Transcript Preparing for the NREMT EMT CBT (Powerpoint)

Preparing for the
National Registry of
EMTs
Computer Based Test
(CBT)
The NREMT-EMT
Certification Process
Why is National Registry of EMTs
(NREMT) certification and/or
AzDHS (state) certification
required for EMT employment?
The NREMT-EMT
Certification Process
NREMT-EMT certification is one
step in the application and
approval process for you to
become an Arizona-certified EMT
The NREMT-EMT
Certification Process
After completing the practical
skills examination at the end of
the EMT program, the next step
is to schedule and take the
NREMT-EMT cognitive
examination
The NREMT-EMT
Certification Process
The NREMT-EMT cognitive
examination is known as the
computer based test (CBT)
The NREMT-EMT
Certification Process
The CBT is a fair, accurate, and
validated way to establish the
EMT candidate’s cognitive
competency
The NREMT-EMT
Certification Process
The CBT is scheduled and taken
at a Pearson VUE test center
The CBT
The NREMT utilizes computer
adaptive testing (CAT) to ensure
that every cognitive examination
is specifically tailored to the
individual EMT candidate
The CBT
The testing method is
considered state-of-the-art using
item response theory (IRT), a
statistical way to measure the
EMT candidate's ability to
correctly answer each question
The CBT
Combining CAT with IRT
ensures the NREMT cognitive
examination is precise, fair,
and accurate
The CBT
For more information,
access this file
Understanding the CAT and CBT
from the PVCC EMT/Paramedic
website
The CBT
Each question in the CBT bank is
written by using cutting-edge
educational design and is
validated by a scientific
beta-testing process
The CBT
The CBT bank has approximately
6,000 questions that cover the
EMT curriculum in the USDOT
2009 National EMS
Education Standards
The CBT
Areas of the EMT curriculum that
are covered in the CBT:
Airway, Respiration & Ventilation
 Cardiology & Resuscitation
 Trauma & Medical
 Medical, OB/GYN & Pediatrics


EMS Operations
The CBT
EMT textbooks are created by
subject matter experts and
publisher teams that utilize 2
primary sources for content
The CBT
EMT questions and answers are
annotated to the
2009
National EMS Education Guidelines
The CBT
Basic Life Support questions and
answers are annotated to the
2015 American Heart Association
Basic Life Support Standards
The CBT
Any EMT textbook published
after 2009 is the source for CBT
content, questions, and answers
The Cold Statistics
The pass rate for CBT
first-attempts by all EMT
candidates in the United States
in 2014 & 2015 was…
The Cold Statistics
62%
The Cold Statistics
The pass rate for CBT
first-attempts by all Arizona EMT
candidates in 2014 & 2015 was…
The Cold Statistics
62%
The Cold Statistics
The pass rate for CBT
first-attempts by all PVCC EMT
students in 2014 & 2015 was…
The Cold Statistics
68%
The Cold Statistics
Why are national, state, and
PVCC first-attempt pass rates so
seemingly low?
The Justin Upton Syndrome
The Risk Factors
10 factors that put you at
risk for failing the CBT
Risk Factor #1
Did you read your EMT
textbook? Be honest.
Risk Factor #2
Did your instructor(s)
cover everything in the
EMT textbook?
Risk Factor #3
“This is what you should
know to become a
field-ready EMT…”
Risk Factor #4
What are your time
management skills like?
Risk Factor #5
How did the quizzes and
examinations in your EMT
course prepare you for the
CBT?
Risk Factor #6
What advise did you
receive for when and how
to take the CBT?
Risk Factor #7
Did you receive promises
from online sites that offer
“CBT practice examinations
and guaranteed pass
results?”
Risk Factor #8
What’s happened to your
learning curve since
leaving the EMT course?
Risk Factor #9
Could you pass the CBT
today?
Be honest.
Risk Factor #10
Do you feel motivated
to take the CBT?
What’s on the CBT?
Don’t expect CBT
questions to be written
only from your textbook
chapter’s introductory and
summarizing paragraphs
What’s on the CBT?
Basic Life Support
 CPR
 Foreign
body airway
obstruction (FBOA)
What’s on the CBT?
What’s on the CBT?
Body surface area (BSA)
burn percentages may differ
slightly from one source to
another
What’s on the CBT?
Human Anatomy & Physiology
Anaerobic metabolism
 V/Q match
 Lymphoid organs
 Fluid balance
 Cellular respiration

