/or ventilation
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6. Which of the following is most likely to produce a prolonged expiratory phase and wheezing?
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
A. Disordered control of breathing
r r r r r
B. Hypovolemic shock
r r r
C. Lower airway obstruction
r r r r
D. Upper airway obstruction - correct answer Lower airway obstruction
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7. A 4-year-old child presents with seizures and irregular respirations. The seizures stopped a few minutes ago.
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Which of the following most likely to be abnormal?
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, A. Vascular resistance
r r r
B. Pulse rate
r r r
C. Lung compliance
r r r
D. Control of breathing - correct answer Control of breathing
r r r r r r r r r
8. What abnormality is most likely to be present in children with acute respiratory distress caused by lung tissue
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disease? r
A. Decreased oxygen saturation
r r r r
B. Stridor
r r
C. Normal respiratory rate
r r r r
D. Decreased respiratory effort - correct answer Decreased oxygen saturation
r r r r r r r r r
9. An alert 2-year-old child with an increased work of breathing and pink color is being evaluated. Heart rate is
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
110/min, and respiratory rate is 30/min. What would best describe this patient's condition? A. Respiratory
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
distress r
B. Respiratory arrest
r r
C. Respiratory failure
r r r
D. Disordered control of breathing - correct answer Respiratory distress
r r r r r r r r r
10. The parents of a 7-year-old child who is undergoing chemotherapy report that the child has been febrile
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
and has not been feeling well, with recent onset of lethargy. Assessment reveals the following: The child is
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
difficult to arouse, with pale color. The child's heart rate is 160/min, respiratory rate is 30/min, blood pressure is
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
76/45 mm Hg, capillary refill time is 5 to 6 seconds, and temperature is 103°F (39.4°C). What is the most
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
appropriate intervention? r r
A. Obtain vascular access and administer 20 mL/kg of isotonic crystalloid over 30 minutes
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
B. Obtain vascular access and administer 20 mL/kg of isotonic crystalloid over 5 to 10 minutes
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
C. Obtain immediate blood cultures and chest x-ray D. Obtain expert consultation with an oncologist to
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
determine the chemotherapeutic regimen - correct answer Obtain vascular access and administer 20 mL/kg of
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
isotonic crystalloid over 5 to 10 minutes r r r r r r
11. A 2-year-old child presents with a 4-day history of vomiting. The initial impression reveals an unresponsive
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
child with intermittent apnea and mottled color. Heart rate is 166/min, respiratory rate is now being supported
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
with bag-mask ventilation, capillary refill time is 5 to 6 seconds, and temperature is 102°F (38.9°C). What is the
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
CORRECT ANSWERS
1. A 5-year-old child presents with lethargy, increased work of breathing, and pale color. The primary
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
assessment reveals that the airway is open and the respiratory rate is 30/min, with crackles heard on
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
auscultation. The cardiac monitor shows sinus tachycardia at a rate of 165/min. The pulse oximeter displays an
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
oxygen saturation of 95% and a pulse rate of 93/min. On the basis of this information, which of the following
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
provides the best interpretation of the oxygen saturation of 95% by pulse oximetry?
r r r r r r r r r r r r r
A. Reliable; no supplementary oxygen is indicated B. Reliable; supplementary oxygen should be administered
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
C. Unreliable; no supplementary oxygen is indicated
r r r r r r r
D. Unreliable; supplementary oxygen should be administered - correct answer Unreliable; supplementary
r r r r r r r r r r r r
oxygen should be administered
r r r
2. A 3-year-old child was recently diagnosed with leukemia and has been treated with chemotherapy. The child
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
presents with lethargy and a high fever. Heart rate is 195/min, respiratory rate is 36/min, blood pressure is
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
85/40 mm Hg, and capillary refill time is less than 2 seconds. What is the child's most likely condition?
