PALS Final Exam Questions and
Answers 2026 – Complete Question
Practice Test with Explanations
Master Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) with this full question exam. Includes correct
answers, clinical scenarios, and concise explanations covering shock, airway, cardiac arrest,
and emergency care.
Shock & Initial Assessment
Page 1 of 49 3/21/2026, 6:54:41 PM
, 1. Which statement correctly describes hypotension in pediatric shock?
✅
A) Always present
B) Late sign and not consistent
C) Early sign
D) Irrelevant
Answer: B
Explanation: Children compensate well; hypotension is a late and dangerous sign of
shock.
2. Pulse and breathing check should take no longer than:
A) 5 sec
B) 10 sec
C) 20 sec
D) 30 sec
Answer: B
3. Child with pulse 65/min and gasping respirations—first action?
A) CPR
B) Defibrillation
C) BVM ventilation
D) Epinephrine
Answer: C
Explanation: Provide ventilations for respiratory failure with pulse.
4. CPR rate and depth for child?
A) 80/min
B) 100–120/min, ~2 inches
C) 140/min
D) 60/min
Answer: B
5. Signs of inadequate perfusion include:
A) Strong pulses
B) Normal mental status
C) Hypotension, AMS, weak pulses
D) Fever
Answer: C
Page 2 of 49 3/21/2026, 6:54:41 PM
, Respiratory & Shock Conditions
6. Diminished breath sounds + bradycardia + low O2 = ?
✅
A) Shock
B) Respiratory failure
C) Cardiac arrest
D) Sepsis
7. Severe diarrhea leading to shock suggests:
A) Cardiogenic
B) Hypovolemic shock
C) Septic
D) Obstructive
8. Chest trauma + diminished breath sounds = ?
A) Pneumonia
B) Tension pneumothorax
C) Asthma
D) Bronchitis
9. Shock goal focuses on:
A) Blood pressure only
B) Oxygen delivery vs demand
C) Heart rate
D) Temperature
10. First-line treatment for anaphylaxis?
A) Steroids
B) Antihistamines
C) Epinephrine
D) Oxygen
Cardiac & Arrhythmias
11. Pulseless ventricular tachycardia is:
A) Stable rhythm
B) Cardiac arrest rhythm
Page 3 of 49 3/21/2026, 6:54:41 PM
, C) Bradycardia
D) SVT
12. SVT with adequate perfusion initial treatment?
✅
A) Shock
B) Vagal maneuvers
C) Epinephrine
D) CPR
13. Adenosine may cause:
A) Hypertension
B) Asystole briefly
C) Bradycardia only
D) Seizures
14. VT with pulse and poor perfusion requires:
A) CPR
B) Cardioversion
C) Oxygen
D) Fluids
15. First-degree AV block shows:
A) Dropped beats
B) Prolonged PR interval
C) Irregular rhythm
D) No P waves
CPR & Resuscitation
16. High-quality CPR includes:
A) Shallow compressions
B) 2-inch depth, recoil, 15:2 ratio
C) Fast shallow breaths
D) Continuous compressions only
17. After ROSC, priority is:
A) Stop monitoring
Page 4 of 49 3/21/2026, 6:54:41 PM
Answers 2026 – Complete Question
Practice Test with Explanations
Master Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) with this full question exam. Includes correct
answers, clinical scenarios, and concise explanations covering shock, airway, cardiac arrest,
and emergency care.
Shock & Initial Assessment
Page 1 of 49 3/21/2026, 6:54:41 PM
, 1. Which statement correctly describes hypotension in pediatric shock?
✅
A) Always present
B) Late sign and not consistent
C) Early sign
D) Irrelevant
Answer: B
Explanation: Children compensate well; hypotension is a late and dangerous sign of
shock.
2. Pulse and breathing check should take no longer than:
A) 5 sec
B) 10 sec
C) 20 sec
D) 30 sec
Answer: B
3. Child with pulse 65/min and gasping respirations—first action?
A) CPR
B) Defibrillation
C) BVM ventilation
D) Epinephrine
Answer: C
Explanation: Provide ventilations for respiratory failure with pulse.
4. CPR rate and depth for child?
A) 80/min
B) 100–120/min, ~2 inches
C) 140/min
D) 60/min
Answer: B
5. Signs of inadequate perfusion include:
A) Strong pulses
B) Normal mental status
C) Hypotension, AMS, weak pulses
D) Fever
Answer: C
Page 2 of 49 3/21/2026, 6:54:41 PM
, Respiratory & Shock Conditions
6. Diminished breath sounds + bradycardia + low O2 = ?
✅
A) Shock
B) Respiratory failure
C) Cardiac arrest
D) Sepsis
7. Severe diarrhea leading to shock suggests:
A) Cardiogenic
B) Hypovolemic shock
C) Septic
D) Obstructive
8. Chest trauma + diminished breath sounds = ?
A) Pneumonia
B) Tension pneumothorax
C) Asthma
D) Bronchitis
9. Shock goal focuses on:
A) Blood pressure only
B) Oxygen delivery vs demand
C) Heart rate
D) Temperature
10. First-line treatment for anaphylaxis?
A) Steroids
B) Antihistamines
C) Epinephrine
D) Oxygen
Cardiac & Arrhythmias
11. Pulseless ventricular tachycardia is:
A) Stable rhythm
B) Cardiac arrest rhythm
Page 3 of 49 3/21/2026, 6:54:41 PM
, C) Bradycardia
D) SVT
12. SVT with adequate perfusion initial treatment?
✅
A) Shock
B) Vagal maneuvers
C) Epinephrine
D) CPR
13. Adenosine may cause:
A) Hypertension
B) Asystole briefly
C) Bradycardia only
D) Seizures
14. VT with pulse and poor perfusion requires:
A) CPR
B) Cardioversion
C) Oxygen
D) Fluids
15. First-degree AV block shows:
A) Dropped beats
B) Prolonged PR interval
C) Irregular rhythm
D) No P waves
CPR & Resuscitation
16. High-quality CPR includes:
A) Shallow compressions
B) 2-inch depth, recoil, 15:2 ratio
C) Fast shallow breaths
D) Continuous compressions only
17. After ROSC, priority is:
A) Stop monitoring
Page 4 of 49 3/21/2026, 6:54:41 PM
