NREMT-P failed test twice

[susiegirl07]

The curriculum is a public document and contains phrases like:

"Describe the pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, and management of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia in the pediatric patient."

Having said that, the problem might not be your knowledge, it might be your standard test taking skills. (I am also fairly confident from your post that anxiety may have a slight role too if it didn't before)

Some suggestions.

Look for patterns. example, hyperthermia, hypotension, purpura. A question containing all 3 is certainly asking about sepsis. But may be a second or third order question so figure out what the questions is asking.

quick example:

a patient called 911 and is presenting with with dark lesions all over her skin who is warm to the touch and is showing signs of shock (you are thinking sepsis) has sepsis (they just elimiated the answer you thought it was by giving it to you in the question.) Your initial treatment should include

a: provide a 20ml/kg fluid bolus
b: administer dopamine 2-10 mcg/kg
c: attach an EKG and monitor for ectopy
d: assess the airway

All of these answers are correct obviously, but one is more important than the others. It is not even a paramedic level skill.

The other thing to remember is the test is based on the lowest level permitted to function, not the highest. So even if you know the endothelial changes and metabolites and biochemical mechanisms of it, that is way too much for the test. The simple answer is usually the right answer.

Once you start trying to justify why the simple answer is not right because "what if?" or "not enough information" or "could be answer a or b depending on..." then you will start trying to make decisions off of factors not given. You may even make a judgement from epidemiology which is not accounted for on the questions because they are testing your knowledge, not "real life."

I suggest just taking many practice exams, from books, etc. The books or websites that tell you the logic as to why the correct answer was best and why your answer was wrong, are definately the best investments of both time and money.

Many of the smartest, most knowledgable, and most capable people I have ever met struggle with standardized testing. It is truly a measure of the minimum.

Thank you for your knowledgable post! I do believe my biggest problem is the way I'm reading the question and that I might be reading too much "into" the question.

Your example question is a good one and I probably would of answered something besides airway if it wasn't there.....do you understand that? I understand airway comes before anything, i understand that if the breathing is labored, shallow or any other issue you will ventilate first.

My problem is yes I don't know everything there is too know and I will study yet again (jblearning.com, textbook and other notes) but I think it's all in the way I am "reading" the question. If I can get pass that then I think I will overcome this test. Anxiety does play a role, how can it not, but I walked in there last time with my head on straight and a "I've got this attitude". Apparently I did not have "it" and mostly it was because I felt I wasn't getting enough information to make a intelligent answer.

I feel that is my biggest hurdle. It does not hurt to study more and more which I will because I want this very much!

 

[gicts]

Out of curiosity, what were you scoring on the online test preps?

 

[susiegirl07]

The first time around I was scoring 90-95% on emt-national-training.com

Second time around on another site which I believed was better parameducators.com I was scoring 96-98%

As I said the knowledge is there and what I studied were to me actually harder questions then in the registry itself. The questions remains why?

 

[gicts]

Have you taken it again yet? More favorable results this time?

 

[susiegirl07]

very soon!!!!

 

[rjddvm]

Best of luck to you on the next try!

"Where does a service dog ride in the ambulance" in back, up front, in a animal control vehicle or just anther vehicle. Not the exact question as the registry but you get it nevertheless. Not one of my books or quizzes is going to give me that answer. (

We actually did have something similar to this on the JBLearning tests. It was something about escorting an ambulatory blind patient to the ambulance, I think...and in the explanation of the answers, there was something about where the service animal rides. The basic answer is, they stay with the patient.

I used JBLearning a lot and it was very helpful. The explanations often had some good information in them and were worth reading even if I got the question right.

I wonder if you are reading too much into the questions; it's something I've struggled with on multiple-choice questions, and it's a hard habit to break, so I definitely sympathize with you there!

I've had classmates who get questions wrong because option A is a good answer, so they choose it without reading the other options, and it turns out that while "A" is a good answer, "C" is better.

You could also be alert to what the answers cover. E.g., if there is an airway management answer, you might want to go back and reread the question even if you didn't initially think it was an airway question. Also if there is a scene or personal safety answer option, definitely go back and reread the question with that in mind, since of course personal and crew safety is your first priority and it can be easy to miss that angle if you focus on the description of the patient's injuries and vitals and answer the question based on that.

They're supposed to give you a whiteboard-type paper and marker when you go in. Write down whatever you think you might need to remember, and if there's a question that really bothers you, write down some notes on it in case a similar question comes up.

