NSC EMT Practice Test (All Chapters)
Exam Questions with Complete
Solutions
Which of the following is an example of a symptom?
a) cyanosis
b) headache
c) tachycardia
d) hypertension - Answer-b) headache
An EMT's primary responsibility to the patient who has been poisoned is to:
a) administer the appropriate antidote
b) recognize that a poisoning has occurred
c) administer 25g of activated charcoal
d) contact poison control immediately - Answer-b) recognize that a poisoning has
occurred
What three bones make up the shoulder girdle?
a) clavicle, scapula, humerus
b) acromion, clavicle, scapula
c) acromion, scapula, humerus
d) acromion, humerus, clavicle - Answer-a) clavicle, scapula, humerus
A 73-year-old man presents with a generalized rash, which he thinks may have been
caused by an antibiotic that he recently began taking. He has a history of coronary
artery disease, hypertension, and emphysema. He is conscious and alert, his blood
pressure is 144/94 mm Hg, and his pulse is 64 beats/min and regular. You auscultate
his lung sounds and hear scattered wheezing, although he is not experiencing
respiratory distress. You should:
a) administer oxygen if needed, transport the patient, and monitor him for signs of
deterioration
b) ask him if he has epinephrine and request approval from medical control to
administer it to the patient
c) avoid the use of epinephrine because of his cardiac history, even if his symptoms
become severe
d) begin transport and request to administer epinephrine if his systolic blood pressure
falls below 110 mm Hg - Answer-a) administer oxygen if needed, transport the patient,
and monitor him for signs of deterioration
,You are dispatched to a residence for a 67-year-old female who was awakened by
shortness of breath and sharp chest pain. Her husband tells you that she was recently
discharged from the hospital after having hip surgery. Your assessment reveals dried
blood around her mouth, facial cyanosis, and an oxygen saturation of 88%. You should
suspect:
a) acute pulmonary edema
b) right-sided heart failure
c) acute pulmonary embolism
d) spontaneous pneumothorax - Answer-c) acute pulmonary embolism
Observations made when forming a general impression of a patient would include all of
the following, EXCEPT:
a) appearance
b) pulse strength
c) race and gender
d) level of distress - Answer-b) pulse strength
Typical components of an oral patient report include all of the following, EXCEPT:
a) the chief complaint or mechanism
b) important medical history not previously given
c) the set of baseline vital signs taken at the scene
d) the patient's response to treatment you provided - Answer-c) the set of baseline vital
signs taken at the scene
Calming and reassuring an anxious patient can be facilitated by:
a) maintaining eye contact with the patient whenever possible
b) using medical terminology to ensure the patient understands
c) positioning yourself at a level that is higher than the patient
d) withholding unpleasant information until arrival at the hospital - Answer-a)
maintaining eye contact with the patient whenever possible
When approaching a 32-year-old male who is complaining of traumatic neck pain, you
should:
a) ensure that the patient can see you approaching him
b) approach him from behind and ask him not to move
c) stand behind him and immediately stabilize his head
d) assess his mental status by having him move his head - Answer-a) ensure that the
patient can see you approaching him
Common signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction include all of the following,
EXCEPT:
, a) abdominal cramps
b) drying of the eyes
c) flushing of the skin
d) persistent dry cough - Answer-b) drying of the eyes
Which of the following conditions would be LEAST likely to cause an altered level of
consciousness?
a) drug overdose
b) inadequate perfusion
c) acute anxiety
d) poisoning - Answer-c) acute anxiety
Patients with uncontrolled diabetes experience polyuria because:
a) they drink excess amounts of water due to dehydration
b) excess glucose in the blood is excreted by the kidneys
c) low blood glucose levels result in cellular dehydration
d) high blood sugar levels cause permanent kidney damage - Answer-b) excess
glucose in the blood is excreted by the kidneys
Which of the following patients does NOT have an altered mental status?
a) A patient with an acute allergic reaction and dizziness
b) A diabetic patient who opens his eyes when you ask questions
c) A patient with a head injury who is slow to answer questions
d) A patient who overdosed and moans when he is touched - Answer-a) A patient with
an acute allergic reaction and dizziness
A 70-year-old female was recently discharged from the hospital following a total hip
replacement. Today, she presents with restlessness, tachycardia, and a blood pressure
of 100/64 mm Hg. Her skin is hot and moist. You should be MOST suspicious that she
is experiencing:
a) septic shock
b) pump failure
c) a local infection
d) decompensated shock - Answer-a) septic shock
Abdominal thrusts in a conscious child or adult with a severe upper airway obstruction
are performed:
a) until he or she loses consciousness
b) in sets of five followed by reassessment
c) about 1 inch below the xiphoid process
Exam Questions with Complete
Solutions
Which of the following is an example of a symptom?