What’s on the CBT?
Pathophysiology
Diseases or patient conditions
 What causes it? (pathophysiology)
 Risk factors
 Signs & symptoms
 Treatment

What’s on the CBT?
Pathophysiology
Tuberculosis
 Acute coronary syndrome
 DKA
 Pulmonary embolism
 Peritonitis

What’s on the CBT?
Pathophysiology
Cystic fibrosis
 SIDS
 Hypersensitivity
 ICP
 Supine Hypotensive Syndrome

CBT Preparatory Process
Where do I begin?
 Do
I reread the EMT textbook?
 What do I study first?
 Whose advise do I take?
 How do I study for the CBT?
CBT Preparatory Process
Begin here
 Digest
the cold statistics
 Understand your risks for failure
 Follow this CBT preparatory
process
CBT Preparatory Process
Step #1
Access this file
869 Questions for EMT CBT
Self-Assessment, May, 2016
from the PVCC EMT/Paramedic
website and engage this activity
CBT Preparatory Process
Step #2
Use the Glossary in your EMT
textbook to identify acronyms,
diseases, and terminology such as
OPQRST
 hepatitis
 dyspnea
 dehydration

CBT Preparatory Process
Step #3
Access this file
EMT CBT Self-Assessment
Examination One 150 Questions
with Key from the PVCC
EMT/Paramedic website
CBT Preparatory Process
Step #4
Access this file
EMT CBT Self-Assessment
Examination Two 150 Questions
with Key from the PVCC
EMT/Paramedic website
CBT Preparatory Process
Step #5
Like the 869-question self-assessment
activity, highlight the questions you
miss on the 2 self-assessment
examinations; this identifies unfamiliar
material you would most likely miss
on the CBT
CBT Preparatory Process
OPTIONAL Step #6
Access amazon.com - search
“EMT examination” to locate
reputable CBT prep materials such
as Dr. Chris Coughlin’s
EMT Flashcards
and textbook, EMT Crash Course
Construction of a CBT Question
There are only multiple-choicestyle questions on the CBT
Construction of a
Cognitive CBT Question
The stem may ask a direct
question and is followed by a “?”
Where would you find distention?
a. Abdomen
b. Shoulder
c.
Neck
d. Knee
Construction of a
Cognitive CBT Question
The stem may appear as an
incomplete sentence you must
complete
Distention is found in the
a. abdomen.
b. joints.
c.
lower airways.
d. oropharynx.
Construction of a CBT Question
A
B C D choices only
 One answer is correct and the
other 3 choices are incorrect
true
 “There are 2 correct answers
with one being more correct
than the other” not true
Construction of a CBT Question
 D.
All of the above not used
 D. None of the above not used
 A. & B. above (multiples)
not used
 Words such as “always,” “all,”
and “never” not used
Construction of a CBT Question
 You
cannot change an answer
once you select it
 You cannot skip a question
 You cannot return to a previous
question or move past the
current question
Old-Style Construction of a
CBT Question
Each of the following is a sign of
CHF except
a.
b.
c.
d.
diaphoresis.
difficulty in breathing.
vomiting blood.
tachycardia.
New-Style Construction of a
CBT Question
Which of the following is least
likely considered a sign of CHF?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Diaphoresis
Dyspnea
Hematemesis
Tachycardia
New-Style Construction of a
CBT Question
Which of the following is most
likely considered a sign of CHF?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Crackles in the lungs
Severe headache
Vomiting blood
Apnea
Construction of a
Scenario CBT Question
The scenario CBT question
requires you to
 interpret the given facts
 integrate EMT knowledge
 provide generic treatment
Construction of a
Scenario CBT Question
The CBT scenario question
contains only pertinent information
that includes the patient’s
 age & gender
 chief complaint or condition
Construction of a
Scenario CBT Question
The CBT scenario question
contains only pertinent
information that includes the
 history of present illness (HPI)
or mechanism of injury (MOI)
 past medical history (PMH) and
medications
Construction of a
Scenario CBT Question
The CBT scenario question
contains only pertinent information
that includes
 physical findings
 vital signs: BP, P, R, pupils, skin
condition, blood glucose, pulse
oximetry (SaO2)
Construction of a
Scenario CBT Question
The last sentence in the stem may
appear like this:
You should suspect…
This asks for your field impression
or diagnosis
Construction of a
Scenario CBT Question
The last sentence in the stem may
appear like this:
You should first…
This asks you to provide the first
step in treating the patient
Construction of a
Scenario CBT Question
The last sentence in the stem can
look like this:
You should next…
This sentence asks you to provide
the next step in the sequence of
treating the patient
Construction of a
Scenario CBT Question
The last sentence in the stem may
ask a direct question
Good Rules of Thumb for Answering
CBT Questions
Read the whole question several
times and formulate the answer
before looking at the answer choices
 Reread the answer choices
 When in doubt, lean towards the
answer choice with the most
aggressive treatment

