NHS 111 UPDATED EXAM SCRIPT QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔Other names a caller may use for palpitations - ✔✔•racing
•fluttering
•skipping a beat
✔✔Why does the blood spurt out when an artery is cut? - ✔✔It is under pressure and
being pumped out by the heart.
✔✔List 5 causes of difficulty breathing - ✔✔1 - heart attack
2 - injury to chest or head
3 - drowning
4 - severe allergy
5 - poisoning
✔✔How may a caller describe angina? - ✔✔•pain in the centre of the chest
•pressure/tightness of the chest
✔✔What is the cause of angina? - ✔✔Lack of oxygen reaching the heart & poor blood
flow
✔✔What does AAA stand for? - ✔✔abdominal aortic aneurysm
✔✔What's an aneurysm? - ✔✔Bulge in a blood vessel caused by weakness in the
vessel wall.
✔✔List 4 symptoms of an aortic rupture - ✔✔1 - shock
2 - extreme sudden & constant ripping pain in the chest, back, abs and flank.
3 - nausea or vomiting
4 - sense that something is very wrong
✔✔What can trigger angina in a person with heart disease? - ✔✔•exertion
•stress
•the cold
✔✔Name a genetic condition that can increase the likelihood of an aneurysm? -
✔✔Marfans Syndrome
✔✔How does impaired consciousness threaten a persons airway? - ✔✔Lack of muscle
control allows the tongue to fall back blocking the airway
✔✔Name 3 factors that can cause fits - ✔✔Epilepsy
Head injuries
, High fever
✔✔4 symptoms of meningitis in babies - ✔✔1 - refusing feeds
2 - constant want to sleep
3 - fever
4 - pale
✔✔4 symptoms of meningitis in adults - ✔✔1 - severe headache
2 - fever
3 - vomiting
4 - seizures
✔✔List 4 symptoms of a stroke - ✔✔1 - new facial weakness
2 - new difficulty speaking
3 - new confusion
4 - one sided weakness
✔✔4 phrases to describe severe breathing - ✔✔1 - gasping for breath
2 - unable to speak
3 - wheezing
4 - croaking
✔✔2 phrases for mild breathlessness - ✔✔1 - a bit out of breath
2 - Breathing more than usual
✔✔4 indicators of infant breathing difficulties - ✔✔1 - chest & tummy being sucked in
with every breath
2 - head bobbing
3 - grunting noises
4 - unable to cry properly
✔✔What is COPD? - ✔✔Damage and inflammation to the lungs.
✔✔Why may vomited blood appear dark brown or to resemble soil/coffee grounds? -
✔✔It has been exposed to digestive juices.
✔✔One question to assess the severity of an injury - ✔✔Can you walk 4 steps since the
injury?
✔✔List 5 symptoms of an infection - ✔✔1 - redness/swelling
2 - white blood cells/pus leakage
3 - fever
4 - warm/hot to touch
5 - pain
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔Other names a caller may use for palpitations - ✔✔•racing
•fluttering
•skipping a beat
✔✔Why does the blood spurt out when an artery is cut? - ✔✔It is under pressure and
being pumped out by the heart.
✔✔List 5 causes of difficulty breathing - ✔✔1 - heart attack
2 - injury to chest or head
3 - drowning
4 - severe allergy
5 - poisoning
✔✔How may a caller describe angina? - ✔✔•pain in the centre of the chest
•pressure/tightness of the chest
✔✔What is the cause of angina? - ✔✔Lack of oxygen reaching the heart & poor blood
flow
✔✔What does AAA stand for? - ✔✔abdominal aortic aneurysm
✔✔What's an aneurysm? - ✔✔Bulge in a blood vessel caused by weakness in the
vessel wall.
✔✔List 4 symptoms of an aortic rupture - ✔✔1 - shock
2 - extreme sudden & constant ripping pain in the chest, back, abs and flank.
3 - nausea or vomiting
4 - sense that something is very wrong
✔✔What can trigger angina in a person with heart disease? - ✔✔•exertion
•stress
•the cold
✔✔Name a genetic condition that can increase the likelihood of an aneurysm? -
✔✔Marfans Syndrome
✔✔How does impaired consciousness threaten a persons airway? - ✔✔Lack of muscle
control allows the tongue to fall back blocking the airway
✔✔Name 3 factors that can cause fits - ✔✔Epilepsy
Head injuries
, High fever
✔✔4 symptoms of meningitis in babies - ✔✔1 - refusing feeds
2 - constant want to sleep
3 - fever
4 - pale
✔✔4 symptoms of meningitis in adults - ✔✔1 - severe headache
2 - fever
3 - vomiting
4 - seizures
✔✔List 4 symptoms of a stroke - ✔✔1 - new facial weakness
2 - new difficulty speaking
3 - new confusion
4 - one sided weakness
✔✔4 phrases to describe severe breathing - ✔✔1 - gasping for breath
2 - unable to speak
3 - wheezing
4 - croaking
✔✔2 phrases for mild breathlessness - ✔✔1 - a bit out of breath
2 - Breathing more than usual
✔✔4 indicators of infant breathing difficulties - ✔✔1 - chest & tummy being sucked in
with every breath
2 - head bobbing
3 - grunting noises
4 - unable to cry properly
✔✔What is COPD? - ✔✔Damage and inflammation to the lungs.
✔✔Why may vomited blood appear dark brown or to resemble soil/coffee grounds? -
✔✔It has been exposed to digestive juices.
✔✔One question to assess the severity of an injury - ✔✔Can you walk 4 steps since the
injury?
✔✔List 5 symptoms of an infection - ✔✔1 - redness/swelling
2 - white blood cells/pus leakage
3 - fever
4 - warm/hot to touch
5 - pain