a) cyanosis
b) headache
c) tachycardia
d) hypertension - Answer-b) headache
An EMT's primary responsibility to the patient who has been poisoned is to:
a) administer the appropriate antidote
b) recognize that a poisoning has occurred
c) administer 25g of activated charcoal
d) contact poison control immediately - Answer-b) recognize that a poisoning has
occurred
What three bones make up the shoulder girdle?
a) clavicle, scapula, humerus
b) acromion, clavicle, scapula
c) acromion, scapula, humerus
d) acromion, humerus, clavicle - Answer-a) clavicle, scapula, humerus
A 73-year-old man presents with a generalized rash, which he thinks may have been
caused by an antibiotic that he recently began taking. He has a history of coronary
artery disease, hypertension, and emphysema. He is conscious and alert, his blood
pressure is 144/94 mm Hg, and his pulse is 64 beats/min and regular. You auscultate
his lung sounds and hear scattered wheezing, although he is not experiencing
respiratory distress. You should:
a) administer oxygen if needed, transport the patient, and monitor him for signs of
deterioration
b) ask him if he has epinephrine and request approval from medical control to
administer it to the patient
c) avoid the use of epinephrine because of his cardiac history, even if his symptoms
become severe
d) begin transport and request to administer epinephrine if his systolic blood pressure
falls below 110 mm Hg - Answer-a) administer oxygen if needed, transport the patient,
and monitor him for signs of deterioration
,You are dispatched to a residence for a 67-year-old female who was awakened by
shortness of breath and sharp chest pain. Her husband tells you that she was recently
discharged from the hospital after having hip surgery. Your assessment reveals dried
blood around her mouth, facial cyanosis, and an oxygen saturation of 88%. You should
suspect:
a) acute pulmonary edema
b) right-sided heart failure
c) acute pulmonary embolism
d) spontaneous pneumothorax - Answer-c) acute pulmonary embolism
Observations made when forming a general impression of a patient would include all of
the following, EXCEPT:
a) appearance
b) pulse strength
c) race and gender
d) level of distress - Answer-b) pulse strength
Typical components of an oral patient report include all of the following, EXCEPT:
a) the chief complaint or mechanism
b) important medical history not previously given
c) the set of baseline vital signs taken at the scene
d) the patient's response to treatment you provided - Answer-c) the set of baseline vital
signs taken at the scene
Calming and reassuring an anxious patient can be facilitated by:
a) maintaining eye contact with the patient whenever possible
b) using medical terminology to ensure the patient understands
c) positioning yourself at a level that is higher than the patient
d) withholding unpleasant information until arrival at the hospital - Answer-a)
maintaining eye contact with the patient whenever possible
When approaching a 32-year-old male who is complaining of traumatic neck pain, you
should:
a) ensure that the patient can see you approaching him
b) approach him from behind and ask him not to move
c) stand behind him and immediately stabilize his head
d) assess his mental status by having him move his head - Answer-a) ensure that the
patient can see you approaching him
Common signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction include all of the following,
EXCEPT:
, a) abdominal cramps
b) drying of the eyes
c) flushing of the skin
d) persistent dry cough - Answer-b) drying of the eyes
Which of the following conditions would be LEAST likely to cause an altered level of
consciousness?
a) drug overdose
b) inadequate perfusion
c) acute anxiety
d) poisoning - Answer-c) acute anxiety
Patients with uncontrolled diabetes experience polyuria because:
a) they drink excess amounts of water due to dehydration
b) excess glucose in the blood is excreted by the kidneys
c) low blood glucose levels result in cellular dehydration
d) high blood sugar levels cause permanent kidney damage - Answer-b) excess
glucose in the blood is excreted by the kidneys
Which of the following patients does NOT have an altered mental status?
a) A patient with an acute allergic reaction and dizziness
b) A diabetic patient who opens his eyes when you ask questions
c) A patient with a head injury who is slow to answer questions
d) A patient who overdosed and moans when he is touched - Answer-a) A patient with
an acute allergic reaction and dizziness
A 70-year-old female was recently discharged from the hospital following a total hip
replacement. Today, she presents with restlessness, tachycardia, and a blood pressure
of 100/64 mm Hg. Her skin is hot and moist. You should be MOST suspicious that she
is experiencing:
a) septic shock
b) pump failure
c) a local infection
d) decompensated shock - Answer-a) septic shock
Abdominal thrusts in a conscious child or adult with a severe upper airway obstruction
are performed:
a) until he or she loses consciousness
b) in sets of five followed by reassessment
c) about 1 inch below the xiphoid process
