The hands‑on exam is scored separately from the cognitive one, on a point sheet plus a shorter list of automatic‑fail critical criteria.
Patient Assessment — Trauma
Manage a life threat the moment you find it during the secondary exam, rather than finishing the whole exam first.
Patient Assessment — Medical
State a field impression and management plan out loud at the end — some sheets score this as a distinct step.
Cardiac Arrest Management / AED
Minimise hands-off compression time; long pauses around analysis or pulse checks are frequently a critical failure.
BVM Ventilation of an Apneic Adult
Ventilating too fast or with too much volume is commonly a critical failure, not just a lost point.
Oxygen Administration by Non-Rebreather Mask
Prime the reservoir bag before applying the mask, and say the flow rate out loud.
Long Bone Immobilization
PMS checks before and after splinting are separately scored — don't combine them when verbalising.
Joint Immobilization
Splint in the position found unless specifically directed otherwise; don't force an angulated joint straight.
Bleeding Control / Shock Management
Direct pressure first — a tourniquet as the opening move on ordinary external bleeding loses the station.
General structure only, not exact scored step order. Verify the sequence against your program's official skill sheets and the current NREMT documents before your exam.
Open the full skill sheet guide