NREMT EMT Exam Prep 2026/2027 | Practice
Questions, Answers & Rationales | A+
Airway, Respiration & Ventilation
1. You arrive on the scene to find an unconscious 65-year-old female lying on the floor of her
living room. What is your first step in the care of this patient?
A) Begin chest compressions
B) Apply the AED
C) Maintain an open airway
D) Assess level of consciousness
Answer D: Assess level of consciousness
Rationale: The primary survey begins with assessing the patient's level of consciousness (AVPU) to
determine responsiveness and guide further actions.
2. When assessing a 35-year-old patient complaining of shortness of breath, you note that her
breathing is in excess of 28 times per minute. This is considered:
A) Neuropnea
B) Apnea
C) Bradypnea
D) Tachypnea
Answer D: Tachypnea
Rationale: Respiratory rates greater than 20 breaths per minute are considered tachypnea; rates less
than 12 are bradypnea, and absent breathing is apnea.
3. You arrive on the scene of a patient who fell from a ladder. You should open the patient's
airway by using:
A) Head-tilt/chin-lift
B) Jaw thrust maneuver
,C) Neck-lift/head-tilt
D) Head-tilt/jaw-thrust
Answer B: Jaw thrust maneuver
Rationale: The jaw thrust maneuver is indicated for patients with suspected spinal injury to open the
airway without moving the cervical spine.
4. The term "tachypnea" refers to a respiratory rate:
A) Less than 12 breaths per minute
B) Greater than 20 breaths per minute
C) Absent breathing
D) Between 12 and 20 breaths per minute
Answer B: Greater than 20 breaths per minute
Rationale: Tachypnea is defined as a respiratory rate greater than 20 breaths per minute.
5. A patient with a head injury should have their airway opened using:
A) Head-tilt/chin-lift
B) Jaw thrust maneuver
C) Neck-lift/head-tilt
D) Head-tilt/jaw-thrust
Answer B: Jaw thrust maneuver
Rationale: The jaw thrust is preferred for patients with suspected cervical spine injury, as it avoids neck
movement.
6. You are ventilating a patient with a bag-valve-mask (BVM) device. Which action is correct to
ensure adequate ventilation?
A) Squeeze the bag as quickly as possible
B) Ventilate at a rate of 10-12 breaths per minute for an adult
C) Use the BVM without an airway adjunct
,D) Squeeze the bag with both hands for maximum volume
Answer B: Ventilate at a rate of 10-12 breaths per minute for an adult
Rationale: For an adult, BVM ventilations should be delivered at 10-12 breaths per minute (one breath
every 5-6 seconds), with each breath over 1 second.
7. A 45-year-old patient is in respiratory distress with an oxygen saturation of 88% on room air.
Which oxygen delivery device is most appropriate?
A) Nasal cannula at 2 L/min
B) Simple face mask at 6 L/min
C) Non-rebreather mask at 15 L/min
D) Venturi mask at 24% FiO₂
Answer C: Non-rebreather mask at 15 L/min
Rationale: A non-rebreather mask delivers high-concentration oxygen (up to 90-95%) for patients with
significant hypoxemia.
8. A patient who is breathing inadequately has an oxygen saturation of 85% on room air. Your first
action should be to:
A) Start CPR
B) Provide positive-pressure ventilation
C) Administer oxygen via nasal cannula
D) Insert an oropharyngeal airway
Answer B: Provide positive-pressure ventilation
Rationale: Inadequate breathing with hypoxemia requires immediate positive-pressure ventilation to
support oxygenation and ventilation.
9. What is the correct rate for delivering ventilations to a child with a BVM?
A) 6-8 breaths per minute
B) 12-20 breaths per minute
, C) 30 breaths per minute
D) 40 breaths per minute
Answer B: 12-20 breaths per minute
Rationale: For a child, ventilate at a rate of 12-20 breaths per minute (one breath every 3-5 seconds)
with adequate volume.
10. You are assessing a patient with a stoma. The best way to open the airway is to:
A) Use a jaw thrust maneuver
B) Ventilate directly through the stoma
C) Insert an oropharyngeal airway
D) Use a head-tilt/chin-lift
Answer B: Ventilate directly through the stoma
Rationale: Patients with a stoma have an alternate airway; ventilation should be delivered directly
through the stoma using a pediatric BVM mask or tracheostomy adapter.
11. Which of the following is NOT a sign of adequate ventilation in an adult?
A) Chest rise and fall
B) Oxygen saturation ≥94%
C) Gastric distension
D) Improved mental status
Answer C: Gastric distension
Rationale: Gastric distension indicates air entering the stomach instead of the lungs, which is a sign of
inadequate ventilation or improper technique.
