AHA PALS Final Exam (PDF) | Updated PALS Exam
Questions | Pediatric Life Support
1. What is the correct order of the PALS Systematic
Assessment?
A) Primary → Secondary → Tertiary
B) Initial impression → Primary assessment → Secondary
assessment → Diagnostic tests
C) ABC → Vital signs → History
D) Triage → Primary → Imaging
✅ Answer: B
Rationale: The PALS Systematic Assessment progresses
from a rapid initial impression (consciousness, breathing,
color) to a structured primary ABCDE assessment, then
secondary history/physical, and finally diagnostic tests.
2. During the Primary Assessment, which step comes
immediately after Airway?
A) Circulation
B) Disability
1
,C) Breathing
D) Exposure
✅ Answer: C
Rationale: The Primary Assessment follows the ABCDE
sequence: Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability,
Exposure.
3. A 5-year-old is unresponsive. The initial impression
notes gasping respiration and pallor. What should you do
first?
A) Check a pulse for 15 seconds
B) Activate emergency response and get AED
C) Begin CPR with 30:2
D) Give two rescue breaths
✅ Answer: C
Rationale: If the child is unresponsive with abnormal
breathing (gasping), begin CPR immediately. For a lone
rescuer, start with 30:2 compressions-to-ventilations.
2
,4. What does the “Exposure” step in the primary
assessment primarily aim to identify?
A) Family history
B) Fever, rash, or signs of trauma
C) Medication allergies
D) Immunization status
✅ Answer: B
Rationale: Exposure means fully undressing the child to
look for fever, petechiae, purpura, burns, bleeding, or
other external signs of illness or injury.
5. A 2-year-old presents with grunting, nasal flaring, and
a heart rate of 190 bpm. Which category does this
represent?
A) Compensated shock
B) Respiratory failure
C) Hypotensive shock
D) Primary cardiac arrhythmia
✅ Answer: B
3
, Rationale: Grunting, nasal flaring, and tachycardia are
signs of respiratory distress/failure, not primarily shock.
6. After performing an intervention, the PALS algorithm
instructs you to:
A) Move to the next algorithm
B) Re-evaluate the child
C) Document only
D) Increase oxygen
✅ Answer: B
Rationale: The Evaluate-Identify-Intervene sequence
requires reassessment after each intervention to
determine effectiveness.
7. A child is alert, but has tachypnea and SpO2 88% on
room air. This is classified as:
A) Respiratory failure
B) Respiratory distress
C) Cardiac arrest
D) Stable
4
Questions | Pediatric Life Support
1. What is the correct order of the PALS Systematic
Assessment?
A) Primary → Secondary → Tertiary
B) Initial impression → Primary assessment → Secondary
assessment → Diagnostic tests
C) ABC → Vital signs → History
D) Triage → Primary → Imaging
✅ Answer: B
Rationale: The PALS Systematic Assessment progresses
from a rapid initial impression (consciousness, breathing,
color) to a structured primary ABCDE assessment, then
secondary history/physical, and finally diagnostic tests.
2. During the Primary Assessment, which step comes
immediately after Airway?
A) Circulation
B) Disability
1
,C) Breathing
D) Exposure
✅ Answer: C
Rationale: The Primary Assessment follows the ABCDE
sequence: Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability,
Exposure.
3. A 5-year-old is unresponsive. The initial impression
notes gasping respiration and pallor. What should you do
first?
A) Check a pulse for 15 seconds
B) Activate emergency response and get AED
C) Begin CPR with 30:2
D) Give two rescue breaths
✅ Answer: C
Rationale: If the child is unresponsive with abnormal
breathing (gasping), begin CPR immediately. For a lone
rescuer, start with 30:2 compressions-to-ventilations.
2
,4. What does the “Exposure” step in the primary
assessment primarily aim to identify?
A) Family history
B) Fever, rash, or signs of trauma
C) Medication allergies
D) Immunization status
✅ Answer: B
Rationale: Exposure means fully undressing the child to
look for fever, petechiae, purpura, burns, bleeding, or
other external signs of illness or injury.
5. A 2-year-old presents with grunting, nasal flaring, and
a heart rate of 190 bpm. Which category does this
represent?
A) Compensated shock
B) Respiratory failure
C) Hypotensive shock
D) Primary cardiac arrhythmia
✅ Answer: B
3
, Rationale: Grunting, nasal flaring, and tachycardia are
signs of respiratory distress/failure, not primarily shock.
6. After performing an intervention, the PALS algorithm
instructs you to:
A) Move to the next algorithm
B) Re-evaluate the child
C) Document only
D) Increase oxygen
✅ Answer: B
Rationale: The Evaluate-Identify-Intervene sequence
requires reassessment after each intervention to
determine effectiveness.
7. A child is alert, but has tachypnea and SpO2 88% on
room air. This is classified as:
A) Respiratory failure
B) Respiratory distress
C) Cardiac arrest
D) Stable
4
