NBST 515 ACTUAL TEST PAPER 2026
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉When dealing with an emotionally disturbed patient, you should
be MOST concerned with:
• A:gathering all of the patient's medications.
• B:safely transporting to the hospital.
• C:whether the patient could harm you.
• D:obtaining a complete medical history. Answer: You selected C;
This is correct!
Reason: When managing any patient with an emotional or
psychiatric crisis, your primary concern is your own safety. Safely
transporting the patient to the hospital is your ultimate goal. If
possible, you should attempt to obtain a medical history and should
take any of the patient's prescribed medications to the hospital.
However, this should not supercede your own safety or interfere
with safely transporting the patient.
◉You are at the scene where a man panicked while swimming in a
small lake. Your initial attempt to rescue him should include:
• A:rowing a small raft to the victim.
• B:reaching for the victim with a long stick.
,• C:throwing a rope to the victim.
• D:swimming to the victim to rescue him. Answer: You selected B;
This is correct!
Reason: General rules to follow when attempting to rescue a patient
from the water include "reach, throw, row, and then go." In this case,
you should attempt to reach the victim by having him grab hold of a
large stick or similar object. If this is unsuccessful, throw the victim
a rope or flotation device (if available). If these are not available, row
to the patient in a small raft (if available). Going into the water to
retrieve the victim is a last resort. The rescuer must be a strong
swimmer because patients who are in danger of drowning are in a
state of blind panic and will make every attempt to keep themselves
afloat, even if it means forcing the rescuer underwater.
◉How should you classify a patient's nature of illness if he or she
has a low blood glucose level, bizarre behavior, and shallow
breathing?
• A:Behavioral emergency
• B:Altered mental status
• C:Respiratory emergency
• D:Cardiac compromise Answer: The correct answer is B;
Reason: The nature of illness (NOI) is the medical equivalent to
mechanism of injury (MOI). Altered mental status should be the
,suspected NOI in any patient with any fluctuation in level of
consciousness, which can range from bizarre behavior to complete
unresponsiveness. Causes of an altered mental status include hypo-
or hyperglycemia, head trauma, stroke, behavioral crises, drug
overdose, and shock, among others.
◉A young female is unresponsive after overdosing on an unknown
type of drug. Her respirations are slow and shallow and her pulse is
slow and weak. Which of the following drugs is the LEAST likely
cause of her condition?
• A:Seconal
• B:Heroin
• C:Cocaine
• D:Valium Answer: The correct answer is C;
Reason: Of the drugs listed, cocaine would be the least likely cause of
the patient's condition. Cocaine is a central nervous system (CNS)
stimulant; you would expect her to be hypertensive, tachycardic,
tachypneic, and perhaps even violent. Heroin, Valium, and Seconal
are all CNS depressants and could explain her condition. Heroin is an
illegal narcotic (opiate), Valium is a benzodiazepine sedative-
hypnotic drug, and Seconal is a barbiturate. Narcotics,
benzodiazepines, and barbiturates are all CNS depressants. When
taken in excess, they cause a decreased level of consciousness,
respiratory depression, bradycardia, and hypotension.
, ◉Activated charcoal is contraindicated for a patient who is:
• A:conscious and alert and has ingested a large amount of Motrin.
• B:emotionally upset and has ingested two bottles of aspirin.
• C:agitated and claims to have ingested a bottle of Tylenol.
• D:awake and alert and has swallowed a commercial drain cleaner.
Answer: You selected D; This is correct!
Reason:Activated charcoal adsorbs (sticks to) many ingested
substances, preventing them from being absorbed into the body by
the stomach or intestines. In some cases, you may give activated
charcoal to patients who have ingested certain substances, if
approved by medical control or local protocol. Activated charcoal is
contraindicated for patients who have ingested an acid or alkali (ie,
drain cleaner) or a petroleum product (ie, gasoline), who have a
decreased level of consciousness and cannot protect their own
airway, or who are unable to swallow.
◉The MOST obvious way to reduce heat loss from radiation and
convection is to:
• A:move away from a cold object.
• B:increase metabolism by shivering.
• C:wear a thick wind-proof jacket.
• D:move to a warmer environment. Answer: you selected D; This is
correct!
