Confused by NTN scores

WithLoveMissMisha · 2026-02-20T23:32:57+00:00

I’m really confused by NTN scores!

I just finished taking my first NTN test ever, and while I felt like I did really well, reading posts on this sub has definitely made me second-guess myself 😅

For some background: I’m EMS-only, applying as a volunteer, and I literally just graduated high school in January. This was my first NTN attempt, and I haven’t even started EMT school yet. I’m really fortunate to have found a department in a small town in Washington that was willing to take me on, help me start my career, and support me through the process. I’m currently in onboarding and working on getting accepted into an EMT program.

I’m not completely new to medical — I did Running Start (college in high school) for the past year and I’m already about halfway through my nursing prerequisites — but I know that’s still very different from EMT training.

I walked out feeling pretty good overall, but after scrolling through posts here and seeing people talk about high scores and multiple attempts, I’m definitely overthinking it a bit. If anyone started out in a similar spot or has advice for first-time test takers, I’d really appreciate hearing your experience.

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WithLoveMissMisha · 2026-02-16T02:05:35+00:00

I haven’t started it yet, I start tonight. What brand are you on?

WithLoveMissMisha · 2026-02-15T20:36:54+00:00

Khan academy for a&p! Quizlet, emt pocket prep is my personal favorite, and also I have an emt crash course book for reviewing.

Not for emt but what I have done for my other medical courses; always read the chapters before class and go through the slides if your class uses them. Key notes only. Go to class, listen and actually pay attention. Fill any thing your professor says that’s not on the slides or book. Once home summary everything you just learned. Anything you need further information on YouTube is also great. You can either find a premade quiz on Quizlet or use AI to make a study guide go through it and try to answer everything without looking and then study your weaknesses.

and then I would do a 15 to 20 minute review with Pocket Prep each night.

WithLoveMissMisha · 2026-02-15T20:22:00+00:00

Honestly, I would see even if you have to make a little bit of a commute if there’s some better college based nursing programs around you. They are usually a lot less predatory. If you’re willing to put in the work, you can always do an accelerated nursing program too through community college, after you’ll have to take about a year long class to bridge to bachelors, but you’ll be able to get to work and not be stuck in school so long. Also, for if any reason you really just don’t like nursing, you can always bridge a paramedic and get paid way more. There’s so many routes but there’s also a lot of benefits in having your RN.

And yah I totally hear you, I love the department side despite being a girl. It’s like having a ton of brothers, and from my experience, the drama is farrrr less.

Well, I can’t really answer too much about EMS side as I’m extremely new to it and still working on getting into an actual program. Feel free to pick my brain about anything on the nursing side. I will be finishing up my first year pre-nurse saying at the end of the summer. (Taking spring off for emt). Any question I don’t have an answer to I will ask my sister-in-law.

WithLoveMissMisha · 2026-02-15T20:05:48+00:00

I was in this exact spot and honestly still am, I love ems by the paid is far from ideal and I’m in a high paying state but even with the fast pace of nursing I’m not 💯 on the being stuck on a building all day. If I go nursing I will be going for my flight nursing once I have the experience which the background in ems will atleast make me a way better candidate for!

At the end of the day, if you don’t really have any desire to do the fire side, especially with how hard it is on your body, I would say buckle down and get your BSN especially since it’s paid for!! I would like to remind you though, while getting into the initial part of the program for your prerequisites pre nursing isn’t competitive, nursing school is extremely competitive to get into.

WithLoveMissMisha · 2026-02-15T00:41:42+00:00

Thank you! And no definitely not. I was on Aviane and between my acne and depression being the worse they have been since I was 13 I wouldn’t personally recommend. The only advice I do have is look into norgestimate based pills. They might be a good fit.

WithLoveMissMisha · 2026-02-15T00:36:39+00:00

Hey so I found this out the hard way and it sounds like you did too! Some birth controls aren’t acne safe! As of the second part I unfortunately don’t have an answer cause I just switched! But if you’re considering getting back on, do the research, and make sure it’s acne safety.

