AHA PALS EXAM 2024 QUESTIONS
AND DETAILED CORRECT ANSWERS-
GUARANTEED PASS
1. A 13-year-old patient with asthma just received oxygen and
albuterol via a nebulizer. What is the next most appropriate
intervention?
A. Administer 0.1 mg/kg of adenosine
B. Obtain a blood sample to evaluate arterial or venous blood
gases
C. Reassess breath sounds and clinical status
D. Repeat the albuterol treatment Correct Answer Reassess
breath sounds and clinical status
2. The respiratory rate of a 1-year-old child with respiratory
distress has decreased from 65/min to 30/min. The child is
more lethargic and continues to have subcostal retractions.
What does this change likely indicate?
A. Respiratory distress is unchanged
B. Progression toward respiratory failure
C. Improved respiratory status
D. Neurologic impairment Correct Answer Progression toward
respiratory failure
3. What is the most likely cause of head bobbing in infants?
A. Increased respiratory effort
B. Improving respiratory status
C. Decompensated shock
D. Brain injury Correct Answer Increased respiratory effort
4. Several healthcare providers are participating in an
attempted resuscitation. Which of the following is most
consistent with the responsibilities of the team leader of the
resuscitation?
A. Records medications and interventions
,B. Assigns roles to team members
C. Administers defibrillation shocks
D. Provides compressions Correct Answer Assigns roles to
team members
5. Which of the following conditions is appropriate for use of an
oropharyngeal airway?
A. Conscious with no gag reflex
B. Unconscious with a gag reflex
C. Unconscious with no gag reflex
D. Conscious with a gag reflex Correct Answer Unconscious
with no gag reflex
7. A child presents with severe respiratory distress, urticaria,
stridor, and tachycardia about 10 minutes after eating peanuts.
What is the most appropriate initial medication for this child?
A. Nebulized albuterol
B. Epinephrine IM
C. Isotonic crystalloid IV
D. Methylprednisolone IV Correct Answer Epinephrine IM
8. A mother brings her 7-year-old child to the emergency
department. The mother states that the child has had a fever
for the past 4 days and has had little to eat or drink during the
past 24 hours. Your initial impression reveals a lethargic child
with increased respiratory rate and pale color. Heart rate is
160/min, respiratory rate is 38/min, and blood pressure is 86/48
mm Hg. Capillary refill is 4 seconds. Which of the following is
the most appropriate intervention for this child?
A. Fluid bolus of 10 mL/kg of isotonic crystalloid
B. Fluid bolus of 20 mL/kg of isotonic crystalloid
C. Maintenance fluid infusion of isotonic crystalloid at 10 mL/h
D. Maintenance fluid infusion of 5% dextrose and water at 20
mL/h Correct Answer Fluid bolus of 20 mL/kg of isotonic
crystalloid
,9. An intubated 5-year-old child who was in a motor vehicle
collision becomes increasingly more difficult to ventilate. The
child has diminished breath sounds and chest expansion on the
right side of the chest, with audible breath sounds and visible
chest expansion on the left. The endotracheal tube insertion
depth has not changed. What is the most appropriate
intervention?
A. Deflate the cuff and pull the tube back
B. Perform needle decompression on the right chest
C. Perform needle decompression on the left chest D.
Insert a gastric tube Correct Answer Perform needle
decompression on the right chest
10. A 2-year-old child with a 2-day history of a barking cough
presents with audible stridor on inspiration, intercostal
retractions, and agitation. What is the most appropriate
intervention for this child?
A. Lay the child flat on a stretcher
B. Suction the mouth and nose
C. Administer nebulized epinephrine
D. Administer inhaled albuterol Correct Answer Administer
nebulized epinephrine
11. Which of the following oxygen saturations indicates the
need for additional intervention?
