PALS Certification Course Questions And Answers

Which topics are included in the PALS course ? - Answer- PALS includes the following: (1) Overview of assessment (2) Recognition and management of respiratory distress and failure (3) Recognition and management of shock (4) Recognition and management of cardiac arrhythmias (5) Recognition and management of cardiac arrest (6) Postresuscitation management of patients with pulmonary and cardiac arrest (7) Review of pharmacology What should be the primary focus of the clinician on prevention of cardiopulmonary failure - Answer- The clinician should primarily focus on prevention of cardiopulmonary failure through early recognition and management of respiratory distress, respiratory failure, and shock that can lead to cardiac arrest from hypoxia, acidosis, and ischemia. What is the main cause of cardiac arrests in children? - Answer- In infants and children, most cardiac arrests result from progressive respiratory failure and/or shock, thus one of the aims of PALS rapid assessment model is to prevent progression to cardiac arrest. What is the pediatric assessment triangle? - Answer- Brief visual and auditory observation of child's overall (1) appearance, (2) work of breathing, (3) circulation What are the components of the primary assessment? What signs should the clinician look for? - Answer- The clinician should in rapid sequence assess: (1) Airway (patent, patent with maneuvers/adjuncts, partially or completely obstructed) (2) Breathing (respiratory rate, effort, tidal volume, lung sounds, pulse oximetry) (3) Circulation (skin color and temperature, heart rate and rhythm, blood pressure, peripheral and central pulses, capillary refill time) (4) Disability: (a)AVPU pediatric response scale: Alert, Voice, Pain, Unresponsive; (b) Pupillary response to light (c) Presence of hypoglycemia (rapid bedside glucose or response to empiric administration of dextrose) (d) Glasgow Coma Scale What are the components of the secondary assessment? For what should the clinician look for during the secondary assessment? - Answer- This portion of the evaluation includes a thorough head to toe physical examination, as well as a focused medical history that consists of the "SAMPLE" history: (S) Signs and Symptoms (A) Allergies (M) Medications (P) Past medical history (L) La