NREMT CBT, A joke.

[jlsparky7]

Female age 8-80 with abd pain, think ectopic first.

My book says 12-65. More BS involved in this test. They must be sexually active. The question wouldnt tell you if they were or not.

 

[jlsparky7]

Ok, here is my 2 cents worth on this subject. If you have not heard of a guy named Jon Puryer you need to learn about him. Here in the Alabama area we had a very, very, very poor pass rate for National Registry.

Jon Puryear is the Assistant to the Medical Director and is responsible for the majority of activities in the EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS ADVISORY BOARD in the state of Texas. This is probably smartest man I have have ever met when it comes to Emergency Medicine. He has a class that he teaches for the NREMT-Paramedic exam. His class does not give you the answers. It just lays it out on how to take the test in a way you would be able to understand it and pass on the first try. I took the class and then took registry and passed it on my first try. We had 15 people in our class and most all either attended the class or got the disc and listened to the class. so far 10 out of the 15 have passed registry. The other 5 either did not listen to the disc or did not put much effort into it like the rest of us. I cannot say enough about how much we all learned in just the 16 hours of taking his class. I should say that we did not really learn any more, we really just learned how to understand what we already had learned. He sells a copy of the class on his website.

I am in no way connected to him or his website other then being one of his past students.

Here is some other people taalking about his class: http://www.texasemt.com/web/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=2040

Here is all of his contact information:

Jon Puryear
www.nationalregistryprep.com


P.S.:
The answer to this question is "A" it is always "A" until proven otherwise.

45 year old female with abdominal pain. Whats causing the pain?
A.Ectopic pregnancy
B.Kidney stone
C.AAA
D.AMI

Thank you for the adivce. I will look into those websites for sure.

The answer would be A if the PT was sexually active. It doesnt tell you if the PT is.

My book says Sexually active females with abdominal pain between the ages of 12 and 65 should be assumed pregnant until proven otherwise.

 

[VentMedic]

The answer would be A if the PT was sexually active. It doesnt tell you if the PT is.

My book says Sexually active females with abdominal pain between the ages of 12 and 65 should be assumed pregnant until proven otherwise.

You are really making this difficult for yourself.

 

[JPINFV]

What if the patient is altered or unconscious and the only information you have is a relative/friend that says that she was complaining of abdominal pain? Are you going to tell the friend/relative that you can't help the patient because you don't have enough information? Emergency medicine deals with a lot of cases where there is a vacuum of information.

 

[jlsparky7]

You are really making this difficult for yourself.

Any ideas to make it easier other than spending more money on test booklets and dvds? Hurting for cash right now.

 

[Ridryder911]

Yes I did say the pracitcal is a joke. No i didnt say it should determine anything. I said A FIELD TEST should be an option. Real life (with another paramedic there of course). Not dummies.

Most of being a paramedic isny critical thinking... Its applying protocols.

Most of the time those paramedics that slip through the testing process dont get weeded out. They get the kick *** career fire jobs.

I don't treat protocols; I treat patients!

Hence the problem; Cookbook medicine from a shake & bake medic. Expecting life to be like it is in a book.

Sorry, again medicine is not black & white. It would be much simpler but alas its not. This is why it takes education and not training.

As well one with any mentality would never allow a non-licensed person to perform their test on a real patient. Can you imagine the litigation, the uproar of patients! There is laws against such. Can you imagine your physician performing their medical license performing on your child? How foolish! What if the candidate performed poorly?

Sorry, it is obvious of two things. You do not know or understand what critical thinking skills are. The other you obvious have no clue what emergency medicine is and how to handle such requires.

 

[jlsparky7]

Don't know if I would publicly whine if I failed to meet the minimum national standards of safety to a patient. Yes, that's is all the test is asking from one.

Remember it is NOT the NREMT that holds back anyone! It is only a testing agency. Would you say that the NCLEX is holding back RN's, or the State Bar test holding back attorneys? Would you truly trust and individual that cannot prove to meet the minimal standards of safety? Sure, there is those that fall through the cracks in any profession as well as those that never pass that probably could perform the minimal level. That is life and nothing is absolute, unfortunately no profession can be exact.

Now think, if one can not pass a written level examination, can they be entrusted to be intellectually sufficient to be able to keep up ? If one cannot even memorize a skill sheet and with repeated practice, really can be entrusted to provide safe care? Really, anyone can and should be able to pass any skill with repeated practice. If they cannot; I doubt their intelligence in being able to remember what to do in the real life. Would you really trust someone that could not remember what to do?