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
A. Septic shock
r r r
B. Hypovolemic shock
r r r
C. Significant bradycardia
r r r
,D. Cardiogenic shock - correct answer Septic shock
r r r r r r r
3. A 2-week-old infant presents with irritability and a history of poor feeding. Blood pressure is 55/40 mm Hg.
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
What term describes this infant's blood pressure?
r r r r r r r
A. Hypotensive
r r
B. Normal
r r
C. Hypertensive
r r
D. Compensated - correct answer Hypotensive
r r r r r
4. During a resuscitation attempt, the team leader orders an initial dose of epinephrine at 0.1 mg/kg to be given
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
10. What should the team member do?
r r r r r r r
A. Administer the drug as ordered
r r r r r r
B. Administer 0.01 mg/kg of epinephrine
r r r r r r
C. Respectfully ask the team leader to clarify the dose
r r r r r r r r r r
D. Refuse to administer the drug - correct answer Respectfully ask the team leader to clarify the dose
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
5. Which of the following is a characteristic of respiratory failure?
r r r r r r r r r r r
A. Inadequate oxygenation and/or ventilation
r r r r r
B. Hypotension
r r
C. An increase in serum pH (alkalosis)
r r r r r r r
D. Abnormal respiratory sounds - correct answer Inadequate oxygenation and/or ventilation
r r r r r r r r r r
6. Which of the following is most likely to produce a prolonged expiratory phase and wheezing?
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
A. Disordered control of breathing
r r r r r
B. Hypovolemic shock
r r r
C. Lower airway obstruction
r r r r
D. Upper airway obstruction - correct answer Lower airway obstruction
r r r r r r r r r
7. A 4-year-old child presents with seizures and irregular respirations. The seizures stopped a few minutes ago.
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
Which of the following most likely to be abnormal?
r r r r r r r r r
, A. Vascular resistance
r r r
B. Pulse rate
r r r
C. Lung compliance
r r r
D. Control of breathing - correct answer Control of breathing
r r r r r r r r r
8. What abnormality is most likely to be present in children with acute respiratory distress caused by lung tissue
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
disease? r
A. Decreased oxygen saturation
r r r r
B. Stridor
r r
C. Normal respiratory rate
r r r r
D. Decreased respiratory effort - correct answer Decreased oxygen saturation
r r r r r r r r r
9. An alert 2-year-old child with an increased work of breathing and pink color is being evaluated. Heart rate is
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
110/min, and respiratory rate is 30/min. What would best describe this patient's condition? A. Respiratory
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
distress r
B. Respiratory arrest
r r
C. Respiratory failure
r r r
D. Disordered control of breathing - correct answer Respiratory distress
r r r r r r r r r
10. The parents of a 7-year-old child who is undergoing chemotherapy report that the child has been febrile
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
and has not been feeling well, with recent onset of lethargy. Assessment reveals the following: The child is
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
difficult to arouse, with pale color. The child's heart rate is 160/min, respiratory rate is 30/min, blood pressure is
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
76/45 mm Hg, capillary refill time is 5 to 6 seconds, and temperature is 103°F (39.4°C). What is the most
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
appropriate intervention? r r
A. Obtain vascular access and administer 20 mL/kg of isotonic crystalloid over 30 minutes
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
B. Obtain vascular access and administer 20 mL/kg of isotonic crystalloid over 5 to 10 minutes
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
C. Obtain immediate blood cultures and chest x-ray D. Obtain expert consultation with an oncologist to
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
determine the chemotherapeutic regimen - correct answer Obtain vascular access and administer 20 mL/kg of
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
isotonic crystalloid over 5 to 10 minutes r r r r r r
11. A 2-year-old child presents with a 4-day history of vomiting. The initial impression reveals an unresponsive
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
child with intermittent apnea and mottled color. Heart rate is 166/min, respiratory rate is now being supported
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
with bag-mask ventilation, capillary refill time is 5 to 6 seconds, and temperature is 102°F (38.9°C). What is the
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
