Practice Test GeeksCPEN - Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse Practice Test
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Cardiac Emergencies Flashcards

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

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  1. A 6-year-old presents with syncope during exercise and ECG shows a QTc of 520 ms. Which condition does this suggest?

    Answer: Long QT syndrome

    A QTc >460 ms in children (>480 ms in adults) indicates long QT syndrome, which predisposes to polymorphic VT (torsades de pointes).

  2. A 13-year-old athlete collapses during a game and is found to be in ventricular fibrillation. After one defibrillation attempt, CPR is resumed. What is the next pharmacologic intervention per PALS?

    Answer: Epinephrine 0.01 mg/kg IV

    Epinephrine is given every 3–5 minutes during pulseless arrest, starting after the first rhythm check shows persistent shockable or non-shockable rhythm.

  3. Torsades de pointes is best treated with:

    Answer: Magnesium sulfate IV

    IV magnesium sulfate (25–50 mg/kg) is the treatment of choice for torsades de pointes, shortening the QT and stabilizing the membrane.

  4. Which electrolyte abnormality is MOST likely to precipitate ventricular arrhythmias in a pediatric patient?

    Answer: Hypokalemia

    Hypokalemia prolongs the QT interval and increases myocardial excitability, predisposing to ventricular arrhythmias including torsades de pointes.

  5. A 2-month-old infant has a resting heart rate of 58 bpm with a wide QRS and no relationship between P waves and QRS complexes. This ECG finding is consistent with:

    Answer: Complete (third-degree) AV block

    Complete AV block shows atrioventricular dissociation: P waves and QRS complexes fire independently with no consistent relationship.

  6. Congenital complete heart block in a newborn is most commonly associated with maternal:

    Answer: Lupus erythematosus (anti-Ro/La antibodies)

    Maternal anti-Ro (SSA) and anti-La (SSB) antibodies cross the placenta and damage the fetal AV node, causing congenital complete heart block.

  7. A symptomatic child with complete heart block and a heart rate of 35 bpm should initially be treated with:

    Answer: IV atropine 0.02 mg/kg

    Atropine is the first pharmacologic intervention for symptomatic bradycardia with a perfusing rhythm before pacing.