TNCC Trauma Nursing Process (TNP) 9th Edition 2026/2027 |
Complete Practice Questions, Answers & Detailed Rationales
Questions 1–25: Trauma Nursing Process & Initial Approach
1. What is the primary purpose of the Trauma Nursing Process (TNP)?
A. To complete documentation before treatment
B. To provide a systematic approach to trauma assessment and
intervention
C. To determine insurance eligibility
D. To replace physician assessment
Answer: B
Rationale: The TNP provides a systematic framework for rapidly
identifying life-threatening problems, intervening, reassessing, and
planning definitive care.
2. A trauma patient arrives with uncontrolled external hemorrhage.
What should the nurse prioritize?
A. Obtain a complete medical history
B. Control the life-threatening hemorrhage
C. Obtain a detailed medication history
D. Perform a complete secondary survey
Answer: B
Rationale: Catastrophic external bleeding can cause rapid death and
must be addressed immediately before less urgent assessment tasks.
3. Which sequence best reflects the initial trauma assessment?
A. History, physical examination, disposition
B. Secondary survey, primary survey, reassessment
,C. Initial impression, primary survey, adjuncts, secondary survey,
reassessment
D. Laboratory testing, imaging, history
Answer: C
Rationale: Trauma care begins with preparation and an initial
impression, followed by the primary survey, appropriate adjuncts,
secondary survey, ongoing reassessment, and disposition.
4. What is the major objective of the primary survey?
A. Identify every injury
B. Identify and immediately treat life threats
C. Complete the patient's social history
D. Establish discharge teaching
Answer: B
Rationale: The primary survey focuses on conditions that threaten life
and require immediate intervention.
5. Which patient should receive the highest priority?
A. Patient with an isolated closed forearm fracture
B. Patient with mild ankle pain
C. Patient with airway obstruction
D. Patient requesting pain medication
Answer: C
Rationale: Airway obstruction can rapidly result in hypoxia, cardiac
arrest, and death.
6. What does AVPU assess?
A. Pain severity
B. Level of consciousness
,C. Respiratory depth
D. Circulatory volume
Answer: B
Rationale: AVPU provides a rapid assessment of responsiveness: Alert,
responds to Verbal stimuli, responds to Pain, or Unresponsive.
7. A trauma patient becomes less responsive during assessment. What
is the nurse's priority?
A. Continue the secondary survey
B. Reassess the primary survey
C. Complete the medication reconciliation
D. Obtain a detailed family history
Answer: B
Rationale: Any deterioration requires immediate reassessment for
newly developed or worsening life threats.
8. Which finding is most concerning during the initial impression?
A. Small superficial abrasion
B. Uncontrolled arterial bleeding
C. Mild headache
D. Stable wrist deformity
Answer: B
Rationale: Uncontrolled hemorrhage can cause rapid circulatory
collapse and requires immediate control.
9. What is the purpose of trauma team preparation?
A. Delay patient contact
B. Ensure personnel, equipment, roles, and environment are ready
, C. Complete discharge documentation
D. Obtain insurance authorization
Answer: B
Rationale: Preparation allows the team to respond rapidly and
efficiently when the patient arrives.
10. Why is PPE important during trauma resuscitation?
A. It prevents documentation errors
B. It protects healthcare personnel from exposure
C. It reduces patient anxiety
D. It replaces hand hygiene
Answer: B
Rationale: Trauma care can involve blood, body fluids, chemicals, and
environmental hazards.
11. Which action is appropriate when scene contamination is
suspected?
A. Ignore contamination
B. Consider decontamination and personnel safety
C. Remove all PPE
D. Delay all safety precautions until discharge
Answer: B
Rationale: Environmental and biological hazards must be addressed
while maintaining timely trauma care.
12. The initial impression primarily determines what?
A. The patient's insurance status
B. Whether immediate life-saving priorities are present
Complete Practice Questions, Answers & Detailed Rationales
Questions 1–25: Trauma Nursing Process & Initial Approach
1. What is the primary purpose of the Trauma Nursing Process (TNP)?
A. To complete documentation before treatment
B. To provide a systematic approach to trauma assessment and
intervention
C. To determine insurance eligibility
D. To replace physician assessment
Answer: B
Rationale: The TNP provides a systematic framework for rapidly
identifying life-threatening problems, intervening, reassessing, and
planning definitive care.
2. A trauma patient arrives with uncontrolled external hemorrhage.
What should the nurse prioritize?
A. Obtain a complete medical history
B. Control the life-threatening hemorrhage
C. Obtain a detailed medication history
D. Perform a complete secondary survey
Answer: B
Rationale: Catastrophic external bleeding can cause rapid death and
must be addressed immediately before less urgent assessment tasks.
3. Which sequence best reflects the initial trauma assessment?
A. History, physical examination, disposition
B. Secondary survey, primary survey, reassessment
,C. Initial impression, primary survey, adjuncts, secondary survey,
reassessment
D. Laboratory testing, imaging, history
Answer: C
Rationale: Trauma care begins with preparation and an initial
impression, followed by the primary survey, appropriate adjuncts,
secondary survey, ongoing reassessment, and disposition.
4. What is the major objective of the primary survey?
A. Identify every injury
B. Identify and immediately treat life threats
C. Complete the patient's social history
D. Establish discharge teaching
Answer: B
Rationale: The primary survey focuses on conditions that threaten life
and require immediate intervention.
5. Which patient should receive the highest priority?
A. Patient with an isolated closed forearm fracture
B. Patient with mild ankle pain
C. Patient with airway obstruction
D. Patient requesting pain medication
Answer: C
Rationale: Airway obstruction can rapidly result in hypoxia, cardiac
arrest, and death.
6. What does AVPU assess?
A. Pain severity
B. Level of consciousness
,C. Respiratory depth
D. Circulatory volume
Answer: B
Rationale: AVPU provides a rapid assessment of responsiveness: Alert,
responds to Verbal stimuli, responds to Pain, or Unresponsive.
7. A trauma patient becomes less responsive during assessment. What
is the nurse's priority?
A. Continue the secondary survey
B. Reassess the primary survey
C. Complete the medication reconciliation
D. Obtain a detailed family history
Answer: B
Rationale: Any deterioration requires immediate reassessment for
newly developed or worsening life threats.
8. Which finding is most concerning during the initial impression?
A. Small superficial abrasion
B. Uncontrolled arterial bleeding
C. Mild headache
D. Stable wrist deformity
Answer: B
Rationale: Uncontrolled hemorrhage can cause rapid circulatory
collapse and requires immediate control.
9. What is the purpose of trauma team preparation?
A. Delay patient contact
B. Ensure personnel, equipment, roles, and environment are ready
, C. Complete discharge documentation
D. Obtain insurance authorization
Answer: B
Rationale: Preparation allows the team to respond rapidly and
efficiently when the patient arrives.
10. Why is PPE important during trauma resuscitation?
A. It prevents documentation errors
B. It protects healthcare personnel from exposure
C. It reduces patient anxiety
D. It replaces hand hygiene
Answer: B
Rationale: Trauma care can involve blood, body fluids, chemicals, and
environmental hazards.
11. Which action is appropriate when scene contamination is
suspected?
A. Ignore contamination
B. Consider decontamination and personnel safety
C. Remove all PPE
D. Delay all safety precautions until discharge
Answer: B
Rationale: Environmental and biological hazards must be addressed
while maintaining timely trauma care.
12. The initial impression primarily determines what?
A. The patient's insurance status
B. Whether immediate life-saving priorities are present
