FISDAP Pediatric Assessment 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When calculating the estimated weight of a pediatric patient in the field, which formula provides a quick approximation for children aged 1-10 years?
- Age × 5 kg
- (Age × 2) + 8 kg (Correct answer)
- Age × 10 lb
- (Age + 4) × 2 kg
Correct answer: (Age × 2) + 8 kg
The Broselow formula approximation (Age × 2) + 8 gives a reasonable weight estimate in kilograms for children 1-10 years.
Question 2: A 6-year-old with known asthma presents with audible wheezing, accessory muscle use, and SpO2 of 91%. According to PAT, this child's appearance is normal. What is the MOST appropriate classification?
- Respiratory distress only (Correct answer)
- Respiratory failure
- Compensated shock
- Decompensated respiratory failure
Correct answer: Respiratory distress only
Normal appearance with signs of increased work of breathing and mild hypoxia indicates respiratory distress, not failure.
Question 3: Which finding during auscultation of a pediatric patient's chest is MOST consistent with foreign body aspiration?
- Bilateral expiratory wheezing
- Unilateral decreased breath sounds (Correct answer)
- Diffuse crackles bilaterally
- High-pitched inspiratory stridor
Correct answer: Unilateral decreased breath sounds
Unilateral decreased breath sounds suggest a foreign body lodged in one mainstem bronchus, causing air trapping on that side.
Question 4: You are assessing a 2-year-old whose parent reports fever and decreased activity for 2 days. The child has a capillary refill time of 4 seconds. This finding indicates:
- Normal perfusion
- Mildly impaired perfusion (Correct answer)
- Severely impaired perfusion
- Normal finding in toddlers
Correct answer: Mildly impaired perfusion
Capillary refill time greater than 2 seconds (some sources say >3 seconds) indicates impaired peripheral perfusion.
Question 5: A 9-year-old fell from a tree and has a GCS score of 11 (E3V3M5). Which component is most concerning from a neurological standpoint?
- Eye opening to voice (E3)
- Confused verbal response (V4 would be confused; V3=inappropriate) (Correct answer)
- Localizes pain (M5)
- A GCS of 11 alone is not concerning
Correct answer: Confused verbal response (V4 would be confused; V3=inappropriate)
A verbal score of V3 (inappropriate words) suggests significant alteration in consciousness warranting rapid intervention.
Question 6: During transport, a 14-month-old becomes limp and unresponsive. You note the child's glucose is 42 mg/dL. The MOST appropriate initial intervention is:
- Administer oral glucose gel
- Establish IV/IO access and administer dextrose (Correct answer)
- Apply blow-by oxygen
- Perform a sternal rub to stimulate response
Correct answer: Establish IV/IO access and administer dextrose
A symptomatic hypoglycemic infant requires IV or IO dextrose administration since oral glucose is unsafe in an unresponsive patient.
Question 7: Which of the following is the MOST reliable indicator of adequate fluid resuscitation in a pediatric shock patient during transport?
- Blood pressure returning to normal
- Heart rate trending downward toward normal (Correct answer)
- Improved skin color alone
- Resolution of agitation
Correct answer: Heart rate trending downward toward normal
A downward trend in heart rate toward the normal range for age is the most reliable sign of improving perfusion in pediatric shock.
FISDAP Pediatric Assessment 3
When calculating the estimated weight of a pediatric patient in the field, which formula provides a quick approximation for children aged 1-10 years?