EMT Exam For Dummies with Online Practice E-Book

Arthur Hsieh

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Bildung
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 573

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Beschreibung

Test-taking strategies and steps to succeed as an EMT No two EMT exam experiences are exactly alike, as questions are tailored to the test-taker and range in topics from handling medical emergencies and patient assessment, to medical ethics, ambulance operations, and pediatrics. EMT Exam For Dummies takes the intimidation out of the test, offering everything you need to prepare for--and pass--the exam. Along with the book, there is also an online companion website that features two additional practice tests that you do your best on test day. Career opportunities are abundant for certified EMTs, and this straightforward guide increases your chances of scoring higher on the computer-adaptive and practical portions of the exam so you can get out in the field and dispense lifesaving medical care. In the book, you'll find an overview of the EMT Exam, including test organization and how the exam is scored, content review with practice questions, a sneak peek at the practical exam, and one full-length practice test with detailed answer explanations. * Includes sample test questions and detailed answers throughout, as well as a sneak peek into the practical test * Gives you two bonus practice exams via the companion online test bank, with tests available in timed and untimed formats * Offers clear test-taking advice for passing the crucial, practical part of the exam * Covers the psychomotor component of the EMT Exam EMT Exam For Dummies has everything you need to succeed as an EMT and continue your training, and with an easy-to-read style and focus on the most important details, you'll be ready to pass the exam in no time!

Leseprobe

EMT Exam For Dummies®

Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

Published simultaneously in Canada

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EMT Exam For Dummies is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2014930403

ISBN 978-1-118-76817-4 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-118-81396-6 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-81402-4 (ebk)

Manufactured in the United States of America

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EMT Exam For Dummies with Online Practice

Visit www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/emtexam to view this book's cheat sheet.

Table of Contents

Introduction

About This Book

Foolish Assumptions

Icons Used in This Book

Beyond the Book

Where to Go from Here

Part I: Making Sense of the EMT Exam

Chapter 1: Becoming an Emergency Medical Technician

Understanding What Being an EMT Means

What does an EMT do?

Where do EMTs work?

Can you use EMT training for other purposes?

Walking through the Steps of Becoming an EMT

Finding and completing a class

Passing the National Registry Exam

Finishing the process

Maintaining Your EMT Certification

Chapter 2: Taking an EMT Course and Registering for the EMT Exam

Enrolling in and Completing an EMT Course

Finding a course that fits your needs

Being prepared for the course

Meeting the course requirements

Getting the most out of your instructors

Signing Up for the EMT Exam

Chapter 3: Getting to Know the EMT Exam

Checking Out the Cognitive Exam

Breaking down the exam

Getting a grip on computer adaptive testing

Scoring the exam and getting your results

Completing the Practical Exam Portion

Part II: Test-Taking Tips and Strategies

Chapter 4: The Anatomy of the Multiple-Choice Question

Looking at the Parts

The stem

Distractors and the answer

Breaking Down a Question Step by Step

Looking at the stem and answering it

Eliminating what’s not right

Choosing which answer is best

Chapter 5: Checking Out Computer Adaptive Testing

Understanding How Computer Adaptive Testing Works

How does CAT adapt?

Who judges the questions’ difficulty, anyway?

What makes CAT better?

