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AHA PALS EXAM NEWEST 2025/2026 ACTUAL EXAM TEST BANK 115
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+||NEWEST VERSION
1. 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% - ......ANSWER........94% to 99%
2. An 8-month-old infant is being evaluated. The child's mother says the infant has not
been feeding well. The infant is alert with rapid but unlabored breathing, and the
infant's color is pale. A cardiac monitor is applied, and the rhythm below is noted.
Distal pulses are readily palpable. You give oxygen and establish IV access. What is
the most appropriate vagal maneuver? A. Valsalva maneuver B. Carotid massage C.
Ocular pressure D. Ice to the face - ......ANSWER........Ice to the face
3. 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.
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Establish IV/IO access and administer atropine 0.02 mg/kg IV D. Call for help and
prepare to provide transthoracic pacing/transvenous pacing
- ......ANSWER........Administer oxygen and ensure adequate ventilation; be
prepared to intervene further if heart rate
4. A 7-year-old child presents with a narrow-complex supraventricular tachycardia,
lethargy, and poor perfusion. Pulses are weak and thready. Vascular access cannot
be established. What is the most appropriate intervention? A. Unsynchronized
shock with 0.5 to 1 J/kg B. Synchronized shock with 0.5 to 1 J/kg C. Unsynchronized
shock with 2 J/kg D. Synchronized shock with 2 J/kg
- ......ANSWER........Synchronized shock with 0.5 to 1 J/kg
5. A 3-year-old child was recently diagnosed with leukemia and has been treated with
chemotherapy. The child presents with lethargy and a high fever. Heart rate is
195/min, respiratory rate is 36/min, blood pressure is 85/40 mm Hg, and capillary
refill time is less than 2 seconds. What is the child's most likely condition? A. Septic
shock B. Hypovolemic shock C. Significant bradycardia D. Cardiogenic shock
- ......ANSWER........Septic shock
6. The respiratory rate of a 1-year-old child with respiratory distress has decreased
from 65/min to 30/min. The child is more lethargic and continues to have subcostal
retractions. What does this change likely indicate? A. Respiratory distress is
unchanged B. Progression toward respiratory failure C. Improved respiratory status
D. Neurologic impairment - ......ANSWER........Progression toward respiratory failure
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7. A 3-month-old infant presents with lethargy and a 3-day history of vomiting,
diarrhea, and poor feeding. The initial impression reveals lethargy, increased
respiratory effort with retractions, and pale, mottled skin color. Vital signs are as
follows: heart rate 210/min, respiratory rate 60/min, and blood pressure 60/40 mm
Hg. Peripheral pulses are thready, and capillary refill time is 4 seconds. The cardiac
monitor displays the rhythm below. After administration of oxygen and
establishment of vascular access, what is the most appropriate intervention? A.
Adenosine O.1 mg/kg IV rapid push B. Vagal maneuvers C. Synchronized shock at
0.5 to 1 J/kg D. IV fluid bolus of 20 mL/kg normal saline - ......ANSWER........IV fluid
bolus of 20 mL/kg normal saline
8. 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 - ......ANSWER........Verify the endotracheal tube
position
9. A 3-year-old child is unresponsive, gasping, and has no detectable pulse. CPR is
initiated. A monitor is attached, and the rhythm is shown below. What is the
appropriate next therapy? A. Attempted defibrillation with 2 J/kg B. Synchronized
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cardioversion with 0.5 to 1 J/kg C. Epinephrine 0.01 mg/kg 10/IV D. Amiodarone 5
mg/kg 1O/IV - ......ANSWER........Attempted defibrillation with 2 J/kg
10. 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 - ......ANSWER........Ice to
the face
11. A 2-year-old child is in pulseless arrest. The child has received high-quality CPR, 2
shocks, and a dose of IV epinephrine. The next rhythm check reveals the rhythm
shown below. What would be an appropriate energy dose for the third defibrillation
attempt? A. 2 J/kg B. 2 to 4 J/kg C. 4 J/kg or greater D. Greater than 10 J/kg
- ......ANSWER........4 J/kg or greater
12. 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 - ......ANSWER........Epinephrine IM
13. A 12-year-old child collapses while playing sports. He is unresponsive and not
breathing. Emergency response is activated. The child has no pulse, and CPR is
initiated. An AED arrives. What is the most appropriate next intervention? A. Contact
the child's family B. Provide CPR for 2 minutes C. Drive the child to the hospital D.
