NCOEMS Practice Exam 2 2026 Exam
100 Questions COMPREHENSIVE
FREQUENTLY TESTED QUESTIONS and
verified Answers Graded A+
1. A 45-year-old male is breathing at a rate of 32/min with shallow
respirations. He is altered, and his skin is cool, cyanotic, and diaphoretic.
You should:
A) Provide O2 at 6 L/min via nasal cannula.
B) Provide O2 at 12 L/min via nonrebreather mask.
C) Provide artificial ventilation with a BVM and high-flow O2.
D) Place the patient in the left lateral "recovery" position.
Correct Answer: C. Shallow, fast breathing with altered mental status and
cyanosis indicates inadequate ventilation. A BVM is required to provide
positive pressure ventilation.
2. You hear gurgling in your patient's airway. You should immediately:
A) Administer high-flow oxygen.
B) Open and suction the airway.
C) Insert a nasopharyngeal airway.
D) Insert an oropharyngeal airway.
Correct Answer: B. Gurgling indicates fluid in the airway (blood, vomit,
secretions), which must be removed with suction immediately to clear the
airway.
,3. When assessing your patient's airway, you hear snoring sounds. You
should suspect that:
A) There is fluid in the airway.
B) The tongue is blocking the airway.
C) The bronchioles are constricted.
D) The patient is forcefully exhaling.
Correct Answer: B. Snoring sounds in an unresponsive patient are typically
caused by the tongue partially obstructing the pharynx. This is relieved by a
head-tilt/chin-lift or jaw-thrust maneuver.
4. What is the most common cause of airway obstruction in an unconscious
patient?
A) Vomitus
B) Mucous
C) The tongue
D) Blood
Correct Answer: C. The tongue is the most common cause of airway
obstruction in an unresponsive patient due to loss of muscle tone.
5. The correct way to select the proper oropharyngeal airway (OPA) is to
measure from the:
A) Corner of the mouth to the tip of the earlobe.
B) Nose to the tip of the earlobe.
C) Corner of the mouth to the nose.
D) Nose to the tip of the chin.
Correct Answer: A. The OPA is measured from the corner of the patient's
mouth to the angle of the jaw (tip of the earlobe).
,6. The correct way to select the size of a nasopharyngeal airway (NPA) is to
measure:
A) From the corner of the mouth to the angle of the jaw.
B) From the earlobe to the corner of the jaw.
C) The diameter of the patient's little finger.
D) From the chin to the Adam's apple.
Correct Answer: B. The NPA size is determined by measuring the distance
from the patient's earlobe to the corner of the jaw or the tip of the nose to
the earlobe.
7. In what position should you place a child's head for ventilation?
A) In the neutral position.
B) Slightly hyperextended.
C) Slightly flexed forward.
D) In the recovery position.
Correct Answer: B. Children have a larger occiput, which can cause the
neck to flex when lying flat. Slight hyperextension (sniffing position) helps
open the airway.
8. You should assess skin color in an adult patient by examining the:
A) Extremities
B) Face
C) Nailbeds
D) Palms
Correct Answer: C. Nailbeds and oral mucosa are the best places to assess
for perfusion and early signs of cyanosis or pallor, especially in darker-
skinned patients.
Domain 2: Cardiology & Resuscitation
, 9. The most common electrical rhythm disturbance that results in sudden
cardiac arrest is:
A) Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA)
B) Ventricular Fibrillation (V-Fib)
C) Ventricular Tachycardia (V-Tach)
D) Asystole
Correct Answer: B. V-Fib is the most common initial rhythm in sudden
cardiac arrest, characterized by chaotic, disorganized electrical activity.
10. During management of a cardiac arrest, the AED gives a "no shock
advised" message. You should immediately:
A) Resume CPR.
B) Check for a pulse.
C) Re-analyze the rhythm.
D) Ventilate the patient.
Correct Answer: A. After a "no shock" message, you should immediately
resume CPR, starting with chest compressions, for 2 minutes before the
AED re-analyzes.
11. The diastolic blood pressure represents the pressure in the brachial
artery when the:
A) Ventricles contract.
B) Ventricles are at rest.
C) Cardiac artery is stressed.
D) Aorta is distended.
Correct Answer: B. Diastolic pressure is the pressure in the arteries when
the heart's ventricles are relaxed and refilling.
