Paramedic Readiness Exam 5
Focused Review / NREMT | Academic Year 2026/2027
Comprehensive Readiness Examination — Questions 1–100
These are original practice questions for study and are not actual or recalled
NREMT exam questions.
Questions 1–25
1. You arrive to find an adult patient unresponsive with abnormal gasping
respirations. What should you do first?
A. Obtain a blood pressure
B. Begin a focused history
C. Assess for a pulse while activating the resuscitation response
D. Place the patient in the recovery position
Answer: C. Assess for a pulse while activating the resuscitation response
2. A patient is pulseless and in ventricular fibrillation. Which intervention is most
appropriate?
A. Synchronized cardioversion
,B. Defibrillation with high-quality CPR
C. Oral medication
D. Observation
Answer: B. Defibrillation with high-quality CPR
3. During adult CPR, the recommended compression rate is:
A. 60–80/min
B. 80–90/min
C. 100–120/min
D. 140–160/min
Answer: C. 100–120/min
4. Which finding indicates effective chest compressions?
A. Complete chest recoil between compressions
B. Frequent prolonged interruptions
C. Shallow compressions
D. Excessive ventilation
Answer: A. Complete chest recoil between compressions
5. A patient has a pulse but is not breathing adequately. What is the priority?
A. Provide appropriate ventilatory support
B. Begin abdominal compressions
C. Give oral fluids
D. Obtain a detailed history first
Answer: A. Provide appropriate ventilatory support
,6. Which finding most strongly suggests inadequate ventilation?
A. Normal skin color and mental status
B. Increasing carbon dioxide and altered mental status
C. Normal respiratory effort
D. Clear speech without distress
Answer: B. Increasing carbon dioxide and altered mental status
7. A patient with severe respiratory distress can speak only one or two words at
a time. This finding suggests:
A. Mild respiratory illness
B. Significant respiratory compromise
C. Normal breathing
D. Isolated anxiety without physiologic concern
Answer: B. Significant respiratory compromise
8. Which airway maneuver is generally appropriate for an unresponsive patient
without suspected spinal trauma?
A. Head-tilt/chin-lift
B. Neck flexion
C. Abdominal thrusts
D. Jaw closure
Answer: A. Head-tilt/chin-lift
9. For a patient with suspected cervical spine trauma, the airway should
preferably be opened using:
, A. Head-tilt/chin-lift only
B. Jaw-thrust maneuver while maintaining spinal precautions
C. Neck hyperextension
D. Head rotation
Answer: B. Jaw-thrust maneuver while maintaining spinal precautions
10. A patient has a complete upper-airway obstruction and cannot speak, cough,
or breathe. What should the paramedic do?
A. Encourage the patient to drink water
B. Perform appropriate airway obstruction maneuvers
C. Place the patient supine and leave them unattended
D. Give oral medication
Answer: B. Perform appropriate airway obstruction maneuvers
11. A conscious adult is choking but can cough forcefully. What is the
appropriate action?
A. Encourage continued coughing and monitor closely
B. Immediately perform abdominal thrusts
C. Begin CPR
D. Give water
Answer: A. Encourage continued coughing and monitor closely
12. A patient with an airway obstruction becomes unresponsive. What should
the paramedic do?
A. Begin CPR and assess the airway when appropriate
Focused Review / NREMT | Academic Year 2026/2027
Comprehensive Readiness Examination — Questions 1–100
These are original practice questions for study and are not actual or recalled
NREMT exam questions.
Questions 1–25
1. You arrive to find an adult patient unresponsive with abnormal gasping
respirations. What should you do first?
A. Obtain a blood pressure
B. Begin a focused history
C. Assess for a pulse while activating the resuscitation response
D. Place the patient in the recovery position
Answer: C. Assess for a pulse while activating the resuscitation response
2. A patient is pulseless and in ventricular fibrillation. Which intervention is most
appropriate?
A. Synchronized cardioversion
,B. Defibrillation with high-quality CPR
C. Oral medication
D. Observation
Answer: B. Defibrillation with high-quality CPR
3. During adult CPR, the recommended compression rate is:
A. 60–80/min
B. 80–90/min
C. 100–120/min
D. 140–160/min
Answer: C. 100–120/min
4. Which finding indicates effective chest compressions?
A. Complete chest recoil between compressions
B. Frequent prolonged interruptions
C. Shallow compressions
D. Excessive ventilation
Answer: A. Complete chest recoil between compressions
5. A patient has a pulse but is not breathing adequately. What is the priority?
A. Provide appropriate ventilatory support
B. Begin abdominal compressions
C. Give oral fluids
D. Obtain a detailed history first
Answer: A. Provide appropriate ventilatory support
,6. Which finding most strongly suggests inadequate ventilation?
A. Normal skin color and mental status
B. Increasing carbon dioxide and altered mental status
C. Normal respiratory effort
D. Clear speech without distress
Answer: B. Increasing carbon dioxide and altered mental status
7. A patient with severe respiratory distress can speak only one or two words at
a time. This finding suggests:
A. Mild respiratory illness
B. Significant respiratory compromise
C. Normal breathing
D. Isolated anxiety without physiologic concern
Answer: B. Significant respiratory compromise
8. Which airway maneuver is generally appropriate for an unresponsive patient
without suspected spinal trauma?
A. Head-tilt/chin-lift
B. Neck flexion
C. Abdominal thrusts
D. Jaw closure
Answer: A. Head-tilt/chin-lift
9. For a patient with suspected cervical spine trauma, the airway should
preferably be opened using:
, A. Head-tilt/chin-lift only
B. Jaw-thrust maneuver while maintaining spinal precautions
C. Neck hyperextension
D. Head rotation
Answer: B. Jaw-thrust maneuver while maintaining spinal precautions
10. A patient has a complete upper-airway obstruction and cannot speak, cough,
or breathe. What should the paramedic do?
A. Encourage the patient to drink water
B. Perform appropriate airway obstruction maneuvers
C. Place the patient supine and leave them unattended
D. Give oral medication
Answer: B. Perform appropriate airway obstruction maneuvers
11. A conscious adult is choking but can cough forcefully. What is the
appropriate action?
A. Encourage continued coughing and monitor closely
B. Immediately perform abdominal thrusts
C. Begin CPR
D. Give water
Answer: A. Encourage continued coughing and monitor closely
12. A patient with an airway obstruction becomes unresponsive. What should
the paramedic do?
A. Begin CPR and assess the airway when appropriate
