NREMT Practice Test Bank Multiple
Choice Questions Complete With
100% Correct Answers
\Q\.Hypoglycemia and acute ischemic stroke can present similarly because:
• A:both oxygen and glucose are needed for brain function.
• B:the majority of stroke patients have a history of diabetes.
• C:the most common cause of a stroke is hypoglycemia.
• D:they are both caused by low levels of glucose in the blood. - ANSWERS✔-• A:both oxygen
and glucose are needed for brain function.
Reason: Although stroke and hypoglycemia are two distinctly different conditions, their signs
and symptoms are often similar. This is because the brain requires both oxygen and glucose to
function normally. An acute ischemic stroke is caused by a lack of oxygen to a part of the brain
due to a blocked cerebral artery, whereas hypoglycemia (low blood glucose level) deprives the
entire brain of glucose. In either case, the patient presents with signs of impaired brain function
(ie, slurred speech, weakness, altered mental status). Both conditions may lead to permanent
brain damage or death if not treated promptly.
\Q\.When dealing with an emotionally disturbed patient, you should be MOST concerned with:
• A:gathering all of the patient's medications.
• B:safely transporting to the hospital.
• C:whether the patient could harm you.
• D:obtaining a complete medical history. - ANSWERS✔-You selected C; This is correct!
,Reason: When managing any patient with an emotional or psychiatric crisis, your primary
concern is your own safety. Safely transporting the patient to the hospital is your ultimate goal.
If possible, you should attempt to obtain a medical history and should take any of the patient's
prescribed medications to the hospital. However, this should not supercede your own safety or
interfere with safely transporting the patient.
\Q\.You are at the scene where a man panicked while swimming in a small lake. Your initial
attempt to rescue him should include:
• A:rowing a small raft to the victim.
• B:reaching for the victim with a long stick.
• C:throwing a rope to the victim.
• D:swimming to the victim to rescue him. - ANSWERS✔-You selected B; This is correct!
Reason: General rules to follow when attempting to rescue a patient from the water include
"reach, throw, row, and then go." In this case, you should attempt to reach the victim by having
him grab hold of a large stick or similar object. If this is unsuccessful, throw the victim a rope or
flotation device (if available). If these are not available, row to the patient in a small raft (if
available). Going into the water to retrieve the victim is a last resort. The rescuer must be a
strong swimmer because patients who are in danger of drowning are in a state of blind panic
and will make every attempt to keep themselves afloat, even if it means forcing the rescuer
underwater.
\Q\.How should you classify a patient's nature of illness if he or she has a low blood glucose
level, bizarre behavior, and shallow breathing?
• A:Behavioral emergency
• B:Altered mental status
• C:Respiratory emergency
• D:Cardiac compromise - ANSWERS✔-The correct answer is B;
,Reason: The nature of illness (NOI) is the medical equivalent to mechanism of injury (MOI).
Altered mental status should be the suspected NOI in any patient with any fluctuation in level of
consciousness, which can range from bizarre behavior to complete unresponsiveness. Causes of
an altered mental status include hypo- or hyperglycemia, head trauma, stroke, behavioral crises,
drug overdose, and shock, among others.
\Q\.A young female is unresponsive after overdosing on an unknown type of drug. Her
respirations are slow and shallow and her pulse is slow and weak. Which of the following drugs
is the LEAST likely cause of her condition?
• A:Seconal
• B:Heroin
• C:Cocaine
• D:Valium - ANSWERS✔-The correct answer is C;
Reason: Of the drugs listed, cocaine would be the least likely cause of the patient's condition.
Cocaine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant; you would expect her to be hypertensive,
tachycardic, tachypneic, and perhaps even violent. Heroin, Valium, and Seconal are all CNS
depressants and could explain her condition. Heroin is an illegal narcotic (opiate), Valium is a
benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotic drug, and Seconal is a barbiturate. Narcotics,
benzodiazepines, and barbiturates are all CNS depressants. When taken in excess, they cause a
decreased level of consciousness, respiratory depression, bradycardia, and hypotension.
\Q\.Activated charcoal is contraindicated for a patient who is:
• A:conscious and alert and has ingested a large amount of Motrin.
• B:emotionally upset and has ingested two bottles of aspirin.