Good Rules of Thumb for Answering
CBT Questions
Don’t assume something which isn’t
stated in the question
 Don’t over-think the answer choice
 Up to 4 “beta” questions are
inserted into the CBT for validation
purposes and don’t count toward

your score even if you answer them
correctly
The Legal Cheat Sheet
A whiteboard and marking pen
is provided for your use while
you take the CBT
Not So Good Rules of Thumb for
Answering CBT Questions
Select the choice with the most
number of words
 “B” or “C” are the most common
correct answers
 Select the most scientific-sounding
choice

Combating Test Anxiety
Anxiety can impair your CBT results
 A little anxiety is a good thing – it
can actually motivate you
 Don’t be distracted by negativity
 Manage your time and stress to be
productive and become confident

The NREMT-EMT
Certification Process
For information regarding the
NREMT-EMT certification process,
access this file
EMS Students Follow These Steps
to Take the NREMT Exam
from the PVCC EMT/Paramedic
website
ADA Accommodations
The NREMT complies with the
Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) and offers reasonable
accommodations for individuals
with disabilities
ADA Accommodations
Information concerning the
NREMT Accommodations
Disability Policy can be found at
www.nremt.org
Pearson VUE Test Sites
For Pearson VUE test site
locations, access this file
Arizona Computer Based
Testing Sites
from the PVCC EMT/Paramedic
website
Pearson VUE Test Security
For information concerning
Pearson VUE test site security,
access this file
Pearson VUE Test Security
from the PVCC EMT/Paramedic
website
More About the CAT
The CAT calculates your EMT
cognitive competency level and
determines if you are above or
below the standard for passing
More About the CAT
The CBT does not calculate your
final result (pass/fail) from a
minimum number of correct
questions or a minimum
“passing” percentage
More About the CAT
Minimum number of questions:
70
Maximum number of questions:
120
Time limit: 2 hours
More About the CAT
How you answered a question
(correctly or incorrectly)
determines the level of difficulty
of your next question
More About the CAT
The CAT algorithm, which
integrates IRT, decides when
you have demonstrated
competency to pass the
cognitive examination
More About the CAT
The computer turns off when:




the CAT determines you demonstrated
competency or
the CAT determines you failed to
demonstrate competency by missing
too many questions or
you received the maximum number of
questions or
time expired
CBT RESULTS
You will not receive CBT
pass/fail results at the Pearson
VUE test sit
CBT RESULTS
You can retrieve CBT pass/fail
results by accessing your NREMT
account the next business day
CBT RESULTS
The NREMT will mail a hardcopy
of your EMT credentialing
materials when you pass the CBT
and complete the national
certification process
RETESTING
If you fail the CBT, you may apply
to retest 15 days after the
attempt – this waiting period is
designed for you to better
prepare for the next attempt
The Arizona EMT Certification
Process
For information regarding the
Arizona EMT certification process,
access this file
Instructions to Apply for
Arizona EMT Certification
from the PVCC EMT/Paramedic
website
The Arizona EMT Certification
Process
Do not bring your AzDHS (state)
EMT application to the DHS Office
in Phoenix; you can submit the
application by mail, fax, or
electronically
Good Luck!