Adapting to Computer Adaptive Testing

Chapter 6: Preparing for the Exam

Gearing Up to Study

Setting the stage

Staying on schedule

Making the Most Out of Studying

Using objectives

Studying with buddies

Trying a few tips for retaining info

Giving your brain a break

Picking Out Other Pointers for Success

Having the right mindset

Making a few final plans before exam day

Chapter 7: Doing Your Best During the Exam

Knowing What to Expect in a Nutshell

Staying Focused and Positive During the Exam

Answering one question at a time

Maintaining a positive attitude

Getting Your Results and Moving Ahead

Part III: Assessing What You Know and Reviewing Essential Information

Chapter 8: Taking a Preassessment with Answers and Explanations

Going through the Preassessment Questions

Looking at the Preassessment Answers and Figuring Out How to Proceed

Chapter 9: The Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation

Getting an Overview of the Respiratory System

Knowing the Airway and Breathing Issues to Look for When You Assess Patients

Understanding when breathing is (and isn’t) normal

Deciding when to oxygenate

Recognizing when to ventilate

Taking Action on Potential Airway and Breathing Problems

Upper airway conditions

Lower airway conditions

Nonrespiratory conditions

Practice Questions about the Airway, Respiration, and Ventilation

Answers and Explanations

Chapter 10: Cardiology and Resuscitation Essentials

Checking Out the Cardiovascular System

Surveying major structures

Understanding blood pressure

Knowing the Cardiovascular Issues to Look for When You Assess Patients

Recognizing normal cardiovascular findings

Noting when cardiovascular findings aren’t normal

Distinguishing acute coronary syndrome from everything else

Acting on Potential Cardiovascular Problems

Pump problems

Pipe problems

Fluid problems

Managing a cardiac arrest

Practice Questions about Cardiology and Resuscitation

Answers and Explanations

Chapter 11: Medical and Obstetrics/Gynecology Fundamentals

Introducing the Body’s Main Systems

Feeling Out the Nervous System

Moving through the Gastrointestinal System

Fighting Invaders with the Immune System

Allergic reactions and anaphylaxis

Infectious diseases

Taking Control with the Endocrine System

Getting the Scoop on the Hematologic System (Blood)

Considering the Urinary System

Cycling through Obstetrics and Gynecology

Obstetrics

Gynecology

Boning Up on the Musculoskeletal System

Understanding Toxicology

Handling Psychiatric Disorders and Behavioral Emergencies

Practice Questions about Medical and Obstetrics/Gynecology Fundamentals

Answers and Explanations

Chapter 12: Trauma Basics

Relating the Mechanism of Injury to Injury Patterns

Connecting MOI and force

Differentiating blunt from penetrating MOI

Matching obvious injuries to hidden injuries

Investigating Injuries That Affect the Airway and Breathing

Injuries that block the airway

Injuries that make breathing difficult

Assessing Injuries That Affect Circulation

Pump, pipes, and fluid: How circulation works

Injuries to the heart

Injuries to the vasculature

Evaluating Spinal Cord Injuries

Managing Trauma Step by Step

Practice Questions about Trauma

Answers and Explanations

Chapter 13: The Scoop on Pediatrics

Sorting Out What Makes Children Different from Adults

Developmental differences

Anatomical differences

Physiological differences

Managing the Pediatric Patient

Assessment tips

Medical situations

Trauma situations

Practice Questions about Pediatrics

Answers and Explanations

Chapter 14: EMS Operations

Maintaining Medical Legal Standards

Grasping the basic legal tenets of medical practice

Avoiding negligence

Getting the proper consent

Understanding slander and libel

Dealing with refusals of care and/or transport

Maintaining confidentiality

Respecting advanced directives

Steering clear of abandonment

Complying with mandatory reporting

Coping with crime scenes

Documenting your cases

Staying Healthy, Sane, and Safe

Being fit for the job

Handling the stress of the profession

Knowing that safety is job one

Communicating Well with Others During an Emergency

Working on a team

Interacting with others on the scene

Understanding Emergency Vehicle Operations

Maintaining equipment levels and vehicle readiness

Driving an ambulance

Using air medical services

Performing light rescue

Managing Large Incidents

Triage

Hazardous incidents

Practice Questions about EMS Operations

Answers and Explanations

Part IV: Putting Your Knowledge into Practice

Chapter 15: Practice Exam 1

Questions

Chapter 16: Practice Exam 1: Answers and Explanations

Answers and Explanations

Answer Key

Chapter 17: Practice Exam 2

Questions

Chapter 18: Practice Exam 2: Answers and Explanations

Answers and Explanations

Answer Key

Part V: The Part of Tens

Chapter 19: Ten Assessment Tips for EMTs

Looking at the Whole Patient

Assessing the ABCs before Anything Else

Deciding Whether to Oxygenate or Ventilate

Determining Shock

Searching for the Signs of Beck’s Triad

Checking for Cushing’s Triad

Recognizing That Not All Wheezes Are Asthma

Listing the Causes of Altered Mental Status

Understanding That Not All Myocardial Infarctions Have Chest Pain as a Symptom

Knowing That Crying Is a Good Sign in Pediatric Patients

Chapter 20: Ten Tips for Performing EMT Procedures

Practice, Practice, Practice

Closely Evaluate Breathing

Palpate Firmly and Steadily

Improve the Volume of Lung Sounds

Immobilize the Patient’s Spine at the Correct Time

Control Bleeding Immediately

Splint an Angulated Fracture the Way You Found It (If Possible)

Perform a Focused Physical Exam

Make an Abdominal Exam More Accurate

Provide Consistent Medical Documentation

About the Author

Cheat Sheet

More Dummies Products

Guide

Table of Contents

Begin Reading

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Introduction

The emergency medical services (EMS) profession is a noble one. People don’t become rich by being EMS providers, and many gladly volunteer their time and resources providing the service to their community.

