PALS Practice Test

Prepare for Pediatric Advanced Life Support certification with realistic PALS practice questions covering pediatric assessment, cardiac arrest, and emergency treatment.

Which of the following is the most appropriate first step in the management of a child with bradycardia and poor perfusion despite oxygenation and ventilation?

Question 1/19

Administer epinephrine IV/IO immediately

Begin chest compressions if heart rate remains <60/min with signs of poor perfusion

Apply a defibrillator and deliver a shock

Initiate synchronized cardioversion

What is the preferred method for confirming endotracheal tube placement in a pediatric patient?

Question 2/19

Auscultation of bilateral breath sounds

Observation of chest rise

Continuous waveform capnography

Colorimetric CO₂ detector

Which of the following signs is most consistent with compensated shock in a pediatric patient?

Question 3/19

Hypotension

Altered mental status

Bounding peripheral pulses

Tachycardia with cool extremities

True or False: Epinephrine should be administered via the endotracheal tube if IV or IO access is unavailable.

Question 4/19

True

False

Which of the following rhythms is most likely to respond to defibrillation in a pediatric cardiac arrest?

Question 5/19

Pulseless electrical activity

Asystole

Ventricular fibrillation

Sinus bradycardia

In pediatric advanced life support, what is the initial fluid bolus for a child in septic shock?

Question 6/19

60 mL/kg over 5 minutes

20 mL/kg over 5–10 minutes

10 mL/kg over 30 minutes

5 mL/kg over 1 hour

Which of the following actions is most important when managing an unresponsive child with a pulse and inadequate breathing?

Question 7/19

Provide chest compressions immediately

Give high-flow oxygen via non-rebreather mask

Begin rescue breathing at a rate of 1 breath every 3–5 seconds

Initiate synchronized cardioversion

Which of the following is the most appropriate energy dose for the first defibrillation attempt in a child with ventricular fibrillation?

Question 8/19

0.5 J/kg

1 J/kg

2 J/kg

4 J/kg

True or False: Bag-mask ventilation is the preferred initial method of airway management in a pediatric resuscitation unless advanced airway is immediately available.

Question 9/19

True

False

A child presents with anaphylaxis and respiratory compromise. Which medication should be administered first?

Question 10/19

Diphenhydramine IM

Epinephrine IM

Albuterol via nebulizer

Methylprednisolone IV

What is the most appropriate intervention for a child in pulseless electrical activity (PEA)?

Question 11/19

Synchronized cardioversion

Defibrillation

CPR and epinephrine administration

Amiodarone bolus

Which of the following best describes the role of amiodarone in pediatric advanced life support?

Question 12/19

First-line for bradycardia with poor perfusion

Used in shock-refractory pulseless VT or VF

Indicated for SVT in stable patients

Administered before epinephrine in cardiac arrest

What is the recommended dose of epinephrine during pediatric cardiac arrest?

Question 13/19

0.01 mg/kg IV/IO of 1:10,000 concentration every 3–5 minutes

0.1 mg/kg IV/IO of 1:1,000 concentration every 10 minutes

0.01 mg/kg IM of 1:1,000 concentration every 3 minutes

0.1 mg/kg IO of 1:10,000 concentration every 5 minutes

Which rhythm is least likely to require defibrillation?

Question 14/19

Ventricular fibrillation

Pulseless ventricular tachycardia

Asystole

Torsades de pointes

True or False: Capnography can help evaluate the quality of CPR in a pediatric arrest.

Question 15/19

True

False

Which of the following best describes the primary goal in post–cardiac arrest care in children?

Question 16/19

Administer additional doses of epinephrine

Monitor for re-arrest only

Optimize ventilation and perfusion

Place in Trendelenburg position

Which of the following is the best method to prevent deterioration in a child with respiratory distress?

Question 17/19

Administer sedatives

Delay intervention until apnea occurs

Recognize and treat early with oxygen and airway support

Wait for pulse oximeter to drop below 85%

What is the most reliable sign of effective chest compressions during CPR?

Question 18/19

Pupil response

Presence of a femoral pulse during compressions

Oxygen saturation above 90%

Heart rate over 60 bpm

Which of the following is an acceptable alternative to amiodarone in pediatric pulseless VT/VF?

Question 19/19

Lidocaine

Atropine

Adenosine

Procainamide

PALS Practice Test

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