12. You are suctioning a patient with secretions in the airway. Which action is correct?
A) Suction for 30 seconds at a time
B) Apply suction only while withdrawing the catheter
C) Apply suction while inserting the catheter
Questions, Answers & Rationales | A+
Airway, Respiration & Ventilation
1. You arrive on the scene to find an unconscious 65-year-old female lying on the floor of her
living room. What is your first step in the care of this patient?
A) Begin chest compressions
B) Apply the AED
C) Maintain an open airway
D) Assess level of consciousness
Answer D: Assess level of consciousness
Rationale: The primary survey begins with assessing the patient's level of consciousness (AVPU) to
determine responsiveness and guide further actions.
2. When assessing a 35-year-old patient complaining of shortness of breath, you note that her
breathing is in excess of 28 times per minute. This is considered:
A) Neuropnea
B) Apnea
C) Bradypnea
D) Tachypnea
Answer D: Tachypnea
Rationale: Respiratory rates greater than 20 breaths per minute are considered tachypnea; rates less
than 12 are bradypnea, and absent breathing is apnea.
3. You arrive on the scene of a patient who fell from a ladder. You should open the patient's
airway by using:
A) Head-tilt/chin-lift
B) Jaw thrust maneuver
,C) Neck-lift/head-tilt
D) Head-tilt/jaw-thrust
Answer B: Jaw thrust maneuver
Rationale: The jaw thrust maneuver is indicated for patients with suspected spinal injury to open the
airway without moving the cervical spine.
4. The term "tachypnea" refers to a respiratory rate:
A) Less than 12 breaths per minute
B) Greater than 20 breaths per minute
C) Absent breathing
D) Between 12 and 20 breaths per minute
Answer B: Greater than 20 breaths per minute
Rationale: Tachypnea is defined as a respiratory rate greater than 20 breaths per minute.
5. A patient with a head injury should have their airway opened using:
A) Head-tilt/chin-lift
B) Jaw thrust maneuver
C) Neck-lift/head-tilt
D) Head-tilt/jaw-thrust
Answer B: Jaw thrust maneuver
Rationale: The jaw thrust is preferred for patients with suspected cervical spine injury, as it avoids neck
movement.
6. You are ventilating a patient with a bag-valve-mask (BVM) device. Which action is correct to
ensure adequate ventilation?
A) Squeeze the bag as quickly as possible
B) Ventilate at a rate of 10-12 breaths per minute for an adult
C) Use the BVM without an airway adjunct
,D) Squeeze the bag with both hands for maximum volume
Answer B: Ventilate at a rate of 10-12 breaths per minute for an adult
Rationale: For an adult, BVM ventilations should be delivered at 10-12 breaths per minute (one breath
every 5-6 seconds), with each breath over 1 second.
7. A 45-year-old patient is in respiratory distress with an oxygen saturation of 88% on room air.
Which oxygen delivery device is most appropriate?
A) Nasal cannula at 2 L/min
B) Simple face mask at 6 L/min
C) Non-rebreather mask at 15 L/min
D) Venturi mask at 24% FiO₂
Answer C: Non-rebreather mask at 15 L/min
Rationale: A non-rebreather mask delivers high-concentration oxygen (up to 90-95%) for patients with
significant hypoxemia.
8. A patient who is breathing inadequately has an oxygen saturation of 85% on room air. Your first
action should be to:
A) Start CPR
B) Provide positive-pressure ventilation
C) Administer oxygen via nasal cannula
D) Insert an oropharyngeal airway
Answer B: Provide positive-pressure ventilation
Rationale: Inadequate breathing with hypoxemia requires immediate positive-pressure ventilation to
support oxygenation and ventilation.
9. What is the correct rate for delivering ventilations to a child with a BVM?
A) 6-8 breaths per minute
B) 12-20 breaths per minute
, C) 30 breaths per minute
D) 40 breaths per minute
Answer B: 12-20 breaths per minute
Rationale: For a child, ventilate at a rate of 12-20 breaths per minute (one breath every 3-5 seconds)
with adequate volume.
10. You are assessing a patient with a stoma. The best way to open the airway is to:
A) Use a jaw thrust maneuver
B) Ventilate directly through the stoma
C) Insert an oropharyngeal airway
D) Use a head-tilt/chin-lift
Answer B: Ventilate directly through the stoma
Rationale: Patients with a stoma have an alternate airway; ventilation should be delivered directly
through the stoma using a pediatric BVM mask or tracheostomy adapter.
11. Which of the following is NOT a sign of adequate ventilation in an adult?
A) Chest rise and fall
B) Oxygen saturation ≥94%
C) Gastric distension
D) Improved mental status
Answer C: Gastric distension
Rationale: Gastric distension indicates air entering the stomach instead of the lungs, which is a sign of
inadequate ventilation or improper technique.
12. You are suctioning a patient with secretions in the airway. Which action is correct?
A) Suction for 30 seconds at a time
B) Apply suction only while withdrawing the catheter
C) Apply suction while inserting the catheter
