TRAUMA NURSING PROCESS TNP TNCC
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026 TRAUMA
CARE AND EMERGENCY NURSING PRINCIPLES
◉ What happens prior to patient arrival? 1-3
Answer: 1. Activate trauma team
2. Prepare trauma room
3. Don PPE
◉ What happens following patient arrival but before a decision to
intubate has been made? 4-8
may change based on C-ABC
Answer: 4. Assess for obvious uncontrolled external hemorrhage or
unresponsiveness/apnea and the need to reprioritize to C-ABC
5**. Assess level of consciousness using AVPU
6. Open the airway
7**. Assess the patency and protection of the airway
8**. Assess breathing effectiveness
◉ Continue the TNP assuming the patient was intubated. 9-11
Answer: 9**. If intubated, assess endotracheal tube placement
,10. If intubated, assess ETT position and securement
11. If intubated, state the need to begin mechanical ventilation or
continue assisted ventilation
◉ Continue the TNP following assessments of ETT. 12-15
**12, 13, and 15 are double-starred
Answer: 12**. Assess circulation
13**. Assess neurologic status using GCS
14. Assess pupils
15**. Remove all clothing AND inspect for obvious abnormalities or
injuries
◉ Continue the TNP following assessments of circulation, neuro
status, and removal of clothing to inspect for injury. 16-18
Answer: 16. Provide warmth
17. Obtain a full set of vital signs and weight in kilograms (if not
determined earlier)
18. Facilitate family presence
◉ Continue the TNP using the LMNOP mnemonic. 19-23
Answer: 19. L - trauma panel labs
20. M - monitor (Cardiac, consider EKG)
21. N - consider need for NG/OG
, 22. O - assess O2 and end-tidal capnography
23**. P - assess pain using appropriate pain scale
◉ Continue TNP after LMNOP (so after pain has been assessed). 24-
26
Answer: 24. Non-pharmacological comfort measures
25. Consider analgesic med order
26. Obtain pertinent history
◉ Head-to-Toe 27-43
Answer: 27. Inspect and palpate head for injuries
28. Inspect and palpate face for injuries
29. Inspect and palpate neck for injuries
-- Demonstrate removal AND reapplication of cervical collar for
assessment (if indicated).
30. Inspect and palpate chest for injuries
31. Auscultate breath sounds
32. Auscultate heart sounds
33. Inspect the abdomen for injuries
34. Auscultate bowel sounds
35. Palpate all four quadrants of the abdomen for injuries
36. Inspect and palpate the flanks for injuries
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026 TRAUMA
CARE AND EMERGENCY NURSING PRINCIPLES
◉ What happens prior to patient arrival? 1-3
Answer: 1. Activate trauma team
2. Prepare trauma room
3. Don PPE
◉ What happens following patient arrival but before a decision to
intubate has been made? 4-8
may change based on C-ABC
Answer: 4. Assess for obvious uncontrolled external hemorrhage or
unresponsiveness/apnea and the need to reprioritize to C-ABC
5**. Assess level of consciousness using AVPU
6. Open the airway
7**. Assess the patency and protection of the airway
8**. Assess breathing effectiveness
◉ Continue the TNP assuming the patient was intubated. 9-11
Answer: 9**. If intubated, assess endotracheal tube placement
,10. If intubated, assess ETT position and securement
11. If intubated, state the need to begin mechanical ventilation or
continue assisted ventilation
◉ Continue the TNP following assessments of ETT. 12-15
**12, 13, and 15 are double-starred
Answer: 12**. Assess circulation
13**. Assess neurologic status using GCS
14. Assess pupils
15**. Remove all clothing AND inspect for obvious abnormalities or
injuries
◉ Continue the TNP following assessments of circulation, neuro
status, and removal of clothing to inspect for injury. 16-18
Answer: 16. Provide warmth
17. Obtain a full set of vital signs and weight in kilograms (if not
determined earlier)
18. Facilitate family presence
◉ Continue the TNP using the LMNOP mnemonic. 19-23
Answer: 19. L - trauma panel labs
20. M - monitor (Cardiac, consider EKG)
21. N - consider need for NG/OG
, 22. O - assess O2 and end-tidal capnography
23**. P - assess pain using appropriate pain scale
◉ Continue TNP after LMNOP (so after pain has been assessed). 24-
26
Answer: 24. Non-pharmacological comfort measures
25. Consider analgesic med order
26. Obtain pertinent history
◉ Head-to-Toe 27-43
Answer: 27. Inspect and palpate head for injuries
28. Inspect and palpate face for injuries
29. Inspect and palpate neck for injuries
-- Demonstrate removal AND reapplication of cervical collar for
assessment (if indicated).
30. Inspect and palpate chest for injuries
31. Auscultate breath sounds
32. Auscultate heart sounds
33. Inspect the abdomen for injuries
34. Auscultate bowel sounds
35. Palpate all four quadrants of the abdomen for injuries
36. Inspect and palpate the flanks for injuries