I've never heard of anyone running out of time on the exam, so take your time and read every word of every question and answer choice, and don't miss words like "not", "every", "always", and "never"--they're easy to skip over, and they can change the entire meaning of the question!

Good luck!

 

[susiegirl07]

I took my test today at 8a and just found out like 8 horrific hours later that I PASSED!!!!!! 72 questions and I walked out of there not knowing whether I passed or not and as the day went on I kept thinking "did I get that one right, how bout that other one and so on and so on. The waiting by far is the worst part!!!

Thank you all for your support and encouragement. EMS is such a great family and I am proud to be a part of it!!

 

[medic417]

I took my test today at 8a and just found out like 8 horrific hours later that I PASSED!!!!!! 72 questions and I walked out of there not knowing whether I passed or not and as the day went on I kept thinking "did I get that one right, how bout that other one and so on and so on. The waiting by far is the worst part!!!

Thank you all for your support and encouragement. EMS is such a great family and I am proud to be a part of it!!

Congrats. Now go out and do no harm. And never ever stop learning.

 

[susiegirl07]

In my humble opinion the learning has just begun!! I plan on learning every single day!!! That test was no easy task and I studied very hard for it. Funny thing is I felt like everything I studied for was not on the test!!

 

[medic417]

In my humble opinion the learning has just begun!! I plan on learning every single day!!! That test was no easy task and I studied very hard for it. Funny thing is I felt like everything I studied for was not on the test!!

Thats because you answered the first few questions on those subjects correct. So the areas you missed a question in is the area it concentrated on.

 

[rjddvm]

Woo hoo! Congratulations!!!!! Treat yourself to something this weekend--you deserve it!

Yay!

 

[firemedicmom]

Congrats! I am taking my exam this Thursday and I am a wreck! I had to retake Medic, I waited over a yr to take the exam the first time and it goes without saying I failed. I studied and retested but failed again. I ended up having a mild MI and I was in the hospital on the day of my exam the last time, it put me over the 2 yr mark so here I am. I made it through Medic and feel much better then the first time however I am having flashbacks about my failed exams. I am so scared I will not pass it again, after taking Medic for the second time! Ugh!!

 

[susiegirl07]

Wow you have been through a lot to get to where you are today! As humbling as this process is it will make you better in the end.

Take a deep breathe and realize you CAN do this! I struggled with this test I feel for a few reasons:

1. I was very anxious after my first attempt and had to find a way to settle down. Walk in there knowing that it is your certification and they are not going to take it away from you. Take your time.....I cannot stress this enough. No one I know has ever run out of time and you have plenty to finish and read, reread any question you do not understand. Don't read too much into the question. To me believe it or not this test seems like an EMT-I test not a EMT-P test.

2. Study Study Study! You can not study enough. I literally did not stop studying for 4 months and it paid off! I used JBLearning and I feel it is the best site out there.

The very best of luck to you and please let me know how you make out. I will pray for your success and remember YOU CAN IT!!!!!! You certainly have the determination and with that comes success!

 

[Kthanid]

i just find it so bizarre this whole lottery atmosphere and convention of fear around what is really a low level of industry assessement.

You yanks really are being sold out cheaply with this second rate assessment tool.

A human marked exam, with both essay, short answers etc.

1.Works 100% better

2.Has no ridiculous lottery atmosphere. You either know or it your don't, and you know where you stand 90% of the time.

What are they charging you, $70 a pop?

 

[susiegirl07]

110.00 a pop! Gets real expensive when you fail more than once!

 

[susiegirl07]

MICP 3411 yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MrBrown]

Do not read into the question, choose the most basic answer designed to allow a barely homeostasasing 12 week Parathinktheyare Medicfighter (you know, the Firefighter who hates being forced into EMS and fights it every day) to succeed and you shall pass.

 

[MrBrown]

i just find it so bizarre this whole lottery atmosphere and convention of fear around what is really a low level of industry assessement.

You yanks really are being sold out cheaply with this second rate assessment tool.

A human marked exam, with both essay, short answers etc.

1.Works 100% better

2.Has no ridiculous lottery atmosphere. You either know or it your don't, and you know where you stand 90% of the time.

What are they charging you, $70 a pop?

We here in Kiwi have to pass a three step process which includes a high fidelity simulation assessment, a three oral panel with several senior people including a Medical Advisor, a bunch of written assessments and present a case log.

If only a standardised test were used!