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NREMT EMT Cognitive Exam — Practice

Primary Assessment: practice questions

Our NREMT EMT bank has 141 questions on this topic. Here are 5 of them with answers; the full mock exam draws from every topic, like the real one.

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Question 1

Which finding in a patient with chest trauma suggests a tension pneumothorax?

  1. Wheezing on both sides and a cough
  2. A bruise over the sternum with normal vital signs
  3. Absent breath sounds on one side, neck vein distension and hypotension
  4. Equal breath sounds and pink skin
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C. Absent breath sounds on one side, neck vein distension and hypotension — Tension pneumothorax causes severe distress, absent breath sounds on the injured side, JVD and hypotension; tracheal deviation is a late sign.

Question 2

A 3-year-old has a barking cough and stridor that is worse at night. What is the most likely cause?

  1. Epiglottitis
  2. Croup
  3. Asthma
  4. Pneumonia
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B. Croup — Croup is a viral illness causing upper airway swelling, a seal-like cough and stridor, often at night.

Question 3

In the primary assessment, which patient should be identified as a priority for rapid transport?

  1. A patient with a minor ankle sprain
  2. A patient with chest pain and a systolic blood pressure below 100
  3. A patient with a cold who wants a checkup and a work note
  4. A patient with an old, healed scar
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B. A patient with chest pain and a systolic blood pressure below 100 — High-priority patients include those with poor general impression, unresponsiveness, difficulty breathing, shock, uncontrolled bleeding, complicated childbirth and chest pain with low blood pressure.

Question 4

A patient with a recent hip replacement fell and the leg is shortened and turned outward. What should you suspect?

  1. A knee sprain
  2. A hip fracture or dislocation
  3. A muscle cramp
  4. A normal finding after surgery
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B. A hip fracture or dislocation — A shortened, externally rotated leg after a fall is a classic sign of hip fracture.

Question 5

A pregnant woman at 34 weeks feels dizzy when lying flat on her back. What should you do?

  1. Raise her legs high while she stays on her back
  2. Sit her fully upright with her legs raised
  3. Position her on her left side
  4. Place her face down
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C. Position her on her left side — Lying supine lets the uterus press on the inferior vena cava (supine hypotensive syndrome). Left lateral positioning relieves the pressure.

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