ADVANCED TRAUMA LIFE SUPPORT (ATLS) 11TH EDITION TEST BANK: 150
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) WITH DETAILED RATIONALES ||
COMPLETE A+ GUIDE
Questions 1–150
1. A trauma patient arrives with an altered level of consciousness and
snoring respirations. What is the first priority intervention?
A) Obtain a full set of vital signs
B) Perform a chin-lift or jaw-thrust maneuver to open the airway
C) Administer supplemental oxygen
D) Apply a cervical collar
Answer B: Perform a chin-lift or jaw-thrust maneuver to open the airway
Rationale: Airway is the first priority in the primary survey. Snoring indicates
partial airway obstruction. Manual maneuvers open the airway. ---
,2. During the primary survey, a trauma patient has a Glasgow Coma Scale
score of 8. What is the most appropriate action?
A) Continue monitoring and reassess in 15 minutes
B) Prepare for definitive airway management with intubation
C) Apply oxygen via nasal cannula
D) Perform a CT scan of the head
Answer B: Prepare for definitive airway management with intubation
Rationale: GCS ≤8 indicates need for definitive airway protection due to risk
of aspiration and inability to protect the airway. ---
3. A patient with a tension pneumothorax presents with tracheal deviation,
absent breath sounds on the right, and hypotension. What is the immediate
intervention?
A) Obtain a chest X-ray
B) Perform needle decompression in the second intercostal space,
midclavicular line
C) Administer IV fluids
D) Prepare for chest tube insertion
Answer B: Perform needle decompression in the second intercostal space,
midclavicular line
Rationale: Tension pneumothorax is a life-threatening emergency requiring
immediate needle decompression before imaging. ---
,4. A trauma patient has been intubated. How should the nurse confirm
endotracheal tube placement?
A) Auscultate the epigastrium
B) Use continuous waveform capnography
C) Observe chest rise only
D) Listen for breath sounds on the left side only
Answer B: Use continuous waveform capnography
Rationale: Continuous waveform capnography is the gold standard for
confirming and monitoring ET tube placement. ---
5. During the primary survey, a patient has distended neck veins, muffled
heart sounds, and hypotension. What condition should the nurse suspect?
A) Tension pneumothorax
B) Cardiac tamponade
C) Hemothorax
D) Aortic dissection
Answer B: Cardiac tamponade
Rationale: Beck's triad (hypotension, distended neck veins, muffled heart
sounds) indicates cardiac tamponade. ---
, 6. A trauma patient is in hemorrhagic shock. What is the initial fluid
resuscitation bolus for an adult?
A) 250 mL of 0.9% normal saline
B) 1 liter of warmed isotonic crystalloid
C) 500 mL of 5% dextrose in water
D) 2 liters of lactated Ringer's
Answer B: 1 liter of warmed isotonic crystalloid
Rationale: ATLS guidelines recommend an initial bolus of 1 liter of warmed
isotonic crystalloid (normal saline or lactated Ringer's). ---
7. A patient with a pelvic fracture becomes hypotensive. What is the priority
intervention?
A) Administer pain medication
B) Apply a pelvic binder and initiate blood transfusion
C) Obtain a pelvic X-ray first
D) Place the patient in Trendelenburg position
Answer B: Apply a pelvic binder and initiate blood transfusion
Rationale: Pelvic fractures can cause massive hemorrhage. Pelvic binding
stabilizes the fracture and reduces bleeding. ---
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) WITH DETAILED RATIONALES ||
COMPLETE A+ GUIDE
Questions 1–150
1. A trauma patient arrives with an altered level of consciousness and
snoring respirations. What is the first priority intervention?
A) Obtain a full set of vital signs
B) Perform a chin-lift or jaw-thrust maneuver to open the airway
C) Administer supplemental oxygen
D) Apply a cervical collar
Answer B: Perform a chin-lift or jaw-thrust maneuver to open the airway
Rationale: Airway is the first priority in the primary survey. Snoring indicates
partial airway obstruction. Manual maneuvers open the airway. ---
,2. During the primary survey, a trauma patient has a Glasgow Coma Scale
score of 8. What is the most appropriate action?
A) Continue monitoring and reassess in 15 minutes
B) Prepare for definitive airway management with intubation
C) Apply oxygen via nasal cannula
D) Perform a CT scan of the head
Answer B: Prepare for definitive airway management with intubation
Rationale: GCS ≤8 indicates need for definitive airway protection due to risk
of aspiration and inability to protect the airway. ---
3. A patient with a tension pneumothorax presents with tracheal deviation,
absent breath sounds on the right, and hypotension. What is the immediate
intervention?
A) Obtain a chest X-ray
B) Perform needle decompression in the second intercostal space,
midclavicular line
C) Administer IV fluids
D) Prepare for chest tube insertion
Answer B: Perform needle decompression in the second intercostal space,
midclavicular line
Rationale: Tension pneumothorax is a life-threatening emergency requiring
immediate needle decompression before imaging. ---
,4. A trauma patient has been intubated. How should the nurse confirm
endotracheal tube placement?
A) Auscultate the epigastrium
B) Use continuous waveform capnography
C) Observe chest rise only
D) Listen for breath sounds on the left side only
Answer B: Use continuous waveform capnography
Rationale: Continuous waveform capnography is the gold standard for
confirming and monitoring ET tube placement. ---
5. During the primary survey, a patient has distended neck veins, muffled
heart sounds, and hypotension. What condition should the nurse suspect?
A) Tension pneumothorax
B) Cardiac tamponade
C) Hemothorax
D) Aortic dissection
Answer B: Cardiac tamponade
Rationale: Beck's triad (hypotension, distended neck veins, muffled heart
sounds) indicates cardiac tamponade. ---
, 6. A trauma patient is in hemorrhagic shock. What is the initial fluid
resuscitation bolus for an adult?
A) 250 mL of 0.9% normal saline
B) 1 liter of warmed isotonic crystalloid
C) 500 mL of 5% dextrose in water
D) 2 liters of lactated Ringer's
Answer B: 1 liter of warmed isotonic crystalloid
Rationale: ATLS guidelines recommend an initial bolus of 1 liter of warmed
isotonic crystalloid (normal saline or lactated Ringer's). ---
7. A patient with a pelvic fracture becomes hypotensive. What is the priority
intervention?
A) Administer pain medication
B) Apply a pelvic binder and initiate blood transfusion
C) Obtain a pelvic X-ray first
D) Place the patient in Trendelenburg position
Answer B: Apply a pelvic binder and initiate blood transfusion
Rationale: Pelvic fractures can cause massive hemorrhage. Pelvic binding
stabilizes the fracture and reduces bleeding. ---
