Patient Assessment

5 free sample questions of the 63 in this topic. The full set is in the app.

1. Question 1

   The first step of every patient encounter is:

   • A.Vital signs
   • B.Scene size-up (safety, BSI/PPE, MOI/NOI, number of patients, resources needed)
   • C.Drug administration
   • D.PCR documentation
   Show answer & explanation

   Answer: B. Scene size-up (safety, BSI/PPE, MOI/NOI, number of patients, resources needed)

   Scene size-up precedes every patient encounter. It establishes safety, identifies the mechanism of injury or nature of illness, counts patients, and triggers any additional resources before patient contact.

   Source: NREMT Emergency Medical Technician Examination Specifications — Content Domain: Scene Size-up and Safety

2. Question 2

   The standard order of the primary (initial) assessment is:

   • A.Vitals, history, then airway
   • B.General impression → LOC → Airway → Breathing → Circulation → identification of life threats and transport-priority decision
   • C.Family history, social history, vitals
   • D.Splinting first, then assessment
   Show answer & explanation

   Answer: B. General impression → LOC → Airway → Breathing → Circulation → identification of life threats and transport-priority decision

   Primary assessment: general impression, level of consciousness (AVPU), airway, breathing, circulation. Life threats identified during the primary are treated immediately. The result is a transport-priority decision.

   Source: NREMT Emergency Medical Technician Examination Specifications — Content Domain: Primary Assessment

3. Question 3

   The AVPU scale grades level of consciousness as:

   • A.Awake, Verbose, Painless, Unresponsive
   • B.Alert, Verbal (responds to voice), Pain (responds only to pain), Unresponsive
   • C.Active, Vital, Pre-arrest, Unsalvageable
   • D.Adult, Vulnerable, Pediatric, Unattended
   Show answer & explanation

   Answer: B. Alert, Verbal (responds to voice), Pain (responds only to pain), Unresponsive

   AVPU: Alert (eyes open, interactive), responds to Verbal, responds to Pain, Unresponsive. Quick to apply at scene. The Glasgow Coma Scale is more detailed but slower.

   Source: NREMT Emergency Medical Technician Examination Specifications — Content Domain: Primary Assessment > Assess patient's level of consciousness

4. Question 4

   An alert and oriented patient (often abbreviated 'A&Ox4') is oriented to:

   • A.Pain, place, person, plan
   • B.Person, place, time, and event (or situation)
   • C.Person, blood type, allergies, medications
   • D.Family, social, surgical, medical history
   Show answer & explanation

   Answer: B. Person, place, time, and event (or situation)

   Standard A&Ox4 orientation: person (who they are), place (where they are), time (date/time/season), and event (what happened). Some textbooks use A&Ox3 (omitting event).

   Source: NREMT Emergency Medical Technician Examination Specifications — Content Domain: Primary Assessment > Assess patient's level of consciousness

5. Question 5

   The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) range and the score indicating severe head injury are:

   • A.3–15; severe = ≤8
   • B.1–10; severe = ≤3
   • C.0–20; severe = ≤15
   • D.5–25; severe = ≤12
   Show answer & explanation

   Answer: A. 3–15; severe = ≤8

   GCS is 3–15 (sum of eye-opening 1–4, verbal 1–5, motor 1–6). ≤8 typically defines severe TBI and the need for definitive airway management. 9–12 = moderate; 13–15 = mild.

   Source: NREMT Emergency Medical Technician Examination Specifications — Content Domain: Primary Assessment > Assess patient's level of consciousness

58 more Patient Assessment questions are in the app, along with explanations and flashcards for every one.

OnScene is an independent study aid based on the NREMT EMT Examination Specifications (2023 Practice Analysis), the National EMS Education Standards 2021, the National EMS Scope of Practice Model 2019, and the 2025 AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the NREMT, NHTSA, the American Heart Association, or any other organization.