Now, you may acclaim that those you would not "want to do CPR on your dog" or portrayed as being less smart; actually some how maybe smarter than you.?.. They passed. What does that reflect upon you? Maybe your study skill is poor or test taking skills is lacking. Usually one does not have poor results in both written and skills.

In regards to the given example question. Anyone with any type of medical knowledge should have a knowledge of what the most appropriate answer would be. If you do not, then you do not have the required medical knowledge to be in medicine. Apparently, you have not learned medicine rather attempted to memorize. Medicine is not strictly black and white, it is a science with the application of art. This why many of those in Fire Services cannot pass such type test. It requires critical thinking skills, not just performing tasks. These are proven facts and why many fire services are protesting such type tests.. one has to make rationale decisions with sound judgement.

Yes, it is unfortunate Fire Services require this level. Fire Service is usually a task performance profession, one is hired for below the neck line for performance. Not all; but in general.

R/r 911

Another thing. Why have a "set in stone" answer test with a "grey area" field your going into?

 

[jlsparky7]

I don't treat protocols; I treat patients!

Hence the problem; Cookbook medicine from a shake & bake medic. Expecting life to be like it is in a book.

Sorry, again medicine is not black & white. It would be much simpler but alas its not. This is why it takes education and not training.

As well one with any mentality would never allow a non-licensed person to perform their test on a real patient. Can you imagine the litigation, the uproar of patients! There is laws against such. Can you imagine your physician performing their medical license performing on your child? How foolish! What if the candidate performed poorly?

Sorry, it is obvious of two things. You do not know or understand what critical thinking skills are. The other you obvious have no clue what emergency medicine is and how to handle such requires.

So I take it you didnt have to do 3rd rides or internships to get your license? Not an attack on you but thats how you make it sound. You have to start somewhere. You would have a licnesed medic right next to you to stop you from messing up.

 

[jlsparky7]

I don't treat protocols; I treat patients!

Hence the problem; Cookbook medicine from a shake & bake medic. Expecting life to be like it is in a book.

Sorry, again medicine is not black & white. It would be much simpler but alas its not. This is why it takes education and not training.

As well one with any mentality would never allow a non-licensed person to perform their test on a real patient. Can you imagine the litigation, the uproar of patients! There is laws against such. Can you imagine your physician performing their medical license performing on your child? How foolish! What if the candidate performed poorly?

Sorry, it is obvious of two things. You do not know or understand what critical thinking skills are. The other you obvious have no clue what emergency medicine is and how to handle such requires.

Dont assume I dont know what im doing because I havnt passed a rediculous test.

 

[ffemt8978]

I can see this thread turning ugly real quick, so here's the freebie warning.

PLAY NICE!

 

[jlsparky7]

What if the patient is altered or unconscious and the only information you have is a relative/friend that says that she was complaining of abdominal pain? Are you going to tell the friend/relative that you can't help the patient because you don't have enough information? Emergency medicine deals with a lot of cases where there is a vacuum of information.

Ok..... So the only way you can gather information is from relatives? What about vitals? what about a trauma assessment? What about the PTs surroundings (meds, food, alcohol) All of which are ALWAYS available to you.

 

[marineman]

One of the reasons that a true field practical is not used that Rid didn't mention is how do you then ensure all students taking the test are allowed the same opportunity. One person may go in the field for a day and all they do all day is pick grandma up when she falls out of bed. Another may go in the field and have 5 patients having MI's and none of them have similar symptoms what so ever. If student number 2 misses one diagnosis does he fail and does student number one pass because he didn't do anything wrong all day? You can not administer a test that doesn't afford all students the same opportunity.

 

[jlsparky7]

Im here asking for help and people are attacking me and saying I dont know how to be a paramedic. If those people dont have something productive to say, they shouldnt say anything.

 

[jlsparky7]

One of the reasons that a true field practical is not used that Rid didn't mention is how do you then ensure all students taking the test are allowed the same opportunity. One person may go in the field for a day and all they do all day is pick grandma up when she falls out of bed. Another may go in the field and have 5 patients having MI's and none of them have similar symptoms what so ever. If student number 2 misses one diagnosis does he fail and does student number one pass because he didn't do anything wrong all day? You can not administer a test that doesn't afford all students the same opportunity.

And NREMT does? Like they claim themselves NOONE will get the same test. Which means not everyone is tested equally.

As for the field testing, that would all have to be figured out ahead of time. It wouldnt just be one 8 hour shift of picking up grandma. It would take longer.

 

[jlsparky7]

I don't treat protocols; I treat patients!

Hence the problem; Cookbook medicine from a shake & bake medic. Expecting life to be like it is in a book.

