T-Minus 10 Days Until National Registry Written Test
In less than 10 days, I will be taking the computerized National Registry written exam.
My personal feelings about this momentous event?
Yeah, I’m just a LITTLE nervous.
Ever since I left Land o’Lakes EMS, I’ve felt that something’s been missing from my life. Oh, I knew what I NEEDED to do to practice EMS in this state, it’s just that I didn’t want to face the horror of National Registry again.
If I pass written, practicals are going to be a BITCH, especially since I haven’t actively performed some of these skills in over a year. I know I’m paying the price for waiting so damn long to retake this test, but part of me refused to test under the old American Heart Association standards, which National Registry did not switch to until last month.
Everyone keeps telling me I’d be happier working as a paramedic: my husband, Libby, even my parents claim my talents will be put to better use in an environment where I can be a bit more hands-on in terms of patient care and not serving as some brainless tech who does what it’s told and doesn’t ask questions.
My husband wants me working as a paramedic again. He HATES seeing me in a position where I’m not able to make use of either one of my college degrees or certifications. Because of that, part of me is doing this out of love for my husband, who has supported me through times that no one else did.
I’ve taken practice exams, graded them, went back and reviewed the area that kicked my ass, only to have a completely different area kick me in a different part of my arse.
I need to learn to trust my gut instinct more when it comes to answering those cursed questions about what to do first…and I hate how as soon as I go to practicals, I gain this invisible army of EMTs who will do exactly what I tell them to do.
Words of wisdom/advice, anyone?
Take a deep breath. You know this stuff in your bones. Let heart and mind and muscle memory carry the heavy loads and leave your mind free to handle the surprises.
That didn’t come out right. *sigh* The part of you mind that needs to “carry” should be your “automagical” gut responses. The part of your mind that needs to be reserved for handling the unexpected curveballs, sliders and the inevitable cheating spitballs that testers usually feel they simply MUST throw in, is the relaxed, poised, attentive analyst.
Crossing my fingers for you; good luck and I hope you ace it.
As David said, relax. I think that’s what he meant anyway. Remember that the exam doesn’t always have the “right” answer it’s looking for the “best” answer.
Unless the National Registry has changed a lot in the years since I took it, don’t read into the question, read the question and answer the question. Don’t answer what you think they might have meant.
Don’t second guess yourself. At least I find that I regret it when I change my answers.
As to the practical, again unless it’s changed I treated it as a script to a play. Memorize the script and follow it.
Sadly, no paramedic or EMT exam is really relevant to the real world.
Good luck, although I don’t really think you need luck because you have knowledge and skill.