PALS Exam Questions & Correct Solutions
Conditions that [blank] air resistance lead to increased respiratory [blank]. -
Answer: Increased
Effort
What are the signs of increased respiratory effort that can lead to fatigue &
respiratory failure? - Answer: Nasal flaring
Retractions
Head bobbing
Seesaw respirations
Determine the respiratory rate by counting the number of times the chest rises in
[blank] seconds & multiplying by [blank]. - Answer: 30
2
Page 1 of 41
,Tachypnea is often the first sign of respiratory [blank] in infants. - Answer: Distress
What do central chemoreceptors respond to? - Answer: Hydrogen ions in the
cerebrospinal fluid
Why may excessive ventilation during CPR be harmful? - Answer: It impedes
venous return
It increases intrathoracic pressure
What should you do if you cannot achieve effective ventilation with a bag-mask
device? - Answer: Reposition the airway
Verify the mask size
How are effective oxygenation & ventilation assessed? - Answer: Oxygen
saturation
Exhaled carbon dioxide
Visible chest rise w/ each breath
How can gastric inflation impair bag-mask ventilation? - Answer: It decreases lung
compliance
What is the most appropriate precautionary action to minimize gastric inflation
during a bag-mask ventilation? - Answer: Deliver each breath over about 1 second
Page 2 of 41
,Which is true about the difference between hypoxemia & tissue hypoxia? -
Answer: Tissue hypoxia can occur with normal arterial oxygen saturation
What does hyperventilation, which refers to increased alveolar ventilation, result
in? - Answer: PaCO2 less than 35 mm Hg
What happens to the arterial oxygen level in a child w/ severe anemia? - Answer:
May increase when dissolved oxygen is increased
Which is true of increased carbon dioxide tension in arterial blood? - Answer: May
be caused by disordered control of breathing
What happens when ventilation is inadequate? - Answer: PaCO2 increases
What is a critical symptom of hypercarbia? - Answer: Decreased level of
consciousness
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
Page 3 of 41
, 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
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
Page 4 of 41
Conditions that [blank] air resistance lead to increased respiratory [blank]. -
Answer: Increased
Effort
What are the signs of increased respiratory effort that can lead to fatigue &
respiratory failure? - Answer: Nasal flaring
Retractions
Head bobbing
Seesaw respirations
Determine the respiratory rate by counting the number of times the chest rises in
[blank] seconds & multiplying by [blank]. - Answer: 30
2
Page 1 of 41
,Tachypnea is often the first sign of respiratory [blank] in infants. - Answer: Distress
What do central chemoreceptors respond to? - Answer: Hydrogen ions in the
cerebrospinal fluid
Why may excessive ventilation during CPR be harmful? - Answer: It impedes
venous return
It increases intrathoracic pressure
What should you do if you cannot achieve effective ventilation with a bag-mask
device? - Answer: Reposition the airway
Verify the mask size
How are effective oxygenation & ventilation assessed? - Answer: Oxygen
saturation
Exhaled carbon dioxide
Visible chest rise w/ each breath
How can gastric inflation impair bag-mask ventilation? - Answer: It decreases lung
compliance
What is the most appropriate precautionary action to minimize gastric inflation
during a bag-mask ventilation? - Answer: Deliver each breath over about 1 second
Page 2 of 41
,Which is true about the difference between hypoxemia & tissue hypoxia? -
Answer: Tissue hypoxia can occur with normal arterial oxygen saturation
What does hyperventilation, which refers to increased alveolar ventilation, result
in? - Answer: PaCO2 less than 35 mm Hg
What happens to the arterial oxygen level in a child w/ severe anemia? - Answer:
May increase when dissolved oxygen is increased
Which is true of increased carbon dioxide tension in arterial blood? - Answer: May
be caused by disordered control of breathing
What happens when ventilation is inadequate? - Answer: PaCO2 increases
What is a critical symptom of hypercarbia? - Answer: Decreased level of
consciousness
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
Page 3 of 41
, 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
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
Page 4 of 41