Sorry, again medicine is not black & white. It would be much simpler but alas its not. This is why it takes education and not training.

As well one with any mentality would never allow a non-licensed person to perform their test on a real patient. Can you imagine the litigation, the uproar of patients! There is laws against such. Can you imagine your physician performing their medical license performing on your child? How foolish! What if the candidate performed poorly?

Sorry, it is obvious of two things. You do not know or understand what critical thinking skills are. The other you obvious have no clue what emergency medicine is and how to handle such requires.

How would you treat protocols? that makes no sense. Protocols are just a basis to build your treatment off of. It eliminates some of the "grey area" for paramedics giving a better idea of whats going on in the short amount of time you have to treat a PT.

 

[JPINFV]

Ok..... So the only way you can gather information is from relatives? What about vitals? what about a trauma assessment? What about the PTs surroundings (meds, food, alcohol) All of which are ALWAYS available to you.

So you can look into a patient's medicine cabinet and know for sure that they are medication compliant? You can look at their fridge and know what and when they ate last? Shoot me a PM when paramedics start regularly performing ultrasounds and pregnancy tests.

Im here asking for help and people are attacking me and saying I dont know how to be a paramedic. If those people dont have something productive to say, they shouldnt say anything.

What are your thoughts?

Wait a minute. Just because we're not going to hold your hand and say "There there, it's all right. That big meanie test is out to get you," we shouldn't share our thoughts? This is a message board, not a hand holding board. I don't pretend to be something I'm not, but I'm not going to sit on the side line when someone decides to blame everyone but themselves for their failure. Everyone fails at something at some point in their life. Failure doesn't define one's life, but the response to failure does. I'm definitely not going to sit by when someone pulls the "zomg, only the idiots that know that dem thar book learnin stuff seems to pass, but I shouldn't gotta learn that dem thar books stuffin."

 

[ffemt8978]

Failure doesn't define one's life, but the response to failure does.

That point bears repeating.

 

[Flight-LP]

How would you treat protocols? that makes no sense. Protocols are just a basis to build your treatment off of. It eliminates some of the "grey area" for paramedics giving a better idea of whats going on in the short amount of time you have to treat a PT.

Negative ghostrider, a sound and thorough assessment is what you build your treatment off of.

You have received a lot of great advice, take a moment to internalize it. Based on your postings here, one can see sound reasoning why you were unsuccessful in passing the NR exam.

3 things that will help you through any patient encounter (and protocol isn't one of them)

1.Sound assessment.
2.Utilization of a complete and thorough critical thought process.
3.Don't overcomplicate the situation.

Unfortunately as a new medic graduate, you only the capability of providing one of the three. The other two come with experience. Why not take this thread as an experience and learn instead of argue. You can disagree until the cows come home, but it won't change your situation. It is what it is, you are going to have to retake the test and pass to move on. Whether you do or don't is your choice.................................

 

[jlsparky7]

So you can look into a patient's medicine cabinet and know for sure that they are medication compliant? You can look at their fridge and know what and when they ate last? Shoot me a PM when paramedics start regularly performing ultrasounds and pregnancy tests.






Wait a minute. Just because we're not going to hold your hand and say "There there, it's all right. That big meanie test is out to get you," we shouldn't share our thoughts? This is a message board, not a hand holding board. I don't pretend to be something I'm not, but I'm not going to sit on the side line when someone decides to blame everyone but themselves for their failure. Everyone fails at something at some point in their life. Failure doesn't define one's life, but the response to failure does. I'm definitely not going to sit by when someone pulls the "zomg, only the idiots that know that dem thar book learnin stuff seems to pass, but I shouldn't gotta learn that dem thar books stuffin."

That was just a response to not having any information to answer the question. No I dont expect paramedics to have any of that equipment but some information that is ALWAYS available isnt mentioned in the test.


Im not looking for someone to hold my hand. Im not blaming anyone. Im not looking for sympothy. Im not saying only book smart people pass this test. Im saying it is a poor way of testing for this profession. For an accountant this would be a great test.

Im just simply looking for help as to how the testing format works (other than the typical "best answer" and "adaptive test" lines that ive heard over and over.) I dont know if any better advice exists, aparently not because im just getting hounded by people that have passed the test that assume im saying they shouldnt be paramedics.

 

[ffemt8978]

I've been in this field for almost 10 years, and the ONLY information I've always had available on EVERY patient is their gender and approximate age. I'm sure others around here will support this.

Like LP said, you've been given good advice here. What you do with it is up to you.

Do you mind if I ask what you've done up to this point to pass the test next time, besides this thread?