AHA PALS EXAM: (LATEST 2026/2027
UPDATE) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
GRADE A | 100% CORRECT
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION (AHA) PEDIATRIC
ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT (AHA PALS)
You are caring for a child who was resuscitated after a drowning
event. The child is intubated and ventilated with 100% oxygen
with equal breath sounds and exhaled CO2 detected. The heart
rate is slow and the monitor shows sinus bradycardia. The skin is
cool, mottled, and moist; distal pulses are not palpable and the
central pulses are weak. Intravenous access has been
established. The core temperature is 37.3oC. Based on the PALS
bradycardia algorithm, which of the following should be provided
first?
Epinephrine IV
Transcutaneous pacing
Atropine IV
Dobutamine IV infusion - Correct Answer-Epinephrine IV
You are caring for a 5-year-old patient with supraventricular
tachycardia (heart rate = 220/min). The child is lethargic. The
skin is pale and cool with delayed capillary refill. Distal pulses are
not palpable. Which of the following would be the best treatment
to provide without delay?
Place cold packs on the distal upper and lower extremities
,Ask the child to blow through a small straw
Exert light pressure on the eyes bilaterally
Provide synchronized cardioversion at 0.5 to 1 J/kg - Correct Answer-
Provide synchronized cardioversion at 0.5 to 1 J/kg
You are initiating treatment for a child with septic shock and
hypotension. While administering high-flow oxygen you
determine that the child's respirations are adequate and SpO2 is
100%. You have just established vascular access and obtained
blood samples. Which of the following is the next most
appropriate therapy to support systemic perfusion?
Administer repeated fluid boluses of isotonic colloid
Administer repeated fluid boluses of isotonic crystalloid
Begin immediate dopamine infusion
Begin immediate dobutamine infusion - Correct Answer-Administer
repeated fluid boluses of isotonic crystalloid
You are treating an 8-year-old with ventricular tachycardia with
pulses and adequate perfusion. You attempted synchronized
cardioversion without success. While seeking expert consultation,
it would be most appropriate to:
Administer a loading dose of milrinone
Consider possible metabolic and toxicologic causes
Initiate overdrive pacing transcutaneously
Deliver an unsynchronized shock - Correct Answer-Consider possible
metabolic and toxicologic causes
, You are caring for a 2-year-old unconscious patient who is
intubated and receiving mechanical ventilation. The child's heart
rate suddenly drops to 40/min and his color becomes mottled.
You should respond to these changes by:
Increasing the ventilator rate
Increasing tidal volume
Increasing positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)
Using a resuscitation bag provide manual ventilation with 100% oxygen -
Correct Answer-Using a resuscitation bag provide manual ventilation with
100% oxygen
You are caring for a 9-month-old patient with pronounced
respiratory distress. You initiated high-flow oxygen using a
nonrebreathing mask about 10 minutes ago and established
intravenous access. Initially the infant's heart rate was in the
150/min range with strong pulses. Suddenly the infant's
respiratory rate falls to 6/min with significant intercostals
retractions, and little air movement is heard. The infant becomes
cyanotic and the heart rate decreases to 95/min. Which of the
following treatments would be best for you to provide now?
Administer epinephrine IV
Provide bag-mask ventilation
Administer magnesium sulfate IV
Intubate and ventilate - Correct Answer-Provide bag-mask ventilation
Which of the following is likely to be the most helpful technique
to identify potentially reversible metabolic and toxic causes
UPDATE) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
GRADE A | 100% CORRECT
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION (AHA) PEDIATRIC
ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT (AHA PALS)
You are caring for a child who was resuscitated after a drowning
event. The child is intubated and ventilated with 100% oxygen
with equal breath sounds and exhaled CO2 detected. The heart
rate is slow and the monitor shows sinus bradycardia. The skin is
cool, mottled, and moist; distal pulses are not palpable and the
central pulses are weak. Intravenous access has been
established. The core temperature is 37.3oC. Based on the PALS
bradycardia algorithm, which of the following should be provided
first?
Epinephrine IV
Transcutaneous pacing
Atropine IV
Dobutamine IV infusion - Correct Answer-Epinephrine IV
You are caring for a 5-year-old patient with supraventricular
tachycardia (heart rate = 220/min). The child is lethargic. The
skin is pale and cool with delayed capillary refill. Distal pulses are
not palpable. Which of the following would be the best treatment
to provide without delay?
Place cold packs on the distal upper and lower extremities
,Ask the child to blow through a small straw
Exert light pressure on the eyes bilaterally
Provide synchronized cardioversion at 0.5 to 1 J/kg - Correct Answer-
Provide synchronized cardioversion at 0.5 to 1 J/kg
You are initiating treatment for a child with septic shock and
hypotension. While administering high-flow oxygen you
determine that the child's respirations are adequate and SpO2 is
100%. You have just established vascular access and obtained
blood samples. Which of the following is the next most
appropriate therapy to support systemic perfusion?
Administer repeated fluid boluses of isotonic colloid
Administer repeated fluid boluses of isotonic crystalloid
Begin immediate dopamine infusion
Begin immediate dobutamine infusion - Correct Answer-Administer
repeated fluid boluses of isotonic crystalloid
You are treating an 8-year-old with ventricular tachycardia with
pulses and adequate perfusion. You attempted synchronized
cardioversion without success. While seeking expert consultation,
it would be most appropriate to:
Administer a loading dose of milrinone
Consider possible metabolic and toxicologic causes
Initiate overdrive pacing transcutaneously
Deliver an unsynchronized shock - Correct Answer-Consider possible
metabolic and toxicologic causes
, You are caring for a 2-year-old unconscious patient who is
intubated and receiving mechanical ventilation. The child's heart
rate suddenly drops to 40/min and his color becomes mottled.
You should respond to these changes by:
Increasing the ventilator rate
Increasing tidal volume
Increasing positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)
Using a resuscitation bag provide manual ventilation with 100% oxygen -
Correct Answer-Using a resuscitation bag provide manual ventilation with
100% oxygen
You are caring for a 9-month-old patient with pronounced
respiratory distress. You initiated high-flow oxygen using a
nonrebreathing mask about 10 minutes ago and established
intravenous access. Initially the infant's heart rate was in the
150/min range with strong pulses. Suddenly the infant's
respiratory rate falls to 6/min with significant intercostals
retractions, and little air movement is heard. The infant becomes
cyanotic and the heart rate decreases to 95/min. Which of the
following treatments would be best for you to provide now?
Administer epinephrine IV
Provide bag-mask ventilation
Administer magnesium sulfate IV
Intubate and ventilate - Correct Answer-Provide bag-mask ventilation
Which of the following is likely to be the most helpful technique
to identify potentially reversible metabolic and toxic causes
