NREMT Practice Test

Question 1

You are assessing the vital signs of a child at a public health center. Which of the following would be considered a normal set of vitals for a healthy nine-year-old child?

Accepted Answer

Respirations 20 breaths per minute, heart rate 98 beats per minute, BP 106/78 mmHg.

Answer

Normal vital signs for a healthy 9-year-old child typically include a respiratory rate of 18-30 breaths per minute, a heart rate of 70-110 beats per minute, and a blood pressure around 97-115/57-76 mmHg. Option B, with respirations at 20, heart rate at 98, and BP at 106/78, falls perfectly within these established normal ranges. The other options present values that are outside these healthy parameters for a child of this age.

Question 2

A patient who is unresponsive is discovered wet in a bath tub. She is apneic and has no pulse. What is the best course of action to take first?

Accepted Answer

CPR should be started while the patient is being moved out of the area in preparation for defibrillation with an automatic external defibrillator (AED).

Answer

For an unresponsive, apneic, and pulseless patient, immediate chest compressions are critical to maintain perfusion to vital organs. However, an AED cannot be safely used in a wet environment due to the risk of electrical shock. Therefore, the best course of action is to initiate CPR immediately while simultaneously moving the patient to a dry, safe area to prepare for prompt defibrillation with an AED, minimizing interruptions to life-saving compressions.

Question 3

If an ALS service is not available, which of the following is not a common rule for transporting a cardiac arrest patient?

Accepted Answer

All cardiac arrest patients must be sent right away.

Answer

In cardiac arrest, if ALS is not available, immediate transport is generally not the primary rule. Instead, resuscitation efforts, including high-quality CPR and AED use, should continue on scene until specific criteria are met, such as return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), three 'no shock advised' messages, or delivery of 6-9 shocks. Transporting a patient in active cardiac arrest without these interventions significantly reduces their chances of survival, as effective CPR and defibrillation are time-sensitive.

Question 4

In most cases, which of the following is not included in a patient care report?

Accepted Answer

Immunization record.

Answer

A patient care report (PCR) is a legal document that details the immediate medical care provided during an emergency. It focuses on the patient's chief complaint, assessment findings, and the interventions performed during the prehospital encounter. An immunization record, while part of a patient's overall medical history, is not typically included in a prehospital PCR, which is centered on the acute event.

Question 5

A six-year-old is unable to communicate. The carotid pulse is measured at 64 beats per minute and is judged to be normal. Breaths are shallow and come in at a pace of six per minute. Which of the following is the best course of action?

Accepted Answer

Begin the assisted ventilation process.

Answer

A respiratory rate of six breaths per minute for a 6-year-old is severely inadequate and indicates respiratory failure, despite a normal pulse. This patient is not moving enough air to oxygenate their blood effectively. Therefore, the most critical and immediate intervention is to begin assisted ventilation (e.g., with a bag-valve mask) to ensure adequate oxygenation and ventilation, preventing further deterioration.