A. 96% on room air
B. 95% on room air
C. 93% on 4 L of oxygen
D. 97% on 50% oxygen Correct Answer 93% on 4 L of oxygen
12. A 3-year-old child presents with a 2-day history of nausea
and vomiting. She is alert, with no increase in respiratory effort,
and is pale in color. The child's heart rate is 160/min,
respiratory rate is 40/min, and blood pressure is 100/70 mm
Hg. Her extremities are cool, with sluggish capillary refill. Which
term best describes this child's physiologic state?
A. Compensated shock
, B. Cardiogenic shock
C. Hypotensive shock
D. Obstructive shock Correct Answer Compensated shock
13. A 3-year-old child presents with dehydration after a 2-day
history of vomiting and diarrhea. The child after has received 2
fluid boluses of 20 mL/ kg of normal saline. After the second
bolus, the child is alert and interacting. Her heart rate is 110/
min, respiratory rate is 30/min, and blood pressure is 92/64 mm
Hg. Her capillary refill time is 2 seconds, and oxygen saturation
is 98%. What is the most appropriate next intervention for this
child?
A. Administer another 20 mL/kg normal saline fluid bolus
B. Administer 10 mL/kg of packed red cells
C. Continue to monitor and reevaluate the child
D. Initiate a dopamine drip of 20 mcg/kg per minute Correct
Answer Continue to monitor and reevaluate the child
14. A 3-year-old child presents with a high fever and a petechial
rash. The child is lethargic, has no signs of increased work of
breathing, and is pale in color. His heart rate is 180/min,
respiratory rate is 30/min, blood pressure is 80/68 mm Hg.
Capillary refill time is 4 seconds, and oxygen saturation is 88%.
Airway and lungs are clear. Peripheral pulses are diminished.
Which of the following is the most appropriate initial
intervention?
A. Provide 100% oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask
B. Obtain IV access
C. Administer dopamine
D. Administer an antibiotic Correct Answer Provide 100%
oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask
16. An alert toddler presents with a barking cough, moderate
stridor, and moderate retractions. The child's color is pink. What
is the most appropriate initial intervention?
A. Obtain a chest radiograph
B. Administer nebulized epinephrine
AND DETAILED CORRECT ANSWERS-
GUARANTEED PASS
1. A 13-year-old patient with asthma just received oxygen and
albuterol via a nebulizer. What is the next most appropriate
intervention?
A. Administer 0.1 mg/kg of adenosine
B. Obtain a blood sample to evaluate arterial or venous blood
gases
C. Reassess breath sounds and clinical status
D. Repeat the albuterol treatment Correct Answer Reassess
breath sounds and clinical status
2. The respiratory rate of a 1-year-old child with respiratory
distress has decreased from 65/min to 30/min. The child is
more lethargic and continues to have subcostal retractions.
What does this change likely indicate?
A. Respiratory distress is unchanged
B. Progression toward respiratory failure
C. Improved respiratory status
D. Neurologic impairment Correct Answer Progression toward
respiratory failure
3. What is the most likely cause of head bobbing in infants?
A. Increased respiratory effort
B. Improving respiratory status
C. Decompensated shock
D. Brain injury Correct Answer Increased respiratory effort
4. Several healthcare providers are participating in an
attempted resuscitation. Which of the following is most
consistent with the responsibilities of the team leader of the
resuscitation?
A. Records medications and interventions
,B. Assigns roles to team members
C. Administers defibrillation shocks
D. Provides compressions Correct Answer Assigns roles to
team members
5. Which of the following conditions is appropriate for use of an
oropharyngeal airway?
A. Conscious with no gag reflex
B. Unconscious with a gag reflex
C. Unconscious with no gag reflex
D. Conscious with a gag reflex Correct Answer Unconscious
with no gag reflex
7. A child presents with severe respiratory distress, urticaria,
stridor, and tachycardia about 10 minutes after eating peanuts.
What is the most appropriate initial medication for this child?
