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Systematic Assessment Flashcards

7 cards from real PALS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Systematic Assessment flashcards as text

  1. A 6-year-old has decreased breath sounds on the left, tracheal deviation to the right, and hypotension. Which diagnosis does this assessment suggest?

    Answer: Tension pneumothorax

    Absent unilateral breath sounds, tracheal deviation away from the affected side, and hemodynamic compromise indicate tension pneumothorax requiring immediate needle decompression.

  2. In the PALS systematic approach, what is the primary purpose of the tertiary assessment?

    Answer: To obtain advanced diagnostics and identify underlying etiology

    The tertiary assessment uses advanced diagnostics (labs, imaging, ECG) to identify the underlying cause of the child's illness or injury.

  3. Which respiratory rate range is considered normal for a 1-year-old child?

    Answer: 30–53 breaths/min

    Normal respiratory rate for a 1-year-old is approximately 24–40 breaths/min; the range 30–53 breaths/min is within expected variation for infants and toddlers.

  4. A toddler is brought in after ingesting an unknown substance. She has miosis, bradycardia, excessive secretions, and bronchospasm. Which toxidrome does this systematic assessment suggest?

    Answer: Cholinergic (organophosphate)

    SLUDGE/DUMBELS signs (salivation, lacrimation, urination, defecation, GI distress, emesis, bradycardia, bronchospasm, miosis) indicate cholinergic toxidrome from organophosphate or similar agents.

  5. During reassessment after an intervention, which change in the PAT most clearly indicates clinical improvement in a child who had compensated shock?

    Answer: Skin color normalizes and mental status improves

    Normalization of circulation to skin (color, capillary refill) and improved appearance (mental status) on the PAT indicates effective treatment of shock.

  6. When evaluating a pediatric patient's blood pressure, which formula approximates the lower limit of normal systolic BP for children aged 1–10 years?

    Answer: 70 + (age in years × 2) mmHg

    The PALS formula for the lower limit of normal systolic BP is 70 + (2 × age in years) mmHg for children aged 1–10 years.

  7. A 4-year-old with severe anaphylaxis has stridor, urticaria, and hypotension. Which PAT category best describes this presentation?

    Answer: Respiratory distress with shock

    Stridor indicates increased work of breathing (respiratory distress), while hypotension signals shock — both PAT circulation and work of breathing components are abnormal without failure criteria.