NATIONAL REGISTRY OF
EMERGENCY MEDICAL
TECHNICIANS COGNITIVE EXAM
1. A 58-year-old male is found unresponsive with snoring respirations. What
is your priority action?
A. Insert an oropharyngeal airway
B. Apply a non-rebreather mask at 15 L/min
C. Perform a head-tilt chin-lift
D. Suction the oropharynx
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: Snoring respirations indicate partial airway obstruction from the
tongue. Opening the airway with a head-tilt chin-lift (or jaw thrust if trauma
suspected) is the first step before any adjunct.
2. You are assisting a patient with their prescribed metered-dose inhaler for
wheezing. After administering one puff, the patient’s condition does not
improve. What should you do next?
A. Wait 5 minutes and reassess
B. Administer a second puff
C. Switch to a nebulizer treatment
D. Apply a non-rebreather mask
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: For most MDIs, one puff is the initial dose; if no improvement, a
,second puff can be given as directed by protocol, usually after waiting 30–60
seconds. Do not delay further intervention if severe.
3. A 7-year-old child is in respiratory distress with stridor and a barking
cough. You suspect:
A. Anaphylaxis
B. Epiglottitis
C. Croup
D. Foreign body aspiration
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: Croup (laryngotracheobronchitis) presents with stridor, barking cough,
and often a low-grade fever. It is common in young children. Epiglottitis is more
acute with drooling and high fever.
4. During a needle thoracostomy for suspected tension pneumothorax, the
correct anatomical site is:
A. 2nd intercostal space, midclavicular line
B. 5th intercostal space, anterior axillary line
C. 4th intercostal space, midaxillary line
D. 2nd intercostal space, midaxillary line
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: A
Rationale: Needle decompression is performed at the 2nd intercostal space,
midclavicular line (or 5th intercostal space, anterior axillary line as an alternative).
Use a large-bore (14-gauge) needle.
5. A patient has a stoma and is in respiratory distress. How should you
ventilate?
A. Seal the mouth and nose and ventilate through the stoma
B. Use a pediatric mask over the stoma
C. Ventilate through the mouth only
D. Use a bag-valve mask over the stoma with a pediatric mask
,Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: D
Rationale: For a patient with a stoma (tracheostomy), use a BVM with a pediatric
mask placed directly over the stoma. If the stoma is not patent, also seal the mouth
and nose and ventilate via the upper airway.
6. What is the normal range for end-tidal CO₂ (EtCO₂) in a healthy adult?
A. 10–20 mmHg
B. 35–45 mmHg
C. 50–60 mmHg
D. 70–80 mmHg
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: Normal EtCO₂ is 35–45 mmHg. Low EtCO₂ suggests hyperventilation
or hypoperfusion; high EtCO₂ suggests hypoventilation or increased CO₂
production.
7. Your patient is breathing 8 times per minute with shallow chest rise. You
should:
A. Apply a nasal cannula at 2 L/min
B. Assist ventilations with a BVM at 10–12 breaths/min
C. Administer oxygen via non-rebreather at 15 L/min
D. Insert a supraglottic airway
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: A rate of 8 breaths/min with shallow breathing indicates inadequate
ventilation. Assist ventilations with a BVM at 10–12 breaths/min for an adult.
8. A 45-year-old female is conscious but has a complete airway obstruction
from a foreign body. She cannot cough or speak. You should:
A. Perform abdominal thrusts
B. Perform back blows and chest thrusts
C. Perform a finger sweep
D. Give oxygen via non-rebreather
, Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: A
Rationale: For a conscious adult with severe airway obstruction (unable to speak,
cough, or breathe), perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) until the
object is expelled or the patient becomes unconscious.
9. What is the maximum suction time for an adult patient?
A. 5 seconds
B. 10 seconds
C. 15 seconds
D. 20 seconds
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: Suctioning should be limited to 10–15 seconds for adults to avoid
hypoxia. For children and infants, limit to 5–10 seconds.
10. A patient has been intubated, and you auscultate breath sounds over the
epigastrium. You should:
A. Pull the tube back 2 cm
B. Remove the tube and ventilate with BVM
C. Advance the tube 2 cm
D. Confirm with a waveform capnograph
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: Epigastric sounds indicate esophageal intubation. Immediately remove
the tube, ventilate with BVM, and attempt reintubation after ensuring proper
technique.