A. Nebulized albuterol
B. Epinephrine IM
C. Isotonic crystalloid IV
D. Methylprednisolone IV Correct Answer Epinephrine IM
8. A mother brings her 7-year-old child to the emergency
department. The mother states that the child has had a fever
for the past 4 days and has had little to eat or drink during the
past 24 hours. Your initial impression reveals a lethargic child
with increased respiratory rate and pale color. Heart rate is
160/min, respiratory rate is 38/min, and blood pressure is 86/48
mm Hg. Capillary refill is 4 seconds. Which of the following is
the most appropriate intervention for this child?
A. Fluid bolus of 10 mL/kg of isotonic crystalloid
B. Fluid bolus of 20 mL/kg of isotonic crystalloid
C. Maintenance fluid infusion of isotonic crystalloid at 10 mL/h
D. Maintenance fluid infusion of 5% dextrose and water at 20
mL/h Correct Answer Fluid bolus of 20 mL/kg of isotonic
crystalloid
,9. An intubated 5-year-old child who was in a motor vehicle
collision becomes increasingly more difficult to ventilate. The
child has diminished breath sounds and chest expansion on the
right side of the chest, with audible breath sounds and visible
chest expansion on the left. The endotracheal tube insertion
depth has not changed. What is the most appropriate
intervention?
A. Deflate the cuff and pull the tube back
B. Perform needle decompression on the right chest
C. Perform needle decompression on the left chest D.
Insert a gastric tube Correct Answer Perform needle
decompression on the right chest
10. A 2-year-old child with a 2-day history of a barking cough
presents with audible stridor on inspiration, intercostal
retractions, and agitation. What is the most appropriate
intervention for this child?
A. Lay the child flat on a stretcher
B. Suction the mouth and nose
C. Administer nebulized epinephrine
D. Administer inhaled albuterol Correct Answer Administer
nebulized epinephrine
11. Which of the following oxygen saturations indicates the
need for additional intervention?
A. 96% on room air
B. 95% on room air
C. 93% on 4 L of oxygen
D. 97% on 50% oxygen Correct Answer 93% on 4 L of oxygen
12. A 3-year-old child presents with a 2-day history of nausea
and vomiting. She is alert, with no increase in respiratory effort,
and is pale in color. The child's heart rate is 160/min,
respiratory rate is 40/min, and blood pressure is 100/70 mm
Hg. Her extremities are cool, with sluggish capillary refill. Which
term best describes this child's physiologic state?
A. Compensated shock
, B. Cardiogenic shock
C. Hypotensive shock
D. Obstructive shock Correct Answer Compensated shock
13. A 3-year-old child presents with dehydration after a 2-day
history of vomiting and diarrhea. The child after has received 2
fluid boluses of 20 mL/ kg of normal saline. After the second
bolus, the child is alert and interacting. Her heart rate is 110/
min, respiratory rate is 30/min, and blood pressure is 92/64 mm
Hg. Her capillary refill time is 2 seconds, and oxygen saturation
is 98%. What is the most appropriate next intervention for this
child?
A. Administer another 20 mL/kg normal saline fluid bolus
B. Administer 10 mL/kg of packed red cells
C. Continue to monitor and reevaluate the child
D. Initiate a dopamine drip of 20 mcg/kg per minute Correct
Answer Continue to monitor and reevaluate the child
14. A 3-year-old child presents with a high fever and a petechial
rash. The child is lethargic, has no signs of increased work of
breathing, and is pale in color. His heart rate is 180/min,
respiratory rate is 30/min, blood pressure is 80/68 mm Hg.
Capillary refill time is 4 seconds, and oxygen saturation is 88%.
Airway and lungs are clear. Peripheral pulses are diminished.
Which of the following is the most appropriate initial
intervention?
A. Provide 100% oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask
B. Obtain IV access
C. Administer dopamine
D. Administer an antibiotic Correct Answer Provide 100%
oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask
16. An alert toddler presents with a barking cough, moderate
stridor, and moderate retractions. The child's color is pink. What
is the most appropriate initial intervention?
A. Obtain a chest radiograph
B. Administer nebulized epinephrine