• C:agitated and claims to have ingested a bottle of Tylenol.
• D:awake and alert and has swallowed a commercial drain cleaner. - ANSWERS✔-You selected
D; This is correct!
, Reason:Activated charcoal adsorbs (sticks to) many ingested substances, preventing them from
being absorbed into the body by the stomach or intestines. In some cases, you may give
activated charcoal to patients who have ingested certain substances, if approved by medical
control or local protocol. Activated charcoal is contraindicated for patients who have ingested
an acid or alkali (ie, drain cleaner) or a petroleum product (ie, gasoline), who have a decreased
level of consciousness and cannot protect their own airway, or who are unable to swallow.
\Q\.The MOST obvious way to reduce heat loss from radiation and convection is to:
• A:move away from a cold object.
• B:increase metabolism by shivering.
• C:wear a thick wind-proof jacket.
• D:move to a warmer environment. - ANSWERS✔-you selected D; This is correct!
Reason:In a cold environment, the body has two ways of staying warm: generating heat
(thermogenesis) and reducing heat loss. Radiation is the transfer of heat by radiant energy. The
body can lose heat by radiation, such as when a person stands in a cold room. Convection
occurs when heat is transferred to circulating air, as when cool air moves across the body's
surface. A person standing in windy cold weather, wearing lightweight clothing, is losing heat to
the environment mostly by convection. The quickest and most obvious way to decrease heat
loss from radiation and convection is to move out of the cold environment and seek shelter
from wind. Shivering increases the body's metabolism and is a mechanism for generating heat,
not reducing heat loss. Layers of clothing trap air and provide excellent insulation; thus, layered
clothing decreases heat loss better than a single, thick jacket. Conduction is the direct transfer
of heat from a part of the body to a colder object by direct contact, as when a warm hand
touches cold metal or ice. The most obvious way to decrease heat loss by conduction is to
remove your hand from the cold object.
\Q\.A near-drowning is MOST accurately defined as:
• A:complications within 24 hours following submersion in water.
• B:immediate death due to prolonged submersion in water.
• C:survival for at least 24 hours following submersion in water.
Choice Questions Complete With
100% Correct Answers
\Q\.Hypoglycemia and acute ischemic stroke can present similarly because:
• A:both oxygen and glucose are needed for brain function.
• B:the majority of stroke patients have a history of diabetes.
• C:the most common cause of a stroke is hypoglycemia.
• D:they are both caused by low levels of glucose in the blood. - ANSWERS✔-• A:both oxygen
and glucose are needed for brain function.
Reason: Although stroke and hypoglycemia are two distinctly different conditions, their signs
and symptoms are often similar. This is because the brain requires both oxygen and glucose to
function normally. An acute ischemic stroke is caused by a lack of oxygen to a part of the brain
due to a blocked cerebral artery, whereas hypoglycemia (low blood glucose level) deprives the
entire brain of glucose. In either case, the patient presents with signs of impaired brain function
(ie, slurred speech, weakness, altered mental status). Both conditions may lead to permanent
brain damage or death if not treated promptly.
\Q\.When dealing with an emotionally disturbed patient, you should be MOST concerned with:
• A:gathering all of the patient's medications.
• B:safely transporting to the hospital.
• C:whether the patient could harm you.
• D:obtaining a complete medical history. - ANSWERS✔-You selected C; This is correct!
,Reason: When managing any patient with an emotional or psychiatric crisis, your primary
concern is your own safety. Safely transporting the patient to the hospital is your ultimate goal.
If possible, you should attempt to obtain a medical history and should take any of the patient's
prescribed medications to the hospital. However, this should not supercede your own safety or
interfere with safely transporting the patient.
\Q\.You are at the scene where a man panicked while swimming in a small lake. Your initial
attempt to rescue him should include:
• A:rowing a small raft to the victim.
• B:reaching for the victim with a long stick.
• C:throwing a rope to the victim.
• D:swimming to the victim to rescue him. - ANSWERS✔-You selected B; This is correct!
