ARC PALS FINAL EXAM 2025 COMPREHENSIVE ACADEMIC
STUDY GUIDE WITH VERIFIED CONCEPTS AND EXAM-FOCUSED
EXPLANATIONS 2025–2026
A healthcare provider is performing a primary assessment of a child in respiratory distress. The
provider documents increased work of breathing when which findings are observed - correct
answer -Sternal Retractions
Nasal Flaring
Accessory Muscle Use
A 12-year-old child being evaluated in the pediatric intensive care unit displays the following
ECG waveform. The team interprets this as which arrhythmia - correct answer -Second-degree
AV Block, type 1
An 11-year-old child develops unstable wide-complex tachycardia. Assessment reveals signs of
significant hemodynamic compromise, but the child has a pulse. The PALS team would prepare
the child for which intervention - correct answer -Synchronized Electrical Cardioversion
A 4-year-old patient presents with tachycardia, tachypnea, cold extremities and weak pulses.
Assessment also reveals an enlarged liver and neck vein distension. The provider interprets
these assessment findings as suggesting which type of shock - correct answer -Cardiogenic
A 9-year-old patient is presenting with decreased breath sounds, bradycardia, slowed
respiratory rate and a low O2 saturation level. The provider interprets these findings as
indicating which condition - correct answer -Respiratory Failure
, Which action would the PALS team initiate to manage increased intracranial pressure in a
pediatric patient - correct answer -Maintain the head in midline position with 30-degree
elevation
A child in the pediatric step-down unit is exhibiting signs of respiratory distress. When assessing
this child, which circulation finding might be present - correct answer -Pallor
A child is experiencing shock. The emergency response team prepares for imminent cardiac
arrest when assessment reveals which finding(s) - correct answer -Hypotension
Diminished central pulses
Bradycardia
A 12-year-old is being treated in the urgent care clinic. The mother reports that the child came
home from school yesterday with a high fever, vomiting and multiple episodes of watery
diarrhea. The healthcare provider obtains a rhythm strip and notes the following waveform. The
provider interprets this as which type of arrhythmia - correct answer -Sinus Tachycardia
A 4-year-old child suddenly collapses in the playroom of the facility. A healthcare provider
observes the event and hurries over to assess the child. The healthcare provider completes
which assessment first - correct answer -Rapid Assessment
A 2-year-old child arrives at the emergency department with the parents. The child is
unresponsive, is not breathing and has no pulse. Two emergency department providers begin
high-quality CPR. Which action(s) by the providers demonstrates high-quality CPR - correct
answer -Providing ventilations that last about 1 sec each
Compressing the chest about 2 inches
Giving 2 ventilations to every 15 compressions
Allowing full recoil after compression
STUDY GUIDE WITH VERIFIED CONCEPTS AND EXAM-FOCUSED
EXPLANATIONS 2025–2026
A healthcare provider is performing a primary assessment of a child in respiratory distress. The
provider documents increased work of breathing when which findings are observed - correct
answer -Sternal Retractions
Nasal Flaring
Accessory Muscle Use
A 12-year-old child being evaluated in the pediatric intensive care unit displays the following
ECG waveform. The team interprets this as which arrhythmia - correct answer -Second-degree
AV Block, type 1
An 11-year-old child develops unstable wide-complex tachycardia. Assessment reveals signs of
significant hemodynamic compromise, but the child has a pulse. The PALS team would prepare
the child for which intervention - correct answer -Synchronized Electrical Cardioversion
A 4-year-old patient presents with tachycardia, tachypnea, cold extremities and weak pulses.
Assessment also reveals an enlarged liver and neck vein distension. The provider interprets
these assessment findings as suggesting which type of shock - correct answer -Cardiogenic
A 9-year-old patient is presenting with decreased breath sounds, bradycardia, slowed
respiratory rate and a low O2 saturation level. The provider interprets these findings as
indicating which condition - correct answer -Respiratory Failure
, Which action would the PALS team initiate to manage increased intracranial pressure in a
pediatric patient - correct answer -Maintain the head in midline position with 30-degree
elevation
A child in the pediatric step-down unit is exhibiting signs of respiratory distress. When assessing
this child, which circulation finding might be present - correct answer -Pallor
A child is experiencing shock. The emergency response team prepares for imminent cardiac
arrest when assessment reveals which finding(s) - correct answer -Hypotension
Diminished central pulses
Bradycardia
A 12-year-old is being treated in the urgent care clinic. The mother reports that the child came
home from school yesterday with a high fever, vomiting and multiple episodes of watery
diarrhea. The healthcare provider obtains a rhythm strip and notes the following waveform. The
provider interprets this as which type of arrhythmia - correct answer -Sinus Tachycardia
A 4-year-old child suddenly collapses in the playroom of the facility. A healthcare provider
observes the event and hurries over to assess the child. The healthcare provider completes
which assessment first - correct answer -Rapid Assessment
A 2-year-old child arrives at the emergency department with the parents. The child is
unresponsive, is not breathing and has no pulse. Two emergency department providers begin
high-quality CPR. Which action(s) by the providers demonstrates high-quality CPR - correct
answer -Providing ventilations that last about 1 sec each
Compressing the chest about 2 inches
Giving 2 ventilations to every 15 compressions
Allowing full recoil after compression
