Unfair exam?

Martyn

Martyn

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Tuesday this week was our school finals. The format was supposed to be one scenario (with one retake if failed) and four skills tests, also retaken if failed. OK, I freaked on the first skill test, failed and got put at the back of the queue. Anyway, I had to retake my skill tests today and my point is this...remember at the beginning I said we had to take FOUR skill tests, however, when I entered the classroom where the tests were set up there in front of me is the 'torso' dummy. I am then given a mini scenario. Fire is on scene and they inform me that the PT is not breathing so, here goes. The instructor then tells me to use what is available. First I look, listen and feel...no breathing. Second I re-position the head (no trauma so head tilt chin lift)...no breathing. Third I insert an OPA and use a BVM...no breathing and it is getting harder to fill the PT's lungs, so...fourth I then insert a combitube and use a BVM, aah, success we are now getting air into the PT. Onto the next skill, PT has been ejected from a MVC, a&ox3 but usual back pain etc. I get another instructor to C-spine and fit a C-collar then put PT on LSB and strap PT on. Next I am given an infant not breathing so adjust airway, no breathing. Insert OPA and use BVM...success, pt now getting air. Next I am given a PT in a factory accident who has a left arm amputation. I then go throught the control of bleeding including and up to a TK. Now forgive me here folks but I thought I was to be tested on FOUR skills? I can count at least NINE from our skill sheets here!!!
And I still have to wait until tomorrow to find out if I passed or not.

Anyone else had this happen to them whilst being tested?
 
It seems like you were given four scenarios, with multiple skills involved. That's how your instructor wanted to assess your learning, and that's what you got. It seems like a comprehensive approach to assessment.

It's similar to how students complain when I put a short response or essay question on a test that actually requires the student to think and recall multiple pieces of information to form a response. They much rather have the multiple guess answers.

In EMS you're going to have to continually use your knowledge to provide competent patient care, and most often you'll have to use multiple skills. It's not as if a trauma patient magically gets better after applying only one skills or treatment.

Good luck!
 
If an intervention requires multiple prior interventions before it is acceptable to attempt that specific intervention, then the entire sequence is fair game. It's like patient encounters at my school. Even if we're being tested on a specific focus exam with the standardized patients, we're still expected to obtain the rest of the patient history along with the pertinent review of systems and physical exam. So even if Mr. Jones is complaining about a cough, my social history questions is still going to include questions about recreational drugs, alcohol, and sexual history in addition to tobacco use.
 
Consider yourself lucky that your instructors are challenging you in the classroom environment! Just an FYI... Theings go to sh_t in the field all the the time. You get calls for things that end up completely different than what was dispatched. Generally speaking, most EMT-B courses are too easy, and its nice to hear that there are some challenging curriculum out there!
 
Martyn, I understand you're stressed -- practical exams do that to me, too -- but nobody's ever going to be able to predict how many skills you'll need on your next call.
 
As others have said, in the field, you don't just perform one skill... you aren't told "This supine patient needs spinal immobilization"-- but you must assess and synthesize based on your assessment what treatment must be performed, then determine the order or logistics of doing so...
 
Thank you for learning there's no such an animal as "only one thing" BEFORE you're out in the field. A useful pastime to take up for practice is Juggling. Before long, you'll get used to one of the objects in space being a meat cleaver!
 
Hey guys, I know how much things change and how quickly they do so in the field, I witnessed that on my ride times. My point is this, and maybe I didn't make it clear we were told to expect to be tested on four skills NOT four scenario based skills. To me being tested on four skills means pick a sheet - combitube or LSB or OPA/NPA and test on those specific skills, not combine them all together. Anyhows, thanks for the replies...and I still don't know if I will be going into college on monday as a paramedic student or an EMT student, on tenterhooks for the weekend now...poo!!!:angry:
 
Martyn said:
Hey guys, I know how much things change and how quickly they do so in the field, I witnessed that on my ride times. My point is this, and maybe I didn't make it clear we were told to expect to be tested on four skills NOT four scenario based skills. To me being tested on four skills means pick a sheet - combitube or LSB or OPA/NPA and test on those specific skills, not combine them all together. Anyhows, thanks for the replies...and I still don't know if I will be going into college on monday as a paramedic student or an EMT student, on tenterhooks for the weekend now...poo!!!:angry:
Click to expand...

If you are stressed about having to take a test with as many "EMT skills" as are possible, I invite you to attempt one of my tests.
 
I'm trying to remember back to my practical exams. I think I had 5 stations. Medical and trauma assessment were automatic and the other 3 you didnt know what you would get. For the airway station we had to demonstrate several skills.

Your first one was the airway station, in which you did everything I was tested on for that station if I remember. First the head tilt chin lift, then OPA, then NPA, then to demonstate using a BVM with high flow 02 by myself, then with a partner, before finally using the combi tube, also had to demonstrate suctioning and respond to the pt vomiting out of their Combi-tube as well as explain contraindications for using a combi.

Next station you did was spine boarding.

The next one with the infant I'm not sure about, medical assessment, or maybe airway again?

The final one was bleeding and shock im guessing. For us, after controlling the bleeding they told us we observed S/S of shock, so we were expected to give em high flow o2, cover them, and put them in trendelenburg.

That's only 4 stations. I guess you didnt have to do trauma assessment, unless they combined that with the bleeding and shock station.

Didnt they announce which station you were being tested on before you began? This must not have been the actual NREMT practical exam. For my class we had to be tested and pass every skill, 11 I think it was, and finally went on to do the NREMT practical exam, which was 5 stations and was done after we passed our written final.
 
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