As an EMS professional of more than 30 years, I welcome you to our world with open arms. I hope that you’ll find as much satisfaction and enjoyment in providing emergency care and compassion as I have!

Although the amount of time it takes to become an emergency medical technician (EMT) may be relatively small, your responsibilities are huge. In the prehospital setting, the decisions you make in providing basic care to a critically sick or injured person may make a huge difference in whether the patient has a good outcome, recovers with difficulty, or, in the worst case, dies. Mastering the information in your EMT course and being able to apply it with accuracy and efficiency are of the utmost importance.

The fact that you’re reading this book means one of two things: Either you have completed an EMT course and you’re getting ready to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) examination, or you’re interested in learning about the role of the EMT in the healthcare setting. My goals in writing this book are to address both of these areas — to improve your test-taking skills and provide an overview of EMS and of the EMT.

About This Book

EMT Exam For Dummies contains a lot of information in a well-organized format, logically laid out and in relatively few chapters. Features include the following:

This is not a rehash of your textbook. Each chapter summarizes key findings of the many conditions you’ll come across as a practicing EMT. You don’t have to read this book from cover to cover; you can dip into any section, chapter, or part you need. You already have a textbook; why add another?Practice questions are written in the NREMT format. The questions may seem more challenging at first; they’re written to test your ability to reason and make decisions, not your ability to remember simple facts.Practice exams evaluate your overall knowledge. There are three practice exams, two in this book and one other online at learn.dummies.com. Each one is designed to test your overall knowledge base of the EMT.I let you in on tricks of the trade. Who wouldn’t want to know about little tricks and shortcuts to help make life easier as an EMT? You find them in their own chapters at the end of this book.You get some “nice to know” information. In a few places, I provide a behind-the-scenes look to better explain a principle or process. I denote this information either with the Technical Stuff icon or in a shaded box called a sidebar; feel free to skip this material if you’re short on time.It’s a Dummies book. When I was asked to write this book, I was honored to do so. I have several of these books on my personal shelf, and I wrote this book in a similar way — making it easy to read and understand, and keeping all the fluff to a minimum. I try to keep it light, but medicine is a serious business and some jokes are simply inappropriate.Medical terminology appears throughout. While most of the book is written in a conversational, easy-to-understand style, medical terms are used. An EMT is a healthcare professional and is expected to speak and understand the “language” of medicine at a foundational level. Italics indicate terms that are defined in the text; boldface highlights key words in bulleted lists or the main parts of numbered steps.Web addresses may break. Within this book, you may note that some web addresses break across two lines of text. If you’re reading this book in print and want to visit one of these web pages, simply key in the web address exactly as it’s noted in the text, pretending as though the line break doesn’t exist. If you’re reading this as an e-book, you’ve got it easy — just click the web address to be taken directly to the web page.

Foolish Assumptions

In writing this book, I made a few assumptions about you:

You’re getting ready to take the NREMT EMT exam. In fact, you may have taken it one or more times before. I assume that you’ve completed the vast majority of an EMT course and have been taught according to a standard curriculum.You have a textbook. This book isn’t meant to be a mini-textbook. It emphasizes only the essential elements you need to know to pass the exam. Your course textbook serves as your reference — use its index pages, found in the back of the book, to find key terms or concepts that you find unfamiliar.You’re pressed for time. I’ve tried my best to be direct. I want you to get the most out of this book in the least amount of time. Don’t read this book like a novel. Use the sections you need to become better at the exam.You’re open to suggestions. After all, you bought this book because you want extra help. I provide a variety of suggestions and explain some of the more difficult concepts a little differently in order to give you more tools to better master the material.

If you aren’t about to take the exam, that’s fine! If you’re at the beginning or in the middle of an EMT course, the suggestions about studying and answering the practice questions in each chapter will strengthen your core knowledge. And if you’re just thinking about taking an EMT class, you may find the information illuminating and perhaps helpful in solidifying your decision.

Icons Used in This Book

Icons are the small drawings found in the margins of this book. I use several icons to call your attention to key points:

This icon highlights points that you should keep in mind while taking the exam or taking care of a patient.

This icon points to a bit of information that helps make a key concept or exam process easier to understand or perform.

