NREMT EXAM REVIEW – 100+ PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
VERIFIED ANSWERS FOR EMT CERTIFICATION EXAM
PREP EMT COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE (PDF)
NR 547 Differential Diagnosis Practicum – Comprehensive Exam
Course Code and Name: NR 547 Differential Diagnosis Practicum
Institution: Chamberlain University
Author/Creator: Prepared by EDU NURSE PRO
Assessment Type: Comprehensive Exam — EMT/NREMT
Certification Preparation
Total Questions: 100
Format: Multiple-Choice and Short-Answer
Purpose: Comprehensive review of emergency assessment, differential
diagnosis, pathophysiology, and prehospital management.
Table of Contents
1. Airway and Respiratory System
2. Cardiovascular System
3. Neurologic System
4. Trauma and Musculoskeletal System
5. Abdominal and Gastrointestinal System
6. Medical Emergencies and Endocrine System
7. Obstetric and Gynecologic Emergencies
8. Pediatric and Neonatal Emergencies
9. Environmental Emergencies and Toxicology
10. Assessment, Operations, and Special Populations
,Section 1 — Airway and Respiratory System
Question 1 — Multiple Choice
A patient is found unconscious and is not breathing normally. What should the EMT do first?
A. Obtain a blood pressure
B. Open the airway and assess breathing
C. Apply a nasal cannula
D. Obtain a SAMPLE history
Correct Answer: B. Open the airway and assess breathing
Rationale: An unresponsive patient requires immediate assessment of airway and breathing.
Opening the airway allows the EMT to determine whether the patient is breathing adequately and
whether ventilatory support is required. Vital signs and history are secondary to immediate life
threats.
Question 2 — Multiple Choice
Which finding is most characteristic of severe airway obstruction in a conscious adult?
A. Ability to speak normally
B. Effective coughing
C. Inability to speak or cough effectively
D. Slow, regular breathing
Correct Answer: C. Inability to speak or cough effectively
Rationale: A patient with severe airway obstruction may be unable to speak, cough effectively,
or breathe. This indicates inadequate airflow and requires immediate intervention. A patient who
can cough forcefully should generally be encouraged to continue coughing while being closely
monitored.
Question 3 — Short Answer
What is the primary purpose of suctioning the airway?
Correct Answer: To remove secretions, blood, vomitus, or other material that is obstructing the
airway.
Rationale: Airway obstruction can rapidly cause hypoxia. Suction removes material that
interferes with airflow and ventilation. Suction should be performed promptly when secretions or
vomitus threaten airway patency, while avoiding unnecessarily prolonged suctioning.
,Question 4 — Multiple Choice
A patient with severe asthma is sitting upright, speaking only one or two words at a time, and has
markedly diminished breath sounds. Which finding is most concerning?
A. Mild anxiety
B. Tachycardia
C. Diminished breath sounds
D. Increased respiratory effort with minimal air movement
Correct Answer: D. Increased respiratory effort with minimal air movement
Rationale: Severe respiratory distress accompanied by poor air movement may indicate
impending respiratory failure. In asthma, a "silent chest" or markedly diminished breath sounds
can mean that very little air is moving through the airways. This is more concerning than mild
wheezing.
Question 5 — Multiple Choice
Which oxygen-delivery device generally provides the highest oxygen concentration to a
spontaneously breathing patient?
A. Nasal cannula
B. Simple face mask
C. Nonrebreather mask
D. Venturi mask
Correct Answer: C. Nonrebreather mask
Rationale: A nonrebreather mask can deliver a high concentration of oxygen when used
correctly with an adequate oxygen flow rate and a good mask seal. It is commonly used for
patients who are breathing adequately but require high-concentration supplemental oxygen.
Question 6 — Multiple Choice
A patient has slow, shallow respirations and cyanosis. What is the priority intervention?
A. Obtain a detailed medical history
B. Assist ventilations with a bag-valve mask
C. Apply a cold pack
D. Place the patient in a standing position
, Correct Answer: B. Assist ventilations with a bag-valve mask
Rationale: Slow, shallow respirations indicate inadequate ventilation. Oxygen alone may not
correct the problem because the patient is not moving sufficient air. Positive-pressure ventilation
with a bag-valve mask is therefore the priority.
Question 7 — Short Answer
What is the primary difference between ventilation and oxygenation?
Correct Answer: Ventilation is the movement of air into and out of the lungs, whereas
oxygenation is the process of adding oxygen to the blood.
Rationale: A patient can have adequate oxygen available but still be unable to ventilate
effectively. Ventilatory failure requires assisted ventilation, while isolated oxygenation problems
may respond to supplemental oxygen depending on the underlying cause.
Question 8 — Multiple Choice
Which patient most clearly demonstrates respiratory failure?
A. Respiratory rate 20/min with normal mental status
B. Mild wheezing but normal speech
C. Respiratory rate 8/min with altered mental status
D. Respiratory rate 22/min after walking
Correct Answer: C. Respiratory rate 8/min with altered mental status
Rationale: Bradypnea combined with altered mental status is a major warning sign of
inadequate ventilation and impending or established respiratory failure. The EMT should
prioritize airway management and assisted ventilation.
Question 9 — Multiple Choice
Which condition is most commonly associated with pink, frothy sputum and severe respiratory
distress?
