TNCC Practice Test 2026/2027 | Complete Questions, Correct
Answers & Detailed Rationales | ENA 9th Edition
SECTION 1: TRAUMA NURSING PROCESS & PREPARATION
1. What is the primary purpose of the Trauma Nursing Process (TNP)?
A. To provide a complete medical diagnosis before treatment
B. To provide a systematic approach to trauma assessment and
intervention
C. To replace physician evaluation
D. To determine the patient's final disposition
Answer: B
Rationale: The TNP provides a systematic framework for rapidly
identifying and treating life-threatening injuries while continuing
reassessment.
2. During trauma preparation, which action should occur first?
A. Obtain a complete health history
B. Prepare the patient for discharge
C. Activate and organize the trauma team
D. Perform a secondary survey
Answer: C
Rationale: Team activation and preparation ensure personnel,
equipment, and roles are ready before patient arrival.
3. Which item is most important to verify before a trauma patient
arrives?
,A. Cafeteria availability
B. Airway and resuscitation equipment
C. Patient's insurance information
D. Discharge prescriptions
Answer: B
Rationale: Airway and resuscitation equipment must be immediately
available because life-threatening deterioration can occur within
seconds.
4. Why should trauma team roles be assigned before patient arrival?
A. To reduce documentation
B. To prevent duplication and improve coordination
C. To eliminate the need for communication
D. To allow only one person to provide care
Answer: B
Rationale: Clearly defined roles promote efficient teamwork and reduce
delays or duplication of critical interventions.
5. A trauma patient arrives covered in blood. What should the nurse
prioritize regarding personal protection?
A. Remove all PPE
B. Use appropriate PPE and standard precautions
C. Delay treatment until laboratory results are available
D. Ask the patient to clean themselves
Answer: B
Rationale: Blood exposure creates an occupational risk, so appropriate
PPE and standard precautions are essential.
,6. Which assessment approach is most appropriate for an unstable
trauma patient?
A. Complete history before intervention
B. Primary survey with immediate treatment of life threats
C. Secondary survey followed by triage
D. Full head-to-toe assessment before airway management
Answer: B
Rationale: Life-threatening problems must be recognized and treated
immediately during the primary survey.
7. What is the major purpose of triage in a trauma system?
A. Determine insurance coverage
B. Identify the appropriate level of care and priority
C. Complete discharge paperwork
D. Determine the patient's long-term rehabilitation plan
Answer: B
Rationale: Triage prioritizes patients according to acuity and directs
them toward appropriate resources.
8. A trauma team member notices equipment is missing before
arrival. What is the best action?
A. Ignore it
B. Wait until the patient arrives
C. Obtain the equipment before patient arrival
D. Ask the patient to bring equipment
, Answer: C
Rationale: Preparation should identify and correct equipment
deficiencies before the patient arrives.
9. Which statement best describes trauma resuscitation?
A. It is performed only once
B. It requires continuous reassessment
C. It ends after vital signs normalize
D. It focuses only on blood pressure
Answer: B
Rationale: Trauma patients can deteriorate rapidly, so assessment and
interventions must be repeatedly reassessed.
10. What is the nurse's priority when receiving a prehospital trauma
report?
A. Begin discharge planning
B. Listen for information that changes immediate priorities
C. Obtain the patient's complete family history
D. Determine billing information
Answer: B
Rationale: Prehospital information can reveal mechanism,
interventions, and deterioration that influence immediate assessment
and treatment.
11. Which finding should increase concern during preparation for a
trauma patient?
A. Mechanism suggesting major energy transfer
B. Patient's favorite food
Answers & Detailed Rationales | ENA 9th Edition
SECTION 1: TRAUMA NURSING PROCESS & PREPARATION
1. What is the primary purpose of the Trauma Nursing Process (TNP)?
A. To provide a complete medical diagnosis before treatment
B. To provide a systematic approach to trauma assessment and
intervention
C. To replace physician evaluation
D. To determine the patient's final disposition
Answer: B
Rationale: The TNP provides a systematic framework for rapidly
identifying and treating life-threatening injuries while continuing
reassessment.
2. During trauma preparation, which action should occur first?
A. Obtain a complete health history
B. Prepare the patient for discharge
C. Activate and organize the trauma team
D. Perform a secondary survey
Answer: C
Rationale: Team activation and preparation ensure personnel,
equipment, and roles are ready before patient arrival.
3. Which item is most important to verify before a trauma patient
arrives?
,A. Cafeteria availability
B. Airway and resuscitation equipment
C. Patient's insurance information
D. Discharge prescriptions
Answer: B
Rationale: Airway and resuscitation equipment must be immediately
available because life-threatening deterioration can occur within
seconds.
4. Why should trauma team roles be assigned before patient arrival?
A. To reduce documentation
B. To prevent duplication and improve coordination
C. To eliminate the need for communication
D. To allow only one person to provide care
Answer: B
Rationale: Clearly defined roles promote efficient teamwork and reduce
delays or duplication of critical interventions.
5. A trauma patient arrives covered in blood. What should the nurse
prioritize regarding personal protection?
A. Remove all PPE
B. Use appropriate PPE and standard precautions
C. Delay treatment until laboratory results are available
D. Ask the patient to clean themselves
Answer: B
Rationale: Blood exposure creates an occupational risk, so appropriate
PPE and standard precautions are essential.
,6. Which assessment approach is most appropriate for an unstable
trauma patient?
A. Complete history before intervention
B. Primary survey with immediate treatment of life threats
C. Secondary survey followed by triage
D. Full head-to-toe assessment before airway management
Answer: B
Rationale: Life-threatening problems must be recognized and treated
immediately during the primary survey.
7. What is the major purpose of triage in a trauma system?
A. Determine insurance coverage
B. Identify the appropriate level of care and priority
C. Complete discharge paperwork
D. Determine the patient's long-term rehabilitation plan
Answer: B
Rationale: Triage prioritizes patients according to acuity and directs
them toward appropriate resources.
8. A trauma team member notices equipment is missing before
arrival. What is the best action?
A. Ignore it
B. Wait until the patient arrives
C. Obtain the equipment before patient arrival
D. Ask the patient to bring equipment
, Answer: C
Rationale: Preparation should identify and correct equipment
deficiencies before the patient arrives.
9. Which statement best describes trauma resuscitation?
A. It is performed only once
B. It requires continuous reassessment
C. It ends after vital signs normalize
D. It focuses only on blood pressure
Answer: B
Rationale: Trauma patients can deteriorate rapidly, so assessment and
interventions must be repeatedly reassessed.
10. What is the nurse's priority when receiving a prehospital trauma
report?
A. Begin discharge planning
B. Listen for information that changes immediate priorities
C. Obtain the patient's complete family history
D. Determine billing information
Answer: B
Rationale: Prehospital information can reveal mechanism,
interventions, and deterioration that influence immediate assessment
and treatment.
11. Which finding should increase concern during preparation for a
trauma patient?
A. Mechanism suggesting major energy transfer
B. Patient's favorite food