Reason: General rules to follow when attempting to rescue a patient from the water include
"reach, throw, row, and then go." In this case, you should attempt to reach the victim by having
him grab hold of a large stick or similar object. If this is unsuccessful, throw the victim a rope or
flotation device (if available). If these are not available, row to the patient in a small raft (if
available). Going into the water to retrieve the victim is a last resort. The rescuer must be a
strong swimmer because patients who are in danger of drowning are in a state of blind panic
and will make every attempt to keep themselves afloat, even if it means forcing the rescuer
underwater.
\Q\.How should you classify a patient's nature of illness if he or she has a low blood glucose
level, bizarre behavior, and shallow breathing?
• A:Behavioral emergency
• B:Altered mental status
• C:Respiratory emergency
• D:Cardiac compromise - ANSWERS✔-The correct answer is B;
,Reason: The nature of illness (NOI) is the medical equivalent to mechanism of injury (MOI).
Altered mental status should be the suspected NOI in any patient with any fluctuation in level of
consciousness, which can range from bizarre behavior to complete unresponsiveness. Causes of
an altered mental status include hypo- or hyperglycemia, head trauma, stroke, behavioral crises,
drug overdose, and shock, among others.
\Q\.A young female is unresponsive after overdosing on an unknown type of drug. Her
respirations are slow and shallow and her pulse is slow and weak. Which of the following drugs
is the LEAST likely cause of her condition?
• A:Seconal
• B:Heroin
• C:Cocaine
• D:Valium - ANSWERS✔-The correct answer is C;
Reason: Of the drugs listed, cocaine would be the least likely cause of the patient's condition.
Cocaine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant; you would expect her to be hypertensive,
tachycardic, tachypneic, and perhaps even violent. Heroin, Valium, and Seconal are all CNS
depressants and could explain her condition. Heroin is an illegal narcotic (opiate), Valium is a
benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotic drug, and Seconal is a barbiturate. Narcotics,
benzodiazepines, and barbiturates are all CNS depressants. When taken in excess, they cause a
decreased level of consciousness, respiratory depression, bradycardia, and hypotension.
\Q\.Activated charcoal is contraindicated for a patient who is:
• A:conscious and alert and has ingested a large amount of Motrin.
• B:emotionally upset and has ingested two bottles of aspirin.
• C:agitated and claims to have ingested a bottle of Tylenol.
• D:awake and alert and has swallowed a commercial drain cleaner. - ANSWERS✔-You selected
D; This is correct!
, Reason:Activated charcoal adsorbs (sticks to) many ingested substances, preventing them from
being absorbed into the body by the stomach or intestines. In some cases, you may give
activated charcoal to patients who have ingested certain substances, if approved by medical
control or local protocol. Activated charcoal is contraindicated for patients who have ingested
an acid or alkali (ie, drain cleaner) or a petroleum product (ie, gasoline), who have a decreased
level of consciousness and cannot protect their own airway, or who are unable to swallow.
\Q\.The MOST obvious way to reduce heat loss from radiation and convection is to:
• A:move away from a cold object.
• B:increase metabolism by shivering.
• C:wear a thick wind-proof jacket.
• D:move to a warmer environment. - ANSWERS✔-you selected D; This is correct!
Reason:In a cold environment, the body has two ways of staying warm: generating heat
(thermogenesis) and reducing heat loss. Radiation is the transfer of heat by radiant energy. The
body can lose heat by radiation, such as when a person stands in a cold room. Convection
occurs when heat is transferred to circulating air, as when cool air moves across the body's
surface. A person standing in windy cold weather, wearing lightweight clothing, is losing heat to
the environment mostly by convection. The quickest and most obvious way to decrease heat
loss from radiation and convection is to move out of the cold environment and seek shelter
from wind. Shivering increases the body's metabolism and is a mechanism for generating heat,
not reducing heat loss. Layers of clothing trap air and provide excellent insulation; thus, layered
clothing decreases heat loss better than a single, thick jacket. Conduction is the direct transfer
of heat from a part of the body to a colder object by direct contact, as when a warm hand
touches cold metal or ice. The most obvious way to decrease heat loss by conduction is to
remove your hand from the cold object.
\Q\.A near-drowning is MOST accurately defined as:
• A:complications within 24 hours following submersion in water.
• B:immediate death due to prolonged submersion in water.
• C:survival for at least 24 hours following submersion in water.
