National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians Advanced Level Psychomotor Examination - Patient Assessment - Trauma

Sep 22, 2026

Advanced level psychomotor examination checklist for trauma patient assessment by an EMT candidate. Covers scene size-up and safety, mechanism of injury, number of patients, spinal stabilization considerations, and initiation of primary survey and resuscitation. Includes airway, breathing, and circulation evaluations with appropriate interventions such as oxygen therapy, adjuncts, ventilation management, hemorrhage control, and shock management. Requires history taking using SAMPLE, secondary assessment of head, neck, chest, abdomen/pelvis, and extremities, plus reassessment and secondary injury/wound management. Includes critical failure criteria and documentation requirements.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Patient Assessment - Trauma

Critical Criteria

Scene Size-Up

Primary Survey/Resuscitation

History Taking

Secondary Assessment

Reassessment

National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians Advanced Level Psychomotor Examination PATIENT ASSESSMENT -TRAUMA Candidate: Examiner: Date: Signature: Scenario \# Actual Time Started: NOTE: Areas denoted by “**” may be integrated within sequence of primary survey Possible Points Points Awarded | Takes or verbalizes appropriate PPE precautions | 1 | | | --- | --- | --- | | SCENE SIZE-UP | | | | Determines the scene/situation is safe | 1 | | | Determines the mechanism of injury/nature of illness | 1 | | | Determines the number of patients | 1 | | | Requests additional help if necessary | 1 | | | Considers stabilization of spine | 1 | | | PRIMARY SURVEY/RESUSCITATION | | | | Verbalizes general impression of the patient | 1 | | | Determines responsiveness/level of consciousness | 1 | | | Determines chief complaint/apparent life-threats | 1 | | | Airway
-Opens and assesses airway (1 point) -Inserts adjunct as indicated (1 point) | 2 | | | Breathing
-Assess breathing (1 point)
-Assures adequate ventilation (1 point)
-Initiates appropriate oxygen therapy (1 point)
-Manages any injury which may compromise breathing/ventilation (1 point) | 4 | | | Circulation
-Checks pulse (1point)
-Assess skin [either skin color, temperature, or condition](1 point)
-Assesses for and controls major bleeding if present (1 point)
-Initiates shock management (1 point) | 4 | | | Identifies priority patients/makes transport decision based upon calculated GCS | 1 | | | HISTORY TAKING | | | | Obtains, or directs assistant to obtain, baseline vital signs | 1 | | | Attempts to obtain SAMPLE history | 1 | | | SECONDARY ASSESSMENT | | | | Head
-Inspects mouth**, nose**, and assesses facial area (1 point)
-Inspects and palpates scalp and ears (1 point)
-Assesses eyes for PERRL** (1 point) | 3 | | | Neck**
-Checks position of trachea (1 point)
-Checks jugular veins (1 point)
-Palpates cervical spine (1 point) | 3 | | | Chest**
-Inspects chest (1 point)
-Palpates chest (1 point)
-Auscultates chest (1 point) | 3 | | | Abdomen/pelvis**
-Inspects and palpates abdomen (1 point)
-Assesses pelvis (1 point)
-Verbalizes assessment of genitalia/perineum as needed (1 point) | 3 | | | Lower extremities**
-Inspects, palpates, and assesses motor, sensory, and distal circulatory functions (1 point/leg) | 2 | | | Upper extremities
-Inspects, palpates, and assesses motor, sensory, and distal circulatory functions (1 point/arm) | 2 | | | Posterior thorax, lumbar, and buttocks**
-Inspects and palpates posterior thorax (1 point)
-Inspects and palpates lumbar and buttocks area (1 point) | 2 | | | Manages secondary injuries and wounds appropriately | 1 | | | Reassesses patient | 1 | | | Actual Time Ended: TOTAL 42 | | | CRITICAL CRITERIA Failure to initiate or call for transport of the patient within 10 minute time limit Failure to take or verbalize appropriate PPE precautions Failure to determine scene safety Failure to assess for and provide spinal protection when indicated Failure to voice and ultimately provide high concentration of oxygen Failure to assess/provide adequate ventilation Failure to find or appropriately manage problems associated with airway, breathing, hemorrhage or shock [hypoperfusion] Failure to differentiate patient’s need for immediate transportation versus continued assessment/treatment at the scene Does other detailed history or physical exam before assessing/treating threats to airway, breathing, and circulation Failure to manage the patient as a competent EMT Exhibits unacceptable affect with patient or other personnel Uses or orders a dangerous or inappropriate intervention You must factually document your rationale for checking any of the above critical items on the reverse side of this form. © 2011 National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, Inc., Columbus, OH All m

FAQs

What are the critical failure criteria in the trauma psychomotor exam?

Failure to initiate or call for transport within the 10-minute limit, failure to use appropriate PPE, failure to determine scene safety, failure to assess and provide spinal protection when indicated, failure to voice and provide high concentration oxygen, and failure to assess/provide adequate ventilation. Other critical failures include not managing airway, breathing, hemorrhage, or shock problems, failing to differentiate transport needs, and performing unsafe or inappropriate interventions.

How is airway assessment performed in the checklist?

The candidate verbalizes general impression, determines responsiveness and apparent life threats, then opens and assesses the airway. The checklist also includes inserting an adjunct as indicated and managing problems that compromise breathing and ventilation.

What topics are included in the secondary assessment section?

Secondary assessment covers inspection and assessment of the head, nose/mouth and facial area; inspection and palpation of scalp and ears; eye assessment for PERRL. It also includes checking trachea position, jugular veins, and palpating the cervical spine; inspecting/palpating/auscultating chest; inspecting/palpating abdomen and assessing pelvis and genitalia/perineum as needed; and assessing motor, sensory, and distal circulation in lower and upper extremities, plus posterior thorax/lumbar/buttocks.

Sep 22, 2026

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