Use the AED - ......ANSWER........Use the AED
14. 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
AHA PALS EXAM NEWEST 2025/2026 ACTUAL EXAM TEST BANK 115
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+||NEWEST VERSION
1. 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% - ......ANSWER........94% to 99%
2. An 8-month-old infant is being evaluated. The child's mother says the infant has not
been feeding well. The infant is alert with rapid but unlabored breathing, and the
infant's color is pale. A cardiac monitor is applied, and the rhythm below is noted.
Distal pulses are readily palpable. You give oxygen and establish IV access. What is
the most appropriate vagal maneuver? A. Valsalva maneuver B. Carotid massage C.
Ocular pressure D. Ice to the face - ......ANSWER........Ice to the face
3. 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.
,2 of 31
Establish IV/IO access and administer atropine 0.02 mg/kg IV D. Call for help and
prepare to provide transthoracic pacing/transvenous pacing
- ......ANSWER........Administer oxygen and ensure adequate ventilation; be
prepared to intervene further if heart rate
4. A 7-year-old child presents with a narrow-complex supraventricular tachycardia,
lethargy, and poor perfusion. Pulses are weak and thready. Vascular access cannot
be established. What is the most appropriate intervention? A. Unsynchronized
shock with 0.5 to 1 J/kg B. Synchronized shock with 0.5 to 1 J/kg C. Unsynchronized
shock with 2 J/kg D. Synchronized shock with 2 J/kg
- ......ANSWER........Synchronized shock with 0.5 to 1 J/kg
5. A 3-year-old child was recently diagnosed with leukemia and has been treated with
chemotherapy. The child presents with lethargy and a high fever. Heart rate is
195/min, respiratory rate is 36/min, blood pressure is 85/40 mm Hg, and capillary
refill time is less than 2 seconds. What is the child's most likely condition? A. Septic
shock B. Hypovolemic shock C. Significant bradycardia D. Cardiogenic shock
- ......ANSWER........Septic shock
6. The respiratory rate of a 1-year-old child with respiratory distress has decreased
from 65/min to 30/min. The child is more lethargic and continues to have subcostal
retractions. What does this change likely indicate? A. Respiratory distress is
unchanged B. Progression toward respiratory failure C. Improved respiratory status
D. Neurologic impairment - ......ANSWER........Progression toward respiratory failure
,3 of 31
7. A 3-month-old infant presents with lethargy and a 3-day history of vomiting,
diarrhea, and poor feeding. The initial impression reveals lethargy, increased
respiratory effort with retractions, and pale, mottled skin color. Vital signs are as
follows: heart rate 210/min, respiratory rate 60/min, and blood pressure 60/40 mm
Hg. Peripheral pulses are thready, and capillary refill time is 4 seconds. The cardiac
monitor displays the rhythm below. After administration of oxygen and
establishment of vascular access, what is the most appropriate intervention? A.
Adenosine O.1 mg/kg IV rapid push B. Vagal maneuvers C. Synchronized shock at
0.5 to 1 J/kg D. IV fluid bolus of 20 mL/kg normal saline - ......ANSWER........IV fluid
bolus of 20 mL/kg normal saline
8. 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 - ......ANSWER........Verify the endotracheal tube
position
9. A 3-year-old child is unresponsive, gasping, and has no detectable pulse. CPR is
initiated. A monitor is attached, and the rhythm is shown below. What is the
appropriate next therapy? A. Attempted defibrillation with 2 J/kg B. Synchronized
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cardioversion with 0.5 to 1 J/kg C. Epinephrine 0.01 mg/kg 10/IV D. Amiodarone 5
mg/kg 1O/IV - ......ANSWER........Attempted defibrillation with 2 J/kg
10. 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 - ......ANSWER........Ice to
the face
11. A 2-year-old child is in pulseless arrest. The child has received high-quality CPR, 2
shocks, and a dose of IV epinephrine. The next rhythm check reveals the rhythm
shown below. What would be an appropriate energy dose for the third defibrillation
attempt? A. 2 J/kg B. 2 to 4 J/kg C. 4 J/kg or greater D. Greater than 10 J/kg
- ......ANSWER........4 J/kg or greater
12. 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 - ......ANSWER........Epinephrine IM
13. A 12-year-old child collapses while playing sports. He is unresponsive and not
breathing. Emergency response is activated. The child has no pulse, and CPR is
initiated. An AED arrives. What is the most appropriate next intervention? A. Contact
the child's family B. Provide CPR for 2 minutes C. Drive the child to the hospital D.
Use the AED - ......ANSWER........Use the AED
14. 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
