Test Prep NREMT Exam Actual Questions
National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (Page 7 )

Updated On: 17-Jul-2026

Your patient is a 35-year-old trauma victim who is not breathing. You are unable to open the airway by means of the jaw thrust and suctioning. You should:

  1. Attempt a mouth-to-mask ventilation.
  2. Use the head-tilt / chin-lift technique.
  3. Ventilate with a bag-valve-mask unit.
  4. Insert an airway through a tracheostomy.

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

Although the head-tilt / chin-lift is not ordinarily used on trauma patients because it interferes with spinal immobilization and alignment, opening the airway takes priority over all other considerations. Be sure to document your actions in the patient care report.



Which statement about inadequate breathing is correct?

  1. A breathing rate that is either too fast or too slow may indicate inadequate breathing.
  2. Inadequate breathing is much less common in small children than in older adults.
  3. Increased effort of breathing is often a normal sign and is not associated with inadequate breathing.
  4. A patient breathing very deeply or very shallowly is compensating for an abnormal respiratory rate.

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

A respiratory rate that is either too fast or too slow may be a sign of inadequate breathing. Respiratory distress occurs with many medical and trauma problems and spans the age groups. An increased work (effort) of breathing frequently accompanies inadequate breathing as the patient attempts to compensate, but it should never be considered a “normal sign”. Patients may breathe shallowly or deeply for a number of reasons, only one of which is to compensate for an abnormal rate.



What differences in a child’s airway might make airway management more difficult than in an adult?

  1. longer airway and small tongue
  2. smaller jaw, smaller teeth
  3. There are no anatomic differences that affect airway management in children versus adults.
  4. a smaller jaw and a proportionally larger tongue

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

Children have a smaller jaw and a proportionally larger tongue, which can make manual ventilation and intubation more difficult. Smaller teeth do not affect airway management.



A normal respiratory rate for an adult is _______________ while a normal respiratory rate for a newborn is _______________.

  1. 8 to16 and 20 to 40
  2. 12 to 20 and 30 to 60
  3. 12 to 20 and 16 to 24
  4. 22 to 30 and 50

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

This is the best of the given answer choices. Under 12 is too low of an RR for adults and above 20 is considered high. Newborns breathe faster than adults. Under 30 would be too low for a newborn.
Note: Some newer study materials are suggesting a range of 12 to 24 for adults. This may be to allow for the fact that many people you deal with are under stress and might have a slightly elevated “normal” rate. COPD patients can even be over 24. Check with your instructor and the study material your class uses to verify these figures as you prepare for the test.



What is the first thing you should do before inserting a nasopharyngeal airway?

  1. Look up the nose to make sure the nostrils are large enough for a nasopharyngeal airway.
  2. Tilt the head back, lube the airway, and insert it into the nostril.
  3. Make sure the patient does not have a gag reflex.
  4. Select the correct size.

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

Before the airway can be inserted, the correct size needs to be selected. If the wrong size is inserted the airway may not be effective. A nasopharyngeal airway can be used on a patient with or without a gag reflex.



Emergency care for patients who are not breathing adequately but have a pulse includes all of the following except _______________.

  1. supplemental oxygen
  2. ventilatory support
  3. airway management
  4. CPR

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

If the patient is not breathing adequately but still has a pulse, CPR is not needed. CPR will be required if a person loses their pulse.



You arrive on scene to find a young woman who is having trouble talking. She has hives and is starting to gasp for air. Her friend says she was just stung by a bee. Your immediate actions should include all of the following except _______________.

  1. administer epinephrine (If your state and local EMS protocols allow.)
  2. provide airway support
  3. administer supplemental oxygen
  4. assess the bee sting for signs of an infection

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

Epinephrine is used to treat anaphylactic shock, and should be administered. The patient’s airway may be compromised due to swelling, so airway support is essential. Supplemental oxygen should also be administered. There is no need to assess the bee sting for infection at this point as that is not immediately life-threatening.



You’re called to a home and find an unresponsive male. Family members said he “passed out.” You assess the scene to be safe. The next thing you should do is:

  1. get a blood pressure to determine if it’s too low and may have caused him to pass out.
  2. simultaneously check for a pulse and breathing.
  3. get a temperature to determine if he has heat stroke.
  4. check the patient’s blood sugar; he might be a diabetic.

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

In an unresponsive person, you may have to initiate CPR. It’s essential to check to determine if a patient has a pulse and is breathing. Other vital signs and measurements, such as a BP, blood sugar and temperature can be obtained at a later point.



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