Failed NREMT-B, I could not believe it!!

[bigbee13]

2 Years ago I started nursing school and at the same time I took the EMT class for two reasons. First for my fire department and second so I could gain pre-hospital experience as I wanted to work in the ED. I passed with flying colors and even helped out with the class, giving some aid to the students that were having trouble. I worked EMS soon as I passed and ran 2 24's a week while in school. Family issues caused me to stop my nursing and I focussed on Just EMS. I was planning on going for my medic at the beginning of this year when in late November, wife started to interview out of state(we lived in Pennsylvania). Wife got hired at hospital(she is a RN) in Minnesota. I decided to get my NREMT as that is what I needed to stay in EMS in MN. I was going to test in Pennsylvania when decided to just test here in MN instead. The move was really hard on us as all of us had bad cases of the flu. Having the knowledge and expericance I thought I had nothing to worry about. I went on Wednesday and took the test, it shut off at 76 and I thought I was fine. Checked on Thursday and BAM, said sorry you failed. I have read posts on here where some people make you think that your an idiot if you fail this. I do not get test anxiety, or think that I know everything. I believe that you learn something new almost everyday. I do believe that I failed because I read way too much into the questions. Having run on the rigs for almost 2 years gave me experience however it also taught me many things that are done completely different than you are taught during EMT class. People can say that EMT's are really nothing and that they don't need to know much. Well a GOOD EMT can make a bad medic look good, just like a bad EMT can make a good medic look bad. Looks like I am going to have to try again and this time I have to think back to my EMT class and not read too much into the questions.

Thanks for listening!!

[Dustdevil]

Having the knowledge and expericance I thought I had nothing to worry about. I went on Wednesday and took the test, it shut off at 76 and I thought I was fine. Checked on Thursday and BAM, said sorry you failed. I have read posts on here where some people make you think that your an idiot if you fail this.

This is a prime illustration of why I advise people to NOT wait for experience in between basic and paramedic school. That "experience" does not make you any smarter. In fact, you start losing your core education the day you leave school. And the longer you work with that minimal knowledge, the more comfortable you become with so little. Stopping the educational process for a break -- even experience -- is not a good idea. Of course, that is not what you did, so I am not faulting you. Just pointing out the parallel.

NR is tricky if you're used to some state test. I dunno about PA, but many state tests are so very different that NR just throws the students for a loop. And besides, it's actually quite normal for experienced EMTs who have never taken NR to fail it the first time. Just take it as a wake-up call. Bust out the books and start studying, because as you have now seen, EMS isn't about your skills. Your skills won't pass the written test for you. It's about your knowledge. Start studying your arse off. Get into a refresher class if at all possible. In MN, they'll be catering to the NR test anyhow, so that will be good prep. Relax. You aren't on a time schedule now. Immerse yourself and really learn the material, approaching it as if you had never seen it before in your life. Don't just study the "cool" stuff. Study the hard stuff. Don't waste a lot of time studying review questions and practice questions until you have completely reviewed the entire curriculum, or you'll just set yourself up for failure.

Remember, EVERYTHING in NREMT-B is about ABCs. There are only a couple of questions on the entire exam that do not come directly back to ABCs. That is the thing to remember before overanalysing the question.

Good luck, man. You'll git 'er done.

[kristo]

NREMT-B is, or at least used to be, a very weird test. I took it in 2004. I took the Washington state exam 2 days prior and I remember having to memorize different things for the two different tests, i.e. if I would get the very same question, I would have to answer differently depending on which test I was taking.

In my experience, passing the written NREMT-B is more about learning how to answer the NREMT-B written rather than actually studying the material. Use the question banks, there are plenty out there. Just remember that your grade is almost completely random. I was in the high 90s in my EMT-B grade, took the NREMT, almost failed (got 77% - needed 75% to pass). My OB/Gyn part actually went better than cardio. :roll:

After EMT-B, I finished college in nightschool and then went to medical school. I will finish my second year this spring and I am actually doing very well. I'm not saying this to brag, but to assure you that how you do on that test doesn't say anything about how good a student you are. It's just about saying what the NREMT wants to hear.

