TL;DR
Master airway assessment, management techniques, and respiratory emergency interventions. Airway management is the highest priority in patient care and a critical exam topic.
Free CPAP/BiPAP & Ventilation Practice Questions
NREMT Paramedic Certification · Airway & Ventilation (Advanced)
This module covers CPAP/BiPAP & Ventilation as part of the Airway & Ventilation (Advanced) section, testing your understanding of core concepts and their practical application.
| Exam | NREMT Paramedic Certification |
| Pass Rate | 67% |
| Duration | 150 minutes |
| Module | CPAP/BiPAP & Ventilation |
Why CPAP/BiPAP & Ventilation matters
CPAP/BiPAP & Ventilation is the most critical clinical skill because airway compromise is the fastest pathway to patient death.
Sample Practice Questions (5)
1. A patient with both COPD and CHF presents in severe respiratory distress. Lung sounds reveal bilateral crackles AND diffuse wheezing. SpO2 is 82%, RR is 38. After applying CPAP and nebulized bronchodilators, the patient's condition does not improve after 10 minutes. What is the MOST appropriate next step?
- Prepare for endotracheal intubation using RSI
- Continue CPAP for an additional 20 minutes
- Remove CPAP and switch to a non-rebreather mask
- Administer furosemide IV and continue current treatment
2. A 72-year-old patient with known CHF is on CPAP for pulmonary edema. You also administer sublingual nitroglycerin. The patient's blood pressure drops from 140/90 to 76/40 mmHg and becomes diaphoretic. What is the MOST likely mechanism of this combined hemodynamic effect?
- Additive preload reduction: CPAP decreased venous return while nitroglycerin caused venodilation, together causing excessive preload reduction and hypotension
- Nitroglycerin caused a STEMI, and the patient is in cardiogenic shock
- CPAP caused a tension pneumothorax
- The patient is having an anaphylactic reaction to nitroglycerin
3. A patient on CPAP begins vomiting. What is the MOST critical immediate action?
- Remove the CPAP mask immediately, turn the patient to the side, and suction the airway
- Increase the CPAP pressure to prevent aspiration
- Leave the CPAP in place and administer an antiemetic
- Switch to BiPAP to better control airway pressures
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- Disable the pop-off valve and monitor for barotrauma while ventilating with lower tidal volumes
- Squeeze the BVM harder to overcome the pop-off valve
- Remove the BVM and switch to mouth-to-tube ventilation
- Accept the limited tidal volumes as adequate
5. What is the key difference between CPAP and BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure)?
- BiPAP provides two pressure levels: a higher pressure during inspiration (IPAP) and a lower pressure during expiration (EPAP)
- CPAP provides higher pressures than BiPAP
- BiPAP requires intubation while CPAP does not
- CPAP assists with both inspiration and expiration while BiPAP only assists expiration
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