CHAPTER 72: EMERGENCY NURSING
(SUDDARTH) EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2026
1. Which patient should the nurse prioritize as needing emergent treatment, assuming no other
injuries are present except the ones outlined below?
A) A patient with a blunt chest trauma with some difficulty breathing
B) A patient with a sore neck who was immobilized in the field on a backboard with a cervical
collar
C) A patient with a possible fractured tibia with adequate pedal pulses
D) A patient with an acute onset of confusion - ANS Ans: A
Feedback: The patient with blunt chest trauma possibly has a compromised airway.
Establishment and maintenance of a patent airway and adequate ventilation is prioritized over
other health problems, including skeletal injuries and changes in cognition.
2. The nurse observes that the family members of a patient who was injured in an accident are
blaming each other for the circumstances leading up to the accident. The nurse appropriately
lets the family members express their feelings of responsibility, while explaining that there was
probably little they could do to prevent the injury. In what stage of crisis is this family? A)
Anxiety and denial B) Remorse and guilt C) Anger D) Grief - ANS : B Feedback: Remorse and
guilt are natural processes of the stages of a crisis and should be facilitated for the family
members to process the crisis. The familys sense of blame and responsibility are more
suggestive of guilt than anger, grief, or anxiety.
3. A patient is brought to the ED by ambulance with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. The
nurse knows that the most common hollow organ injured in this type of injury is what?
A) Liver
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 1
, B) Small bowel
C) Stomach
D) Large bowel - ANS ans: B Feedback: Penetrating abdominal wounds have a high incidence
of injury to hollow organs, especially the small bowel. The liver is also injured frequently, but it
is a solid organ.
4. A patient has been brought to the ED with multiple trauma after a motor vehicle accident.
After immediate threats to life have been addressed, the nurse and trauma team should take
what action?
A) Perform a rapid physical assessment.
B) Initiate health education.
C) Perform diagnostic imaging.
D) Establish the circumstances of the accident. - ANS ans: A Feedback: Once immediate
threats to life have been corrected, a rapid physical examination is done to identify injuries and
priorities of treatment. Health education is initiated later in the care process and diagnostic
imaging would take place after a rapid physical assessment. It is not the care teams
responsibility to determine the circumstances of the accident.
5. The nursing educator is reviewing the signs and symptoms of heat stroke with a group of
nurses who provide care in a desert region. The educator should describe what sign or
symptom? A) Hypertension with a wide pulse pressure B) Anhidrosis C) Copious diuresis - 1351
D) Cheyne-Stokes respirations - ANS : B Feedback: Heat stroke is manifested by anhidrosis
confusion, bizarre behavior, coma, elevated body temperature, hot dry skin, tachypnea,
hypotension, and tachycardia. This health problem is not associated with anhidrosis or Cheyne-
Stokes respirations.
6. A patient is brought to the ED by ambulance after swallowing highly acidic toilet bowl cleaner
2 hours earlier. The patient is alert and oriented. What is the care teams most appropriate
treatment?
A) Administering syrup of ipecac
B) Performing a gastric lavage
C) Giving milk to drink
D) Referring to psychiatry - ANS ans: C Feedback: A patient who has swallowed an acidic
substance, such as toilet bowl cleaner, may be given milk or water to drink for dilution. Gastric
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 2
(SUDDARTH) EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2026
1. Which patient should the nurse prioritize as needing emergent treatment, assuming no other
injuries are present except the ones outlined below?
A) A patient with a blunt chest trauma with some difficulty breathing
B) A patient with a sore neck who was immobilized in the field on a backboard with a cervical
collar
C) A patient with a possible fractured tibia with adequate pedal pulses
D) A patient with an acute onset of confusion - ANS Ans: A
Feedback: The patient with blunt chest trauma possibly has a compromised airway.
Establishment and maintenance of a patent airway and adequate ventilation is prioritized over
other health problems, including skeletal injuries and changes in cognition.
2. The nurse observes that the family members of a patient who was injured in an accident are
blaming each other for the circumstances leading up to the accident. The nurse appropriately
lets the family members express their feelings of responsibility, while explaining that there was
probably little they could do to prevent the injury. In what stage of crisis is this family? A)
Anxiety and denial B) Remorse and guilt C) Anger D) Grief - ANS : B Feedback: Remorse and
guilt are natural processes of the stages of a crisis and should be facilitated for the family
members to process the crisis. The familys sense of blame and responsibility are more
suggestive of guilt than anger, grief, or anxiety.
3. A patient is brought to the ED by ambulance with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. The
nurse knows that the most common hollow organ injured in this type of injury is what?
A) Liver
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 1
, B) Small bowel
C) Stomach
D) Large bowel - ANS ans: B Feedback: Penetrating abdominal wounds have a high incidence
of injury to hollow organs, especially the small bowel. The liver is also injured frequently, but it
is a solid organ.
4. A patient has been brought to the ED with multiple trauma after a motor vehicle accident.
After immediate threats to life have been addressed, the nurse and trauma team should take
what action?
A) Perform a rapid physical assessment.
B) Initiate health education.
C) Perform diagnostic imaging.
D) Establish the circumstances of the accident. - ANS ans: A Feedback: Once immediate
threats to life have been corrected, a rapid physical examination is done to identify injuries and
priorities of treatment. Health education is initiated later in the care process and diagnostic
imaging would take place after a rapid physical assessment. It is not the care teams
responsibility to determine the circumstances of the accident.
5. The nursing educator is reviewing the signs and symptoms of heat stroke with a group of
nurses who provide care in a desert region. The educator should describe what sign or
symptom? A) Hypertension with a wide pulse pressure B) Anhidrosis C) Copious diuresis - 1351
D) Cheyne-Stokes respirations - ANS : B Feedback: Heat stroke is manifested by anhidrosis
confusion, bizarre behavior, coma, elevated body temperature, hot dry skin, tachypnea,
hypotension, and tachycardia. This health problem is not associated with anhidrosis or Cheyne-
Stokes respirations.
6. A patient is brought to the ED by ambulance after swallowing highly acidic toilet bowl cleaner
2 hours earlier. The patient is alert and oriented. What is the care teams most appropriate
treatment?
A) Administering syrup of ipecac
B) Performing a gastric lavage
C) Giving milk to drink
D) Referring to psychiatry - ANS ans: C Feedback: A patient who has swallowed an acidic
substance, such as toilet bowl cleaner, may be given milk or water to drink for dilution. Gastric
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 2
