Mass. EMT-B practical critical fails

[firefighter221]

Hey so, here is my situation:


On sunday I took the MA basic practical. On the first station, CPR, I forgot to call ALS and my partner forgot to put in the OPA. We figured these were critical fails, and proceeded to rock out the next 3 stations because we can repeat the 1 station if we fail it, but only 1 station out of the 4. At the end of the day, our numbers were not called back to repeat. Of the other 3 stations, we did PERFECTLY, we literally watched the proctors write "pass" on 2 of them, and on the third (splinting) we did literally textbook style, not leaving anything out and not adding anything extra in. So, the fact that we didn't get called back either means we failed CPR and something else, or that what we did wrong in CPR wasn't critical fails (or the instructors just went easy on us).


With that backstory, does anyone know if calling ALS and inserting an OPA are critical fails on the CPR segment of the MA emt-b practical?


The wait is killing me already, and i have at least 5.5 weeks wait left for the official results.

 

[RMBROWN]

Danm that sucks man im currently enrolled in a emt-b class and im not forsure about your question but ill ask around and let u know tho good luck....

 

[charlie82]

These are not critical failures. OPAs are not SOP in the AHA rules. They are recommended, but not critical. I dont teach them in my BCLS courses. Calling ALS may be a critical failure.


This should be posted on the state's website somewhere.

 

[firefighter221]

Also, my emt class' practical which is designed to be much harder than the state tests, had both those things as critical fails, but is also wayy more in depth and nitpicky than the state. So that adds to my confusion

 

[charlie82]

Also, my emt class' practical which is designed to be much harder than the state tests, had both those things as critical fails, but is also wayy more in depth and nitpicky than the state. So that adds to my confusion

I did not know that EMT instructors could make up critical failures, usually it is a state mandated test guideline.

 

[philyumpshus]

There must be somewhere for you to get the grading rubric. When I took EMT they gave us the sheet that the proctors use to evaluate us; it told how many points to take off or if it was an automatic fail.

 

[firefighter221]

Charlie: they didn't make up anything. They taught to the state guidelines to the letter, but just added more critical fails to make the class practical more difficult than the state one.


Phily: I have been scouring the web for 3 days now, and can find the ones for texas and new york, but that's it.

 

[localhero800]

According to my last Skills Sheet, Calling ALS was not a Manditory point on CPR. I am in Missouri though.

 

[backdraft51]

here is the skills check off sheets that mostly every collage I have ever seen has used. these are the NREMT check off sheets. https://www.nremt.org/nremt/about/exam_coord_man.asp


You only had four stations. Lucky.

 

[firefighter221]

Thanks backdraft, those are a lot like the ones used in my class.


And yeah it was 1. CPR management, 2. Upper extremity/Traction splinting, 3. Backboard or KED, 4. Medical/Trauma assesment

 

[blackcherryxj]

I had 6 stations


Trauma Assessment


Medical Assessment


Airway/BVM


AED


KED or LSB


and Draw for splinting or oxygen or stuff like that


I think that's the stations.


Paul

 

[calebsheltonmed23]

I'm in Missouri so it may be little different but just hold with me here. Is it a state test or the NREMT test. In Missouri we only have to take the NREMT and then apply for MO license, but I don't know about there. You can always ask your instructor, because he/she should have the skill sheets and be able to tell you. Another route is call MA's EMS department and ask them.


Hope this helps! :thumbsup:


Caleb

 

[Lt. Dino]

I used to be an EMT instructor at Northeastern University, and I still have the Massachusetts state testing sheets (sorry, I won't copy and paste the whole sheet). Anyway, the CPR station is divided into two parts. One is the Resuscitation part, acting as the first rescuer and then as the second rescuer. Here are the critical criteria for this part:





The second part of the CPR station is using the AED. Here's the critical criteria for the defibrillation portion:





Hope this helps. Most importantly... have confidence in yourself. If you think you rocked it, you probably did. Best of luck and welcome to EMS.

 

[HFD eng1ine]

^ good post

 

[Zoe]

As Lt. Dino pointed out, failure to state need for ALS is a critical fail point.


(And the reason why you couldn't find the sheets anywhere is because MASS OEMS pulled them a couple years ago from their website.)


From my many years of experience, it is completely possible that the examiner missed the ALS fault... especially if the rest of the station was performed well and with confidence.


That said... I've seen tests go all sorts of ways... examiners missing critical fails... students convinced they passed stations when they didn't...


All I can say is 'good luck!'

 

[HFD eng1ine]

I know alot of people have said this but I'm just reiterating it. Yes it is a critical fail. In mass a basic must call ALS and continue to treat the patient. If ALS si still not there when you are ready to transport you still transport and ALS can join you en route to the hospital. This info is from an instructor.


Kp

 

[firefighter221]

thanks for the responses all, very informative.


however, the sheets that Lt. Dino posted look nothing like what we were taught to in our class, nor in any other class that i've talked to students from (this year).


I guess the ultimate thing to be said is "we shall see"

 

[Lt. Dino]

ff221- When you're doing the practical exam and the examiner has a piece of paper in front of him/her checking things off, those are the sheets I have. Again, it's been 2 or 3 years since I've taught, so I don't know if OEMS has changed them at all.

 

[firefighter221]

Dino -


very informative thank you, I misunderstood the two sections as being for rescuers 1 and 2, my bad. Thanks for posting.

 

[firefighter221]

Just as an update, got my postcard in the mail today! Passed the practical and scheduling my written for late next week. Got some studying to do, but couldn't be more excited. Thanks all for the input again!

 

[gman021]

Just as an update, got my postcard in the mail today! Passed the practical and scheduling my written for late next week. Got some studying to do, but couldn't be more excited. Thanks all for the input again!

Nice job. Im taking my EMT course this summer. Where's the cheapest to go? Salem St. or North Shore?

 

[firefighter221]

My entire course was offered as a package through BU and was one of the middle-cheaper ones in the state. I have no experience with other courses so I can't say much about comparisons in class size, labs, etc.

 

[gman021]

What do you mean it was a package?

 

[Lt. Dino]

firefighter221 - Congrats!!!!

 

[firefighter221]

What do you mean it was a package?

IE, it was the course and tests all in one, they set everything up for us. I don't know if that's how they all work so if it is I guess it's not a "package" just the way they are haha, and if so excuse my ignorance.