A. Pulmonary edema
B. Simple bronchitis
C. Appendicitis
D. Hypoglycemia
Correct Answer: A. Pulmonary edema
VERIFIED ANSWERS FOR EMT CERTIFICATION EXAM
PREP EMT COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE (PDF)
NR 547 Differential Diagnosis Practicum – Comprehensive Exam
Course Code and Name: NR 547 Differential Diagnosis Practicum
Institution: Chamberlain University
Author/Creator: Prepared by EDU NURSE PRO
Assessment Type: Comprehensive Exam — EMT/NREMT
Certification Preparation
Total Questions: 100
Format: Multiple-Choice and Short-Answer
Purpose: Comprehensive review of emergency assessment, differential
diagnosis, pathophysiology, and prehospital management.
Table of Contents
1. Airway and Respiratory System
2. Cardiovascular System
3. Neurologic System
4. Trauma and Musculoskeletal System
5. Abdominal and Gastrointestinal System
6. Medical Emergencies and Endocrine System
7. Obstetric and Gynecologic Emergencies
8. Pediatric and Neonatal Emergencies
9. Environmental Emergencies and Toxicology
10. Assessment, Operations, and Special Populations
,Section 1 — Airway and Respiratory System
Question 1 — Multiple Choice
A patient is found unconscious and is not breathing normally. What should the EMT do first?
A. Obtain a blood pressure
B. Open the airway and assess breathing
C. Apply a nasal cannula
D. Obtain a SAMPLE history
Correct Answer: B. Open the airway and assess breathing
Rationale: An unresponsive patient requires immediate assessment of airway and breathing.
Opening the airway allows the EMT to determine whether the patient is breathing adequately and
whether ventilatory support is required. Vital signs and history are secondary to immediate life
threats.
Question 2 — Multiple Choice
Which finding is most characteristic of severe airway obstruction in a conscious adult?
A. Ability to speak normally
B. Effective coughing
C. Inability to speak or cough effectively
D. Slow, regular breathing
Correct Answer: C. Inability to speak or cough effectively
Rationale: A patient with severe airway obstruction may be unable to speak, cough effectively,
or breathe. This indicates inadequate airflow and requires immediate intervention. A patient who
can cough forcefully should generally be encouraged to continue coughing while being closely
monitored.
Question 3 — Short Answer
What is the primary purpose of suctioning the airway?
Correct Answer: To remove secretions, blood, vomitus, or other material that is obstructing the
airway.
Rationale: Airway obstruction can rapidly cause hypoxia. Suction removes material that
interferes with airflow and ventilation. Suction should be performed promptly when secretions or
vomitus threaten airway patency, while avoiding unnecessarily prolonged suctioning.
,Question 4 — Multiple Choice
A patient with severe asthma is sitting upright, speaking only one or two words at a time, and has
markedly diminished breath sounds. Which finding is most concerning?
A. Mild anxiety
B. Tachycardia
C. Diminished breath sounds
D. Increased respiratory effort with minimal air movement
Correct Answer: D. Increased respiratory effort with minimal air movement
Rationale: Severe respiratory distress accompanied by poor air movement may indicate
impending respiratory failure. In asthma, a "silent chest" or markedly diminished breath sounds
can mean that very little air is moving through the airways. This is more concerning than mild
wheezing.
Question 5 — Multiple Choice
Which oxygen-delivery device generally provides the highest oxygen concentration to a
spontaneously breathing patient?
A. Nasal cannula
B. Simple face mask
C. Nonrebreather mask
D. Venturi mask
Correct Answer: C. Nonrebreather mask
Rationale: A nonrebreather mask can deliver a high concentration of oxygen when used
correctly with an adequate oxygen flow rate and a good mask seal. It is commonly used for
patients who are breathing adequately but require high-concentration supplemental oxygen.
Question 6 — Multiple Choice
A patient has slow, shallow respirations and cyanosis. What is the priority intervention?
A. Obtain a detailed medical history
B. Assist ventilations with a bag-valve mask
C. Apply a cold pack
D. Place the patient in a standing position
, Correct Answer: B. Assist ventilations with a bag-valve mask
Rationale: Slow, shallow respirations indicate inadequate ventilation. Oxygen alone may not
correct the problem because the patient is not moving sufficient air. Positive-pressure ventilation
with a bag-valve mask is therefore the priority.
Question 7 — Short Answer
What is the primary difference between ventilation and oxygenation?
Correct Answer: Ventilation is the movement of air into and out of the lungs, whereas
oxygenation is the process of adding oxygen to the blood.
Rationale: A patient can have adequate oxygen available but still be unable to ventilate
effectively. Ventilatory failure requires assisted ventilation, while isolated oxygenation problems
may respond to supplemental oxygen depending on the underlying cause.
Question 8 — Multiple Choice
Which patient most clearly demonstrates respiratory failure?
A. Respiratory rate 20/min with normal mental status
B. Mild wheezing but normal speech
C. Respiratory rate 8/min with altered mental status
D. Respiratory rate 22/min after walking
Correct Answer: C. Respiratory rate 8/min with altered mental status
Rationale: Bradypnea combined with altered mental status is a major warning sign of
inadequate ventilation and impending or established respiratory failure. The EMT should
prioritize airway management and assisted ventilation.
Question 9 — Multiple Choice
Which condition is most commonly associated with pink, frothy sputum and severe respiratory
distress?
A. Pulmonary edema
B. Simple bronchitis
C. Appendicitis
D. Hypoglycemia
Correct Answer: A. Pulmonary edema
