PALS TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2025
FULL CONCEPT MASTERY EXAMINATION
◉ 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. 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. 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. 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)
FULL CONCEPT MASTERY EXAMINATION
◉ 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. 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. 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. 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)
