EMS Registry Ready

EMT Secondary Assessment practice questions

Secondary Assessment makes up about 5–9% of the NREMT EMT exam. Here are 8 to work through. When you open an answer, you'll see why it's right and why the other options aren't.

Question 1NRP reviewed

A patient with a suspected abdominal problem should be palpated gently at first because

  1. Agentle palpation is more accurate than deep
  2. Bdeep pressure at the outset causes guarding that prevents further examination
  3. Cdeep palpation may rupture an inflamed organ
  4. Dgentle pressure is less likely to be uncomfortable
Show the answer

Correct answer: B. deep pressure at the outset causes guarding that prevents further examination

Press hard and the patient tenses everything, after which nothing you feel is interpretable. Starting light preserves the information that deep palpation would have destroyed.

  • A. Both depths give different information and neither is inherently more accurate.
  • B. Deep initial pressure produces guarding that renders further examination useless.
  • C. Rupture from palpation is rare rather than the reason.
  • D. Comfort is a secondary consideration.
Question 2NRP reviewed

The normal respiratory rate range for a 2-year-old toddler is approximately

  1. A30 to 60 breaths per minute
  2. B30 to 53 breaths per minute
  3. C22 to 37 breaths per minute
  4. D20 to 28 breaths per minute
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Correct answer: C. 22 to 37 breaths per minute

The normal respiratory rate for a 2-year-old toddler is roughly 22 to 37 breaths per minute. Pediatric ranges shift with age, so a number that would alarm you in an adult may be entirely normal in a small child.

  • A. That range corresponds to a newborn rather than to this age group.
  • B. That range corresponds to a 6-month-old infant rather than to this age group.
  • C. This is the accepted normal respiratory rate range for a 2-year-old toddler.
  • D. That range corresponds to a 4-year-old preschooler rather than to this age group.
Question 3NRP reviewed

In the human body, the kidneys

  1. ACovers the glottic opening during swallowing
  2. BCoordinates balance and fine movement
  3. CFilter blood and sit behind the peritoneum
  4. DReturns deoxygenated blood to the right atrium
Show the answer

Correct answer: C. Filter blood and sit behind the peritoneum

The kidneys filter blood and sit behind the peritoneum. Anatomy underpins assessment: knowing what sits where is what turns a location of pain into a working hypothesis.

  • A. That describes the epiglottis rather than this structure.
  • B. That describes the cerebellum rather than this structure.
  • C. This correctly describes the kidneys.
  • D. That describes the vena cava rather than this structure.
Question 4NRP reviewed

In the human body, the liver

  1. AConducts air from the larynx down to the bronchi
  2. BOccupies the right upper quadrant of the abdomen
  3. CForms the only complete cartilaginous ring in the airway
  4. DCovers the glottic opening during swallowing
Show the answer

Correct answer: B. Occupies the right upper quadrant of the abdomen

The liver occupies the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. Anatomy underpins assessment: knowing what sits where is what turns a location of pain into a working hypothesis.

  • A. That describes the trachea rather than this structure.
  • B. This correctly describes the liver.
  • C. That describes the cricoid cartilage rather than this structure.
  • D. That describes the epiglottis rather than this structure.
Question 5NRP reviewed

In the human body, the left ventricle

  1. AAre where gas exchange between air and blood occurs
  2. BAre where gas and nutrient exchange with tissue takes place
  3. CCovers the glottic opening during swallowing
  4. DPumps oxygenated blood into the systemic circulation
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Correct answer: D. Pumps oxygenated blood into the systemic circulation

The left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood into the systemic circulation. Anatomy underpins assessment: knowing what sits where is what turns a location of pain into a working hypothesis.

  • A. That describes the alveoli rather than this structure.
  • B. That describes the capillaries rather than this structure.
  • C. That describes the epiglottis rather than this structure.
  • D. This correctly describes the left ventricle.
Question 6NRP reviewed

A patient's report of how their symptoms have changed since onset is useful because

  1. Ait establishes how long they waited before calling
  2. Bseverity at onset predicts the eventual outcome
  3. Cpatients recall changes more accurately than current symptoms
  4. Dthe direction of travel matters more than the current severity
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Correct answer: D. the direction of travel matters more than the current severity

A pain of six that started at two is a different patient from one that started at nine. The current number tells you where they are and the change tells you where they are going.

  • A. Delay before calling is a separate question.
  • B. Onset severity does not reliably predict outcome.
  • C. Recall accuracy is not the reason.
  • D. The direction of change carries more information than the current severity alone.
Question 7NRP reviewed

The normal heart rate range for a 6-month-old infant is approximately

  1. A90 to 150 beats per minute
  2. B60 to 100 beats per minute
  3. C100 to 160 beats per minute
  4. D100 to 180 beats per minute
Show the answer

Correct answer: C. 100 to 160 beats per minute

The normal heart rate for a 6-month-old infant is roughly 100 to 160 beats per minute. Pediatric ranges shift with age, so a number that would alarm you in an adult may be entirely normal in a small child.

  • A. That range corresponds to a 2-year-old toddler rather than to this age group.
  • B. That range corresponds to a 15-year-old adolescent rather than to this age group.
  • C. This is the accepted normal heart rate range for a 6-month-old infant.
  • D. That range corresponds to a newborn rather than to this age group.
Question 8NRP reviewed

The normal heart rate range for a 15-year-old adolescent is approximately

  1. A100 to 180 beats per minute
  2. B100 to 160 beats per minute
  3. C80 to 140 beats per minute
  4. D60 to 100 beats per minute
Show the answer

Correct answer: D. 60 to 100 beats per minute

The normal heart rate for a 15-year-old adolescent is roughly 60 to 100 beats per minute. Pediatric ranges shift with age, so a number that would alarm you in an adult may be entirely normal in a small child.

  • A. That range corresponds to a newborn rather than to this age group.
  • B. That range corresponds to a 6-month-old infant rather than to this age group.
  • C. That range corresponds to a 4-year-old preschooler rather than to this age group.
  • D. This is the accepted normal heart rate range for a 15-year-old adolescent.

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