NREMT Practice Test Bank -
Multiple Choice With Rationale
Q&A 2026 Update!!!
Hypoglycemia and acute ischemic stroke can present
similarly because:
• A:both oxygen and glucose are needed for brain function.
• B:the majority of stroke patients have a history of
diabetes.
• C:the most common cause of a stroke is hypoglycemia.
• D:they are both caused by low levels of glucose in the
blood.
Correct answer(s) with Rationale
• A:both oxygen and glucose are needed for brain function.
Reason: Although stroke and hypoglycemia are two
distinctly different conditions, their signs and symptoms
are often similar. This is because the brain requires both
oxygen and glucose to function normally. An acute
ischemic stroke is caused by a lack of oxygen to a part of
the brain due to a blocked cerebral artery, whereas
hypoglycemia (low blood glucose level) deprives the entire
brain of glucose. In either case, the patient presents with
signs of impaired brain function (ie, slurred speech,
weakness, altered mental status). Both conditions may
lead to permanent brain damage or death if not treated
promptly.
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.
1
,Correct answer(s) with Rationale
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.
Correct answer(s) with Rationale
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?
2
,• A:Behavioral emergency
• B:Altered mental status
• C:Respiratory emergency
• D:Cardiac compromise
Correct answer(s) with Rationale
The Correct answer(s) with Rationale 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
Correct answer(s) with Rationale
The Correct answer(s) with Rationale 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
3
, 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.
Correct answer(s) with Rationale
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.
Correct answer(s) with Rationale
you selected D; This is correct!
4
Multiple Choice With Rationale
Q&A 2026 Update!!!
Hypoglycemia and acute ischemic stroke can present
similarly because:
• A:both oxygen and glucose are needed for brain function.
• B:the majority of stroke patients have a history of
diabetes.
• C:the most common cause of a stroke is hypoglycemia.
• D:they are both caused by low levels of glucose in the
blood.
Correct answer(s) with Rationale
• A:both oxygen and glucose are needed for brain function.
Reason: Although stroke and hypoglycemia are two
distinctly different conditions, their signs and symptoms
are often similar. This is because the brain requires both
oxygen and glucose to function normally. An acute
ischemic stroke is caused by a lack of oxygen to a part of
the brain due to a blocked cerebral artery, whereas
hypoglycemia (low blood glucose level) deprives the entire
brain of glucose. In either case, the patient presents with
signs of impaired brain function (ie, slurred speech,
weakness, altered mental status). Both conditions may
lead to permanent brain damage or death if not treated
promptly.
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.
1
,Correct answer(s) with Rationale
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.
Correct answer(s) with Rationale
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?
2
,• A:Behavioral emergency
• B:Altered mental status
• C:Respiratory emergency
• D:Cardiac compromise
Correct answer(s) with Rationale
The Correct answer(s) with Rationale 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
Correct answer(s) with Rationale
The Correct answer(s) with Rationale 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
3
, 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.
Correct answer(s) with Rationale
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.
Correct answer(s) with Rationale
you selected D; This is correct!
4