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉When dealing with an emotionally disturbed patient, you should
be MOST concerned with:
• A:gathering all of the patient's medications.
• B:safely transporting to the hospital.
• C:whether the patient could harm you.
• D:obtaining a complete medical history. Answer: You selected C;
This is correct!
Reason: When managing any patient with an emotional or
psychiatric crisis, your primary concern is your own safety. Safely
transporting the patient to the hospital is your ultimate goal. If
possible, you should attempt to obtain a medical history and should
take any of the patient's prescribed medications to the hospital.
However, this should not supercede your own safety or interfere
with safely transporting the patient.
◉You are at the scene where a man panicked while swimming in a
small lake. Your initial attempt to rescue him should include:
• A:rowing a small raft to the victim.
• B:reaching for the victim with a long stick.
,• C:throwing a rope to the victim.
• D:swimming to the victim to rescue him. Answer: You selected B;
This is correct!
Reason: General rules to follow when attempting to rescue a patient
from the water include "reach, throw, row, and then go." In this case,
you should attempt to reach the victim by having him grab hold of a
large stick or similar object. If this is unsuccessful, throw the victim
a rope or flotation device (if available). If these are not available, row
to the patient in a small raft (if available). Going into the water to
retrieve the victim is a last resort. The rescuer must be a strong
swimmer because patients who are in danger of drowning are in a
state of blind panic and will make every attempt to keep themselves
afloat, even if it means forcing the rescuer underwater.
◉How should you classify a patient's nature of illness if he or she
has a low blood glucose level, bizarre behavior, and shallow
breathing?
• A:Behavioral emergency
• B:Altered mental status
• C:Respiratory emergency
• D:Cardiac compromise Answer: The correct answer is B;
Reason: The nature of illness (NOI) is the medical equivalent to
mechanism of injury (MOI). Altered mental status should be the
,suspected NOI in any patient with any fluctuation in level of
consciousness, which can range from bizarre behavior to complete
unresponsiveness. Causes of an altered mental status include hypo-
or hyperglycemia, head trauma, stroke, behavioral crises, drug
overdose, and shock, among others.
◉A young female is unresponsive after overdosing on an unknown
type of drug. Her respirations are slow and shallow and her pulse is
slow and weak. Which of the following drugs is the LEAST likely
cause of her condition?
• A:Seconal
• B:Heroin
• C:Cocaine
• D:Valium Answer: The correct answer is C;
Reason: Of the drugs listed, cocaine would be the least likely cause of
the patient's condition. Cocaine is a central nervous system (CNS)
stimulant; you would expect her to be hypertensive, tachycardic,
tachypneic, and perhaps even violent. Heroin, Valium, and Seconal
are all CNS depressants and could explain her condition. Heroin is an
illegal narcotic (opiate), Valium is a benzodiazepine sedative-
hypnotic drug, and Seconal is a barbiturate. Narcotics,
benzodiazepines, and barbiturates are all CNS depressants. When
taken in excess, they cause a decreased level of consciousness,
respiratory depression, bradycardia, and hypotension.
, ◉Activated charcoal is contraindicated for a patient who is:
• A:conscious and alert and has ingested a large amount of Motrin.
• B:emotionally upset and has ingested two bottles of aspirin.
• C:agitated and claims to have ingested a bottle of Tylenol.
• D:awake and alert and has swallowed a commercial drain cleaner.
Answer: You selected D; This is correct!
Reason:Activated charcoal adsorbs (sticks to) many ingested
substances, preventing them from being absorbed into the body by
the stomach or intestines. In some cases, you may give activated
charcoal to patients who have ingested certain substances, if
approved by medical control or local protocol. Activated charcoal is
contraindicated for patients who have ingested an acid or alkali (ie,
drain cleaner) or a petroleum product (ie, gasoline), who have a
decreased level of consciousness and cannot protect their own
airway, or who are unable to swallow.
◉The MOST obvious way to reduce heat loss from radiation and
convection is to:
• A:move away from a cold object.
• B:increase metabolism by shivering.
• C:wear a thick wind-proof jacket.
• D:move to a warmer environment. Answer: you selected D; This is
correct!