100 Questions COMPREHENSIVE
FREQUENTLY TESTED QUESTIONS and
verified Answers Graded A+
1. A 45-year-old male is breathing at a rate of 32/min with shallow
respirations. He is altered, and his skin is cool, cyanotic, and diaphoretic.
You should:
A) Provide O2 at 6 L/min via nasal cannula.
B) Provide O2 at 12 L/min via nonrebreather mask.
C) Provide artificial ventilation with a BVM and high-flow O2.
D) Place the patient in the left lateral "recovery" position.
Correct Answer: C. Shallow, fast breathing with altered mental status and
cyanosis indicates inadequate ventilation. A BVM is required to provide
positive pressure ventilation.
2. You hear gurgling in your patient's airway. You should immediately:
A) Administer high-flow oxygen.
B) Open and suction the airway.
C) Insert a nasopharyngeal airway.
D) Insert an oropharyngeal airway.
Correct Answer: B. Gurgling indicates fluid in the airway (blood, vomit,
secretions), which must be removed with suction immediately to clear the
airway.
,3. When assessing your patient's airway, you hear snoring sounds. You
should suspect that:
A) There is fluid in the airway.
B) The tongue is blocking the airway.
C) The bronchioles are constricted.
D) The patient is forcefully exhaling.
Correct Answer: B. Snoring sounds in an unresponsive patient are typically
caused by the tongue partially obstructing the pharynx. This is relieved by a
head-tilt/chin-lift or jaw-thrust maneuver.
4. What is the most common cause of airway obstruction in an unconscious
patient?
A) Vomitus
B) Mucous
C) The tongue
D) Blood
Correct Answer: C. The tongue is the most common cause of airway
obstruction in an unresponsive patient due to loss of muscle tone.
5. The correct way to select the proper oropharyngeal airway (OPA) is to
measure from the:
A) Corner of the mouth to the tip of the earlobe.
B) Nose to the tip of the earlobe.
C) Corner of the mouth to the nose.
D) Nose to the tip of the chin.
Correct Answer: A. The OPA is measured from the corner of the patient's
mouth to the angle of the jaw (tip of the earlobe).
,6. The correct way to select the size of a nasopharyngeal airway (NPA) is to
measure:
A) From the corner of the mouth to the angle of the jaw.
B) From the earlobe to the corner of the jaw.
C) The diameter of the patient's little finger.
D) From the chin to the Adam's apple.
Correct Answer: B. The NPA size is determined by measuring the distance
from the patient's earlobe to the corner of the jaw or the tip of the nose to
the earlobe.
7. In what position should you place a child's head for ventilation?
A) In the neutral position.
B) Slightly hyperextended.
C) Slightly flexed forward.
D) In the recovery position.
Correct Answer: B. Children have a larger occiput, which can cause the
neck to flex when lying flat. Slight hyperextension (sniffing position) helps
open the airway.
8. You should assess skin color in an adult patient by examining the:
A) Extremities
B) Face
C) Nailbeds
D) Palms
Correct Answer: C. Nailbeds and oral mucosa are the best places to assess
for perfusion and early signs of cyanosis or pallor, especially in darker-
skinned patients.
Domain 2: Cardiology & Resuscitation
, 9. The most common electrical rhythm disturbance that results in sudden
cardiac arrest is:
A) Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA)
B) Ventricular Fibrillation (V-Fib)
C) Ventricular Tachycardia (V-Tach)
D) Asystole
Correct Answer: B. V-Fib is the most common initial rhythm in sudden
cardiac arrest, characterized by chaotic, disorganized electrical activity.
10. During management of a cardiac arrest, the AED gives a "no shock
advised" message. You should immediately:
A) Resume CPR.
B) Check for a pulse.
C) Re-analyze the rhythm.
D) Ventilate the patient.
Correct Answer: A. After a "no shock" message, you should immediately
resume CPR, starting with chest compressions, for 2 minutes before the
AED re-analyzes.
11. The diastolic blood pressure represents the pressure in the brachial
artery when the:
A) Ventricles contract.
B) Ventricles are at rest.
C) Cardiac artery is stressed.
D) Aorta is distended.
Correct Answer: B. Diastolic pressure is the pressure in the arteries when
the heart's ventricles are relaxed and refilling.
