PEARS Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the PEARS 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.
📋 PEARS Exam Format at a Glance
📚 PEARS Topics to Study (69)
✍️ Sample PEARS Questions & Answers
1. Amiodarone is indicated in pediatric cardiac arrest for which refractory condition?
Amiodarone is used for shock-refractory VF or pulseless VT, given at 5 mg/kg IV/IO bolus during resuscitation.
2. You and a colleague are performing high-quality, two-rescuer CPR on a 4-year-old child. What is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio that should be used?
For two-rescuer CPR on an infant or child, the recommended compression-to-ventilation ratio is 15:2. This ratio provides more frequent ventilations compared to the 30:2 ratio used for single-rescuer CPR, which is critical as pediatric cardiac arrest is often secondary to respiratory issues.
3. What is the recommended approach to ventilator settings immediately after intubation in a post-ROSC pediatric patient?
Targeting normocarbia and SpO2 94%–99% avoids secondary brain injury from both hypoxia and excessive CO2 changes.
4. Which clinical sign best differentiates upper airway obstruction from lower airway obstruction in a pediatric patient?
Inspiratory stridor indicates upper airway (extrathoracic) obstruction, while expiratory wheezing indicates lower airway (intrathoracic) obstruction.
5. During assessment of a febrile 18-month-old, you note a capillary refill time of 4 seconds in a warm environment. This finding indicates:
Normal capillary refill is less than 2 seconds; a CRT of 4 seconds in a warm environment indicates poor peripheral perfusion and potential circulatory compromise.
6. A 7-year-old with croup has moderate stridor at rest. After racemic epinephrine, symptoms improve. Why must this child be observed for at least 2-4 hours?
Racemic epinephrine causes transient vasoconstriction; rebound edema and worsening stridor can recur as the drug effect wanes, necessitating observation.