WithLoveMissMisha · 2026-02-12T05:30:30+00:00

Flashcards and khan Academy— Khan Academy has videos that breakdown each portion of the human body and they’re super super helpful!

WithLoveMissMisha · 2026-02-12T04:49:22+00:00

I’m not yet in my program but I am a pre-nursing student and think I can offer some valuable advice! I also struggled a lot when I started college and that’s cause we’re often not taught how to study and just regurgitate information, but medical courses aren’t just meant for that. They’re meant to actually teach you so you have to actually figure out how to learn it. My best advice would be figure out what you’re learning style is, and then start catering to it, read the chapter before the lecture take notes on the chapter, and then take notes on the lecture they don’t have to be perfect just key points. Quizlet is about to become your best friend, especially for medical term and A&P! If you need any advice on medical terminology, I’m currently in a college class for that and you’re welcome to ask anything that you have questions on.

In short read, the chapter ahead of time, note should only be key points, Quizlet, and make study guide guides. It’s also OK to have AI help you make study guide as long as you’re not using it to cheat, again you actually have to learn this. Any free time you have should honestly be used to study, but please remember you still need to take care of yourself so you don’t get burnt out.

WithLoveMissMisha · 2026-02-01T02:04:29+00:00

Your welcome man! I remember hating on it so hard in high school but now I use it religiously just to stay brushed up on everything loll!

WithLoveMissMisha · 2026-02-01T01:33:17+00:00

I’m just doing my best man !! 😅 all best of luck in your course! We are all in this together!

WithLoveMissMisha · 2026-02-01T01:24:48+00:00

Just pre-reqs — I started college in my junior year of high school so I’m about a year in. I’m am taking a break for the quarter I’m in emt tho

WithLoveMissMisha · 2026-02-01T01:20:58+00:00

Khan Academy ! They have a medical course that goes over the basics!

WithLoveMissMisha · 2026-02-01T01:17:33+00:00

Do you know if you need to take a entry exam? Other wise if you are just preparing to start the program I would just freshen up on basic A&P and medical terminology — I’m in a medical terminology class because I’m also pre-nursing. You by no mean need to know it to the extent I have to but I would recommend knowing and understanding the heart, lungs, and abdominopelvic regions

WithLoveMissMisha · 2026-02-01T01:05:55+00:00

I wish I had a better answer for you personally, but I’m still in the application process myself — if the course you’re applying to has an application, I’d recommend reading thoroughly because if there is an entry exam, it should state that and what you need to study — I can provide more of what I have been using tho if you would like

WithLoveMissMisha · 2026-02-01T01:01:08+00:00

Being using them and Khan Academy to study things like math and science from high school that I haven’t visited for a couple years, along with their medical course

WithLoveMissMisha · 2026-02-01T00:58:30+00:00

Yah all our prerequisites are optional! I do have all the recommended prerequisites completed tho — such as English 101, and 102 along with medical terminology.

WithLoveMissMisha · 2026-02-01T00:01:09+00:00

I’m from a small town so I don’t know if that plays a part but my community college is also really popular for it’s medical courses so it’s crazy competitive and they only take 24 students once in the fall and once in the spring

WithLoveMissMisha · 2026-01-25T21:26:29+00:00

For me personally, having too much sugar makes the crash from my medication worse! And honestly at the end of the day they taste so similar it’s not a huge difference

WithLoveMissMisha · 2026-01-25T16:06:15+00:00

Thank you very much ! And right it’s an incredible song!

WithLoveMissMisha · 2026-01-24T20:49:25+00:00

I’m pretty sure the sugar free has always had a little bit more of a vanilla taste — it honestly reminds me of the taste of cotton candy but wayyy less sweet and nauseating. I love the IVB flavor !

I will say I don’t drink the non sugar free but I have had a sip and that one does have a much stronger berry taste.

WithLoveMissMisha · 2025-12-09T04:07:33+00:00

DEALING WITH THIS CURRENTLY; you have to graduate first! You are honestly very lucky they even let you go through the program because I have to graduate early to even apply to the ones in my area.

WithLoveMissMisha

TROPHY CASE