AHA PALS PRACTICE TEST 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
◉ No more than 10 seconds Answer: A 10-year-old child has
collapsed in the gym of the elementary school. The school nurse
arrives and determines that the child is unresponsive. The school
nurse then simultaneously checks for breathing and a central pulse,
limiting this assessment to which time frame?
◉ Deliver 1 BVM ventilation every 2 to 3 seconds. Answer: A 4-year-
old child is brought to the emergency department by the parents.
Assessment reveals that the child has only gasping respirations and
the pulse rate is 65 beats per minute. Which action would the
provider initiate first?
◉ 100 to 120 compressions per minute at a depth of about 2 inches
Answer: A 7-year-old child collapses on the playground at school.
The school nurse is called to the scene and determines that the child
is unresponsive and is not breathing and has no pulse. The nurse
initiates CPR. At what rate and depth would the nurse deliver
compressions to this child?
◉ Diminished peripheral pulses
Acutely altered mental status
, Hypotension Answer: What is considered inadequate perfusion
when assessing/caring for a pediatric patient with an arrhythmia?
◉ Signs of shock
Acutely altered mental status
Hypotension Answer: A 9-year-old child is brought to the emergency
department because the child suddenly collapsed at school. The
child's ECG reveals the following waveform, and primary assessment
findings indicate that the child has inadequate perfusion. Which
primary assessment findings indicate this?
◉ Respiratory failure Answer: A 9-year-old patient is presenting
with diminished breath sounds, bradycardia, slowed respiratory rate
and a low O2 saturation level. The provider interprets these findings
as indicating which condition?
◉ Hypovolemia Answer: A 6-year-old child is brought to the
emergency department. The child has been experiencing extremely
watery stools over the past several days. After completing the
assessment, the healthcare provider suspects that the child may be
experiencing shock. Which type of shock would the provider most
likely suspect?
◉ Estimate weight using a length-based resuscitation tape. Answer:
A 2-year-old child of unknown weight arrives at the emergency
department in cardiac arrest. When preparing to administer
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
◉ No more than 10 seconds Answer: A 10-year-old child has
collapsed in the gym of the elementary school. The school nurse
arrives and determines that the child is unresponsive. The school
nurse then simultaneously checks for breathing and a central pulse,
limiting this assessment to which time frame?
◉ Deliver 1 BVM ventilation every 2 to 3 seconds. Answer: A 4-year-
old child is brought to the emergency department by the parents.
Assessment reveals that the child has only gasping respirations and
the pulse rate is 65 beats per minute. Which action would the
provider initiate first?
◉ 100 to 120 compressions per minute at a depth of about 2 inches
Answer: A 7-year-old child collapses on the playground at school.
The school nurse is called to the scene and determines that the child
is unresponsive and is not breathing and has no pulse. The nurse
initiates CPR. At what rate and depth would the nurse deliver
compressions to this child?
◉ Diminished peripheral pulses
Acutely altered mental status
, Hypotension Answer: What is considered inadequate perfusion
when assessing/caring for a pediatric patient with an arrhythmia?
◉ Signs of shock
Acutely altered mental status
Hypotension Answer: A 9-year-old child is brought to the emergency
department because the child suddenly collapsed at school. The
child's ECG reveals the following waveform, and primary assessment
findings indicate that the child has inadequate perfusion. Which
primary assessment findings indicate this?
◉ Respiratory failure Answer: A 9-year-old patient is presenting
with diminished breath sounds, bradycardia, slowed respiratory rate
and a low O2 saturation level. The provider interprets these findings
as indicating which condition?
◉ Hypovolemia Answer: A 6-year-old child is brought to the
emergency department. The child has been experiencing extremely
watery stools over the past several days. After completing the
assessment, the healthcare provider suspects that the child may be
experiencing shock. Which type of shock would the provider most
likely suspect?
◉ Estimate weight using a length-based resuscitation tape. Answer:
A 2-year-old child of unknown weight arrives at the emergency
department in cardiac arrest. When preparing to administer
