TRAUMA NURS CORE COURSE (TNCC) EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
The most reassuring finding for a male patient with hop pain after a
fall is which of the following?
Answer: D
A. a normal prostate exam
B. absence of abdominal distension
C. a normal fast exam
D. pelvic stability ***
A 49-year-old restrained driver involved in an MVC presents to the
trauma center c/o abd, pelvic, and bilateral lower extremity pain
Vitals signs are stable. The nurse can anticipate all of these
negative fast exams except which of the following? The FAST exam is
done at the bedside to identify pathological fluid in the abdominal
and pelvic cavities. FAST exams reduce the use of more invasive
diagnostic peritoneal lavage and can be repeated if clinical changes
or hemodynamic changes occur. A negative FAST study does not rule
out injury and may warrant a follow-up computed tomography scan.
Serial FAST exams can identify increasing abdominal fluid
collections from hemorrhage. Diagnostic peritoneal
lavage/diagnostic peritoneal aspiration is performed by the surgical
team to rapidly identify the presence of hemorrhage in patients who
are hemodynamically unstable after trauma.
A. diagnostic peritoneal lavage ***
B. serial fast exams
C. abdominal and pelvic CT scans
D. serial abdominal assessments
Which of the following is an expected finding in a patient with a
thoracostomy connected to a chest drainage system?
Answer: D
A. output of 200 mL/hr
B. The tubing clamp closed for transport
, C. dependent loops in the tubing to promote drainage
D. fluctuations in the water serial chamber ***
Which of the following patients warrants referral to a burn center?
Answer: C
A. a 21- year old female with a partial thickness burn to the right
forearm
B. a 40-year-old hypertensive male with a superficial burn to the back
C. a 52-year-old diabetic male with partial thickness burn to the left
lower leg
***
• a 35-year-old hyperlipidemic female with superficial burns to the
anterior thorax.
A patient has been in the ED for several hours waiting to be
admitted. He sustained multiple rib fractures and a femur fracture
after a fall. He has been awake, alert, and c/o leg pain. His wife
reported suddenly becoming anxious and confused. Upon
reassessment, the patient is restless, with respiratory distress and
petechiae to his neck. the patient is exhibiting signs of symptoms
commonly associated with which of the following conditions?
Answer: B
A. acute lung injury
B. fat embolism ***
C. PTX
D. pulmonary contusion
What is the effect of hypothermia on the oxyhemoglobin
dissociation curve?
Answer: A
A. Hemoglobin does not readily release oxygen for use by the tissues
***
B. The amount of oxygen available to the tissues increases
C. Tissue oxygenation (PaO2) increases
, D. Hemoglobin molecule saturation (SaO2) decreases
A 20-year-old male presents to the ED c/o severe lower abd pain
after landing hard on the bicycle cross bars while performing an
aerial BMX maneuver. Secondary assessment reveals lower abd
tenderness and scrotal ecchymosis. Which of the following orders
would the nurse question?
Answer: C
A. Fast exam
B. CT scan
C. straight cath for urine sample ***
D. ice and elevation of the scrotum
You are treating a 27-year-old male in respiratory distress who
was involved in a house fire. Calculating TBSA burned is deferred
d/t the need for emergent intubation. At what rate should you
begin fluid resuscitation?
Answer: B
A. 1000 mL/hr
B. 500 mL/hr ***
C. 250 mL/hr
D. 125 mL/hr
Which of the following is a possible complication of positive-
pressure ventilation?
Answer: A
A. worsening pneumothorax
B. worsening flail chest
C. reabsorption of pleural air
D. negative intrapleural pressure
Which of the following is NOT considered goal-directed therapy of
cardiogenic shock?
Answer: C
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
The most reassuring finding for a male patient with hop pain after a
fall is which of the following?
Answer: D
A. a normal prostate exam
B. absence of abdominal distension
C. a normal fast exam
D. pelvic stability ***
A 49-year-old restrained driver involved in an MVC presents to the
trauma center c/o abd, pelvic, and bilateral lower extremity pain
Vitals signs are stable. The nurse can anticipate all of these
negative fast exams except which of the following? The FAST exam is
done at the bedside to identify pathological fluid in the abdominal
and pelvic cavities. FAST exams reduce the use of more invasive
diagnostic peritoneal lavage and can be repeated if clinical changes
or hemodynamic changes occur. A negative FAST study does not rule
out injury and may warrant a follow-up computed tomography scan.
Serial FAST exams can identify increasing abdominal fluid
collections from hemorrhage. Diagnostic peritoneal
lavage/diagnostic peritoneal aspiration is performed by the surgical
team to rapidly identify the presence of hemorrhage in patients who
are hemodynamically unstable after trauma.
A. diagnostic peritoneal lavage ***
B. serial fast exams
C. abdominal and pelvic CT scans
D. serial abdominal assessments
Which of the following is an expected finding in a patient with a
thoracostomy connected to a chest drainage system?
Answer: D
A. output of 200 mL/hr
B. The tubing clamp closed for transport
, C. dependent loops in the tubing to promote drainage
D. fluctuations in the water serial chamber ***
Which of the following patients warrants referral to a burn center?
Answer: C
A. a 21- year old female with a partial thickness burn to the right
forearm
B. a 40-year-old hypertensive male with a superficial burn to the back
C. a 52-year-old diabetic male with partial thickness burn to the left
lower leg
***
• a 35-year-old hyperlipidemic female with superficial burns to the
anterior thorax.
A patient has been in the ED for several hours waiting to be
admitted. He sustained multiple rib fractures and a femur fracture
after a fall. He has been awake, alert, and c/o leg pain. His wife
reported suddenly becoming anxious and confused. Upon
reassessment, the patient is restless, with respiratory distress and
petechiae to his neck. the patient is exhibiting signs of symptoms
commonly associated with which of the following conditions?
Answer: B
A. acute lung injury
B. fat embolism ***
C. PTX
D. pulmonary contusion
What is the effect of hypothermia on the oxyhemoglobin
dissociation curve?
Answer: A
A. Hemoglobin does not readily release oxygen for use by the tissues
***
B. The amount of oxygen available to the tissues increases
C. Tissue oxygenation (PaO2) increases
, D. Hemoglobin molecule saturation (SaO2) decreases
A 20-year-old male presents to the ED c/o severe lower abd pain
after landing hard on the bicycle cross bars while performing an
aerial BMX maneuver. Secondary assessment reveals lower abd
tenderness and scrotal ecchymosis. Which of the following orders
would the nurse question?
Answer: C
A. Fast exam
B. CT scan
C. straight cath for urine sample ***
D. ice and elevation of the scrotum
You are treating a 27-year-old male in respiratory distress who
was involved in a house fire. Calculating TBSA burned is deferred
d/t the need for emergent intubation. At what rate should you
begin fluid resuscitation?
Answer: B
A. 1000 mL/hr
B. 500 mL/hr ***
C. 250 mL/hr
D. 125 mL/hr
Which of the following is a possible complication of positive-
pressure ventilation?
Answer: A
A. worsening pneumothorax
B. worsening flail chest
C. reabsorption of pleural air
D. negative intrapleural pressure
Which of the following is NOT considered goal-directed therapy of
cardiogenic shock?
Answer: C
