Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) exam Verified
Questions, Correct Answers, and Detailed Explanations
for Science Students||Already Graded A+
1. What is the first component of the Trauma Nursing Process (TNP)?
A. Secondary survey
B. Focused assessment
C. Primary survey
D. Diagnostic testing
The primary survey (ABCDE) always comes first to identify life-threats.
2. What is the priority action when a trauma patient is unresponsive and has
snoring respirations?
A. Apply oxygen
B. Begin CPR
C. Open the airway with a jaw-thrust maneuver
D. Insert an NG tube
Snoring respirations indicate airway obstruction; jaw-thrust maintains spinal
precautions.
3. A trauma patient with suspected C-spine injury is vomiting. What should
the nurse do?
A. Turn them supine
B. Suction the airway
C. Remove cervical immobilization
D. Log-roll while maintaining spinal alignment
Turning the patient on their side prevents aspiration while protecting the spine.
4. Capillary refill >3 seconds in a child may indicate:
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Hypothermia only
,C. Poor perfusion
D. Increased ICP
Delayed refill suggests inadequate perfusion.
5. What is the most reliable indicator of adequate endotracheal tube
placement?
A. Chest rise
B. Mist in the tube
C. Continuous waveform capnography
D. Provider auscultation
Waveform capnography is the gold standard.
6. A patient with blunt chest trauma has tracheal deviation to the left. What
should the nurse suspect?
A. Pneumonia
B. Flail chest
C. Right tension pneumothorax
D. Cardiac tamponade
Trachea deviates away from a tension pneumothorax.
7. What is the immediate intervention for a tension pneumothorax?
A. Chest X-ray
B. Oxygen
C. Chest tube placement
D. Needle decompression
Life-threatening; decompress before imaging.
8. A trauma patient with external hemorrhage is bleeding rapidly. What is
the first priority?
, A. Establish IV access
B. Warm the patient
C. Apply direct pressure to the wound
D. Give tranexamic acid
Direct pressure controls bleeding fastest.
9. What does a GCS motor score of "withdraws from pain" indicate?
A. 4
B. 5
C. 3
D. 2
Withdrawal equals a motor score of 5.
10. Which finding indicates neurogenic shock?
A. Hypertension and tachycardia
B. Hypotension with bradycardia
C. Hypotension with tachycardia
D. Narrow pulse pressure
Loss of sympathetic tone causes bradycardia.
11. What is the recommended fluid for initial resuscitation in hemorrhagic
shock?
A. D5NS
B. LR with dextrose
C. Balanced crystalloid (LR or Plasma-Lyte)
D. Normal saline boluses only
Balanced crystalloids reduce acidosis risk.
12. A patient with open femur fracture arrives with visible bone. First action?
Questions, Correct Answers, and Detailed Explanations
for Science Students||Already Graded A+
1. What is the first component of the Trauma Nursing Process (TNP)?
A. Secondary survey
B. Focused assessment
C. Primary survey
D. Diagnostic testing
The primary survey (ABCDE) always comes first to identify life-threats.
2. What is the priority action when a trauma patient is unresponsive and has
snoring respirations?
A. Apply oxygen
B. Begin CPR
C. Open the airway with a jaw-thrust maneuver
D. Insert an NG tube
Snoring respirations indicate airway obstruction; jaw-thrust maintains spinal
precautions.
3. A trauma patient with suspected C-spine injury is vomiting. What should
the nurse do?
A. Turn them supine
B. Suction the airway
C. Remove cervical immobilization
D. Log-roll while maintaining spinal alignment
Turning the patient on their side prevents aspiration while protecting the spine.
4. Capillary refill >3 seconds in a child may indicate:
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Hypothermia only
,C. Poor perfusion
D. Increased ICP
Delayed refill suggests inadequate perfusion.
5. What is the most reliable indicator of adequate endotracheal tube
placement?
A. Chest rise
B. Mist in the tube
C. Continuous waveform capnography
D. Provider auscultation
Waveform capnography is the gold standard.
6. A patient with blunt chest trauma has tracheal deviation to the left. What
should the nurse suspect?
A. Pneumonia
B. Flail chest
C. Right tension pneumothorax
D. Cardiac tamponade
Trachea deviates away from a tension pneumothorax.
7. What is the immediate intervention for a tension pneumothorax?
A. Chest X-ray
B. Oxygen
C. Chest tube placement
D. Needle decompression
Life-threatening; decompress before imaging.
8. A trauma patient with external hemorrhage is bleeding rapidly. What is
the first priority?
, A. Establish IV access
B. Warm the patient
C. Apply direct pressure to the wound
D. Give tranexamic acid
Direct pressure controls bleeding fastest.
9. What does a GCS motor score of "withdraws from pain" indicate?
A. 4
B. 5
C. 3
D. 2
Withdrawal equals a motor score of 5.
10. Which finding indicates neurogenic shock?
A. Hypertension and tachycardia
B. Hypotension with bradycardia
C. Hypotension with tachycardia
D. Narrow pulse pressure
Loss of sympathetic tone causes bradycardia.
11. What is the recommended fluid for initial resuscitation in hemorrhagic
shock?
A. D5NS
B. LR with dextrose
C. Balanced crystalloid (LR or Plasma-Lyte)
D. Normal saline boluses only
Balanced crystalloids reduce acidosis risk.
12. A patient with open femur fracture arrives with visible bone. First action?
