PRIOR TO THE NREMT EXAM
Study Time
Provide plenty of time in advance to study. NREMT exams are not something you want to cram for. Make a schedule and develop a habit of studying for the NREMT during these times. Allocate the beginning of each study session when you are the most alert to the areas you have the most difficulty. It's good practice to study that night, the material you discussed that day. If you attend an evening NREMT class, study immediately the following morning.
Audio Reviews
Audio Reviews such as those you can put on an MP3 player or play on a CD in your car can be a great resource for review. The repetition of concepts and theories will really reinforce what you learn during class and study from your notes and books. These are exceptional study tools for all those times when you would ordinarily not be able to study for the NREMT such as in the car, working out, running, etc.
Study Sheet
One very helpful tool you can create while you study is to summarize and outline the material to be used later as a study sheet. This accomplishes two things; it provides you with a quick, summary of the NREMT material for review at a later time, and by outlining and re-writing your material, it reinforces what your learned that day. Anytime you re-write a concept in your own words, it really reinforces those concepts.
Flashcards
Flashcards work very well, especially when you need to memorize terms or simple concepts such drug actions, indications and dosages. The use of flashcards will really enhance your NREMT study time. Not to mention, flashcards printed on notecards are easy to take with you wherever you go so you can utilize downtime to study such as when you travel, during lunch, etc. When creating your NREMT study flashcards, be sure to put them into categories for easy "grab and go" review.
Utilize Your Instructors
Don't limit the knowledge of your instructor to just the amount of time you spend with them in class. Most instructors are more than happy to help you outside of class, especially if you are struggling with a particular topic. With the NREMT, it's imperative that you fully comprehend all of the complex topics that you will be expected to know for the NREMT exam.
NREMT Study Groups
This is HUGE! If you don't already have a study group together, get one. Keep two things in mind when you are seeking study partners. First, look for those that seem to "Get It" in class and those that live close to you. This should be obvious. It does you no good to study with people that are really struggling unless you feel that by helping them you yourself will gain more knowledge. They say that if you can explain a concept, they you really understand it. Secondly, find people that leave near you. You will be more likely to maintain a study schedule if you live near each other as opposed to one of you having to drive an hour or more each time you plan on studying. Also, keep your NREMT study sessions to a reasonable amount of time and have a plan on what you will cover. I like 2-3 hours.
Practice Tests
I put Practice Tests at the bottom for a reason. While I think practice tests can be helpful, I feel that students often rely on them too much. They take a few practice tests from a book they bought, do pretty well, and think they're done. This can really give a person false hope. I do feel that practice tests are great for helping to identify the areas you need to focus your study. With that being said, the most effective way to pass the NREMT is to simply know your stuff. I believe that combining a good practice test with a good audio NREMT paramedic study guide, flashcards and study sheets are the most effective.
TIPS FOR TAKING THE NREMT EXAM
Before You Start
Since you won't be able to review the entire exam before you start and you are required to answer each question before moving on to the next one, you need to be prepared for anything they throw at you. I recommend utilizing the blank sheet of paper and pencil that they provide. Use this paper to quickly write down any little thing you think you might need to remember, such as drug drip formulas, the Parkland Burn Formula, the Rule of Nines for burns, etc. Do this as soon as you enter the testing area, before you "start" the exam. The exam is timed and you don't want to be rushed.
Read Each Question Carefully
You've heard this a thousand times before, read each question carefully before answering. Are they asking for "everything except" or "the most" or "the least". Make sure you understand what it is they want to know before you answer the question. Repeat it back to yourself if you need to.
Eliminate Incorrect Answers
After you read the question and know what it is exactly that they are asking for, eliminate as many answers as you can. This is often times very difficult during the NREMT Exam because this exam wants you to know the "best" answer. You will find that many that more than one choice would be an acceptable answer. You need to determine which is the "best".
Scene Safety and Personal Safety First
This seems to always get people. A question may be something like, "You and your partner are the first to arrive at a house fire. Upon your arrival there is a person lying in the front yard that appears to have just come out of the burning house and multiple bystanders are gathering in the street." What is your first course of action? A) Provide life saving measures to the person in the yard B) Secure the scene by placing "Do Not Cross" tape along the front of the yard C) Wait for firefighters to arrive D) Call for additional help. My answer? I have no idea, but one very similar to this was on my NREMT exam. I feel a good argument can be made for any of these. These are the type of questions you need to be really careful with.
Pay Attention To The "Least Invasive" Answer
This is a great rule for the NREMT Exam. Often times, test takers want to "use their newly acquired skills" when in reality, the most appropriate treatment is often times the least invasive. Don't let the exam drag you into choosing "Assist Ventilations With High Flow O2" on patient with a low oxygen saturation when "Provide O2 via a Non-Rebreather" is a choice. Most of the time, the least invasive is the correct answer.
In summary, nothing can take the place of good preparation. Allocate sufficient study time, utilize study groups, flashcards, audio paramedic study guides, cheat sheets and then follow up with a practice exam to see how you're doing.
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Plants are shaped by cultivation and men by education. .. We are born weak, we need strength; we are born totally unprovided, we need aid; we are born stupid, we need judgment. Everything we do not have at our birth and which we need when we are grown is given us by education.
(Jean Jacques Rousseau, Emile, On Philosophy of Education)
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