In most states, a paramedic must pass the NREMT test to be qualified to work in the field.
A paramedic is the highest level of emergency medical technicians (EMT)s. To become a paramedic, most states require that a person first is certified at the EMT-basic or EMT-intermediate level. During paramedic training, the trainee will learn advanced airway management and shock management techniques and learn techniques to prepare for the NREMT or National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians certification test.
Skills Sheets
Study the skills sheets to get a better idea of the type of material for which you will be tested.
For many, a paramedic test strategy that may aid in passing the NREMT exam is to use the skills sheets the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians posts on its website. These guides cover everything from bleeding control and shock management to spine immobilization and assessing the patient. Each guide covers a different skill and will list exactly what the paramedic student will be tested on in relation to that skill. For example, in the bleeding control guide, the list of items the student will be graded on includes properly positioning the patient, giving oxygen and starting the steps to prevent the patient from losing body heat. The NREMT site has over a dozen of these skills sheets on its site. Studying these sheets may help the student to know exactly what is expected of her when she takes the real NREMT test.
Field Training
Field training helps prepare the student for the psychomotor portion of the NREMT exam.
Many paramedic training schools offer field training as part of the course requirements for graduation. During this training, the student works with certified paramedics on real cases. The paramedic student will usually ride along in the ambulance and observe the certified paramedic tackling different scenarios on the job. If the paramedic training school does not require field training, still ask to complete it. Field training is beneficial in helping you pass the psychomotor exam portion of the NREMT test. During this part of the test, the student must complete 12 separate hands-on skills tests, which can include airway, cardiac and IV management. The hands-on training a student gets during field training will help prepare him for this portion of the test.
Refresher Course
Consider taking a refresher course to better prepare you for the cognitive portion of the exam.
The cognitive portion of the NREMT exam is between 80 and 150 questions and is computer-based. According to the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, this portion of the test covers the whole spectrum of emergency medical service care, including trauma and breathing management. A strategy to prepare for the test is to complete paramedic training at a state-approved paramedic course, as these courses train paramedics in skills for which the national exam will test, according to the Southeastern Emergency Equipment.com site. If time has lapsed between finishing paramedic training school and taking the test, consider taking a paramedic refresher training program. These programs usually consist of 48-hours of classroom instruction in the basic skills like cardiology and airway management that you will be tested on in the cognitive portion of the exam.
Tags: paramedic training, cognitive portion, Emergency Medical, Emergency Medical Technicians, National Registry