[ccmedoc]

I think the most important part of these tests is to read the question and understand the question. Sounds mundane and a "no brainer", but individuals don't use their basic test taking skills, or have any :? ( this is a generalization and I mean no disrespect). In my experience with the NREMT tests, it is ABC to the end. If an intervention is not mentioned in the question, it must be the most basic answer. Knowledge is key, especially in the special considerations areas.

Maybe consider a test taking class that concentrates on how to separate a question into the important parts. Identify the stem, what kind of question it is; as a true response, flase response, comparative response, or priority response. Identify the distractors, and how to eliminate choices.

I think the test taking skills are going to be as important as base knowledge in these CBT testing sessions. You only get one chance, and it is hard to answer a questiion the first time, if you don't really know what it is asking.

Although I believe a large number of instructors do their students a disservice by teaching to the skills portion and not offering enough base education or information, I also think an additional test taking portion should be added. This could be done online through a number of test taking specialists, using drills and examples...

If you were to take the NCLEX...you had better get with the test taking classes...

These classes are part of the nursing curriculum in most universities now, though.

Just my opinion and get 'em next time.

[Bunni]

As I posted earlier I failed at my first try.

I passed class, in the top 5, with a 96%. I knew the information (still do).

How to answer the NREMT questions.....that was something I had to brush up on. I found two books that were a great help. They were based on the NREMT test, not the class. They both offer tips and practice tests. I didn't know if I could post the titles of the books online. If you would like them let me know.

[bigbee13]

Thanks guys for the responses. Looking back I now see that I went about the whole test thing the wrong way. Having getting settled in somewhat at the new house I believe that I will be going about things in a different way. I have an interview set up for this week, which looks very good(not in EMS). If all goes well with the interview I will stick with that for now and go back to school. I am also going to apply to my local fire department, with this I will get refresher classes and then I will attempt the test again. I know things will work out I just need to get everything back in line again, and then everything will start to fall back into place.

I again want to thank all the posters for their words of encouragement, and will keep you updated on my progress

[spenac]

As I posted earlier I failed at my first try.

I passed class, in the top 5, with a 96%. I knew the information (still do).

How to answer the NREMT questions.....that was something I had to brush up on. I found two books that were a great help. They were based on the NREMT test, not the class. They both offer tips and practice tests. I didn't know if I could post the titles of the books online. If you would like them let me know.

You can post title names. You just can not advertise your own product unless you pay for advertising. A search will list several study aids that others have benefited from.

[GrizzlyTN]

As I posted earlier I failed at my first try.

I passed class, in the top 5, with a 96%. I knew the information (still do).

How to answer the NREMT questions.....that was something I had to brush up on. I found two books that were a great help. They were based on the NREMT test, not the class. They both offer tips and practice tests. I didn't know if I could post the titles of the books online. If you would like them let me know.

Hey there, what were the books that helped?

[Lone Star]

I've watched most people preparing for the NREMT written test completely freak out because they found out that the test is computer based as opposed to written or oral. The advice I give anyone on any test is this:

1. Relax, and rely on your education!

2. The test medium doesn't change the content of the test!

3. Take the question at 'face value'....do NOT read more into the question than is presented!

4. Don't assume that just because you stopped on #XX that you've automatically failed!

5. Don't try to 'cram' the night before the test!

6. Get a good night's sleep on the night before the test!

7. Do NOT get drunk the night before to 'relax'!

8. Most 'test anxiety' is self induced.

9. Don't rush, this isn't being graded on how fast you can finish the test!

10. Don't forget to breathe! Just because the testing facility is testing YOU for the NREMT, doesn't mean that the staff will be able to take care of you!

Ironically, I find myself in a position to follow my own advice. I'll be scheduling the NREMT-I test within the next week. I'm not too worried about the medium; I know I scored well throughout the course, so that tells me that I know and understand the content.

What will be 'interesting' is just navigating through the test, as the right hand (the ever popular 'mouse hand') is in a splint, which makes using the mouse 'interesting'. I may see if the test center will accomodate me by reversing the mouse buttons for the test.

*Edited for spelling, because I didn't proofread before posting to the thread.

Edited January 22, 2010 by Lone Star

[akflightmedic]

People are on a roll...

Another 2 year old thread revived....