Watch out! If you see this icon, pay attention to the information provided. It describes situations that can get you into a lot of trouble on the exam — and with the care of your patients.

This is “nice to know” information that explains some ideas or processes in more detail but isn’t 100 percent necessary to remember. You can skip these paragraphs if you’re pressed for time.

Examples are sample questions that highlight specific concepts or procedures. Explanations are provided immediately after the answers. By the way, there are also additional practice questions at the end of each chapter in Part III.

Beyond the Book

EMT Exam For Dummies has three full practice exams located online at http://learn.dummies.com. All you have to do to access them is register by following these simple steps:

Find your PIN code.Print-book users: If you purchased a hard copy of this book, turn to the front of this book to find your PIN.E-book users: If you purchased this book as an e-book, you can get your PIN by registering your e-book at www.dummies.com/go/getaccess. Simply select your book from the drop-down menu, fill in your personal information, and then answer the security question to verify your purchase. You’ll then receive an e-mail with your PIN.Go tohttp://learn.dummies.com.Enter your PIN.Follow the instructions to create an account and establish your own login information.

Now you’re ready to go! You can come back to the online program as often as you want — simply log on with the username and password you created during your initial login. No need to enter the PIN a second time.

If you have trouble with your PIN or can’t find it, contact Wiley Product Technical Support at 877-762-2974 or go to http://support.wiley.com.

Use the exams to check your study practice; for example, you may want to take the two in this book first, review Part III, and then take the third exam online. You’ll also find 200 flashcards at learn.dummies.com.

But wait — that’s not all! Check out the free Cheat Sheet at www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/emtexam for details on EMT certification, features of the EMT exam, and tips for preparing and taking the exam. At www.dummies.com/extras/emtexam, discover free articles on computer adaptive testing, the process for distinguishing medical complaints, and common medical abbreviations.

Where to Go from Here

You can go to any chapter from here. Like other Dummies books, this one is not designed to be read from the first page to the last page. If you haven’t started an EMT course and are interested in finding out more, I suggest you start with Chapter 1. If you’re currently in a course, you may want to start with Chapter 6, as it provides study tips and ideas that you can use right away. If you’re starting your review in preparation for the NREMT EMT exam, begin with Chapter 3, which introduces the exam process.

If you feel that you aren’t a good test-taker, consider reading Part II before you begin your review. If you want to jump right in with content review, I suggest you take the preassessment in Chapter 8 before reviewing Chapters 9 through 14. Chapters 15 and 17 have full-length practice exams; Chapters 16 and 18 provide answers and explanations.

While this book contains lots of good information, it’s not the end-all and be-all. Your textbook and class notes will serve as additional reference material while you work your way through this book. Doing quick searches on the web will provide additional resources. And don’t forget your classmates — you spent (or will spend) a significant amount of time with them and probably have study buddies you should stay in touch with, just in case.

Part I

Making Sense of the EMT Exam

Visit www.dummies.com for great (and free!) Dummies content online.

In this part …

Discover what an emergency medical technician (EMT) does and where an EMT works. (Essentially, an EMT provides basic emergency care, such as oxygen administration, spinal immobilization, and splinting; EMTs typically work in ambulances, but they’re also deployed as part of wilderness and search and rescue teams.)Read about the education you need to certify as an EMT. Not only is there the textbook information to acquire, but there are skills to master as well as time you’ll spend with actual patients while you’re in training.Get the scoop on the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam. You may have heard that the exam is really hard. There’s a reason for that, but it’s not what you think!

Chapter 1

Becoming an Emergency Medical Technician

In This Chapter

Knowing what an EMT does

Becoming a certified EMT

Renewing your EMT certification

Welcome to the world of emergency medical services, or EMS! This is a noble profession. The training is challenging, the work unpredictable, and you won’t become rich performing the job. But you will have the privilege of helping people when they need it the most — when doing the right thing at the right time may very well save a life. Even in instances when the job isn’t that dramatic, the simple care, comfort, and words of reassurance you provide may be all someone needs to feel better.

This chapter gives you the basics on what EMTs do, how to become one, and how to maintain your certification.

Understanding What Being an EMT Means

An emergency medical technician, or EMT, provides a basic level of emergency and non-urgent patient care. Some EMTs are paid for their work, while others volunteer their time, especially in more rural parts of the United States. In most states, the EMT is the minimum level of training required to provide ambulance transportation or care for the patient in the ambulance. The following sections explain what EMTs do, where they work, and the value of EMT training.