11. Which oxygen delivery device provides the highest FiO₂ (up to 90-95%)?
A. Nasal cannula
B. Simple face mask
C. Non-rebreather mask
D. Venturi mask
EMERGENCY MEDICAL
TECHNICIANS COGNITIVE EXAM
1. A 58-year-old male is found unresponsive with snoring respirations. What
is your priority action?
A. Insert an oropharyngeal airway
B. Apply a non-rebreather mask at 15 L/min
C. Perform a head-tilt chin-lift
D. Suction the oropharynx
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: Snoring respirations indicate partial airway obstruction from the
tongue. Opening the airway with a head-tilt chin-lift (or jaw thrust if trauma
suspected) is the first step before any adjunct.
2. You are assisting a patient with their prescribed metered-dose inhaler for
wheezing. After administering one puff, the patient’s condition does not
improve. What should you do next?
A. Wait 5 minutes and reassess
B. Administer a second puff
C. Switch to a nebulizer treatment
D. Apply a non-rebreather mask
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: For most MDIs, one puff is the initial dose; if no improvement, a
,second puff can be given as directed by protocol, usually after waiting 30–60
seconds. Do not delay further intervention if severe.
3. A 7-year-old child is in respiratory distress with stridor and a barking
cough. You suspect:
A. Anaphylaxis
B. Epiglottitis
C. Croup
D. Foreign body aspiration
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: Croup (laryngotracheobronchitis) presents with stridor, barking cough,
and often a low-grade fever. It is common in young children. Epiglottitis is more
acute with drooling and high fever.
4. During a needle thoracostomy for suspected tension pneumothorax, the
correct anatomical site is:
A. 2nd intercostal space, midclavicular line
B. 5th intercostal space, anterior axillary line
C. 4th intercostal space, midaxillary line
D. 2nd intercostal space, midaxillary line
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: A
Rationale: Needle decompression is performed at the 2nd intercostal space,
midclavicular line (or 5th intercostal space, anterior axillary line as an alternative).
Use a large-bore (14-gauge) needle.
5. A patient has a stoma and is in respiratory distress. How should you
ventilate?
A. Seal the mouth and nose and ventilate through the stoma
B. Use a pediatric mask over the stoma
C. Ventilate through the mouth only
D. Use a bag-valve mask over the stoma with a pediatric mask
,Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: D
Rationale: For a patient with a stoma (tracheostomy), use a BVM with a pediatric
mask placed directly over the stoma. If the stoma is not patent, also seal the mouth
and nose and ventilate via the upper airway.
6. What is the normal range for end-tidal CO₂ (EtCO₂) in a healthy adult?
A. 10–20 mmHg
B. 35–45 mmHg
C. 50–60 mmHg
D. 70–80 mmHg
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: Normal EtCO₂ is 35–45 mmHg. Low EtCO₂ suggests hyperventilation
or hypoperfusion; high EtCO₂ suggests hypoventilation or increased CO₂
production.
7. Your patient is breathing 8 times per minute with shallow chest rise. You
should:
A. Apply a nasal cannula at 2 L/min
B. Assist ventilations with a BVM at 10–12 breaths/min
C. Administer oxygen via non-rebreather at 15 L/min
D. Insert a supraglottic airway
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: A rate of 8 breaths/min with shallow breathing indicates inadequate
ventilation. Assist ventilations with a BVM at 10–12 breaths/min for an adult.
8. A 45-year-old female is conscious but has a complete airway obstruction
from a foreign body. She cannot cough or speak. You should:
A. Perform abdominal thrusts
B. Perform back blows and chest thrusts
C. Perform a finger sweep
D. Give oxygen via non-rebreather
, Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: A
Rationale: For a conscious adult with severe airway obstruction (unable to speak,
cough, or breathe), perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) until the
object is expelled or the patient becomes unconscious.
9. What is the maximum suction time for an adult patient?
A. 5 seconds
B. 10 seconds
C. 15 seconds
D. 20 seconds
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: Suctioning should be limited to 10–15 seconds for adults to avoid
hypoxia. For children and infants, limit to 5–10 seconds.
10. A patient has been intubated, and you auscultate breath sounds over the
epigastrium. You should:
A. Pull the tube back 2 cm
B. Remove the tube and ventilate with BVM
C. Advance the tube 2 cm
D. Confirm with a waveform capnograph
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: Epigastric sounds indicate esophageal intubation. Immediately remove
the tube, ventilate with BVM, and attempt reintubation after ensuring proper
technique.
11. Which oxygen delivery device provides the highest FiO₂ (up to 90-95%)?
A. Nasal cannula
B. Simple face mask
C. Non-rebreather mask
D. Venturi mask
