PALS Study Guide 2026

Everything you need to pass the PALS exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.

📋 PALS Exam Format at a Glance

Questions

120 min

Time Limit

84%

Passing Score

Take a Full PALS Exam Simulation →

📚 PALS Topics to Study (69)

See all 69 topics as flashcards →

✍️ Sample PALS Questions & Answers

1. A 3-year-old presents with sudden onset stridor, drooling, and refusal to lie down. Which condition is most likely?

✓ Epiglottitis

Epiglottitis classically presents with the 'tripod position,' drooling, high fever, and toxic appearance — lying down worsens airway obstruction.

2. A 6-year-old with SVT receives adenosine 0.1 mg/kg IV without conversion. What is the next dose of adenosine?

✓ 0.2 mg/kg IV

If the first dose of adenosine (0.1 mg/kg) fails, the second dose is doubled to 0.2 mg/kg (max 12 mg).

3. Which reversible cause of pediatric cardiac arrest is represented by the 'T' for Tension pneumothorax in the H's and T's?

✓ Tension pneumothorax

Tension pneumothorax is a reversible cause identified in the H's and T's mnemonic and is treated with needle decompression.

4. After endotracheal intubation of a pediatric patient, the capnography waveform is flat. What does this most likely indicate?

✓ Esophageal intubation with tube in the wrong position

A flat capnography trace after intubation indicates no CO2 is being detected, which is consistent with esophageal placement where no gas exchange occurs.

5. A 6-year-old is in cardiac arrest. High-quality CPR has been ongoing for 8 minutes. ETCO2 readings have been consistently below 10 mmHg. What does this suggest?

✓ CPR quality is poor and cardiac output is low

ETCO2 below 10 mmHg during CPR suggests poor CPR quality or very low cardiac output.

6. When using AVPU to assess pediatric level of consciousness, what does the 'V' represent?

✓ Verbal — responds to voice stimuli

V in AVPU stands for Verbal, meaning the patient responds to voice or verbal stimuli.

🎯 Free PALS Practice Tests

Cardiac Arrest · 11 questions Tachycardia · 11 questions Airway Management · 7 questions Airway Management · 7 questions Cardiac Arrest · 7 questions Cardiac Arrest · 7 questions Cardiac Arrest · 7 questions Cardiac Arrest · 7 questions Resuscitation Team Dynamics · 7 questions Airway Management · 7 questions

📖 PALS Guides & Articles

Your PALS Study Path

1. Learn with Flashcards → 2. Drill Practice Tests → 3. Take the Full Exam Simulation

🃏 PALS Flashcards (475)🏆 PALS Exam Simulation

Was this helpful?