CTRN-E — Certified Transport Registered
Nurse–Expanded Exam| YEAR 2026–2027 |
Comprehensive 100-Question Practice Test with
Answers & Rationales| Pdf Access ALREADY
GRADED A+.
Questions 1–25: Transport Assessment & Stabilization
1. A critically ill patient requires interfacility transport. Which action should the transport nurse
perform first?
A. Obtain the patient's complete medical history
B. Assess airway, breathing, and circulation
C. Review the patient's insurance information
D. Contact the receiving unit for bed assignment
Answer: B. Assess airway, breathing, and circulation.
Rationale: The primary assessment begins with ABCs to identify immediately life-threatening
problems before transport.
2. A patient with suspected cervical spine injury is being prepared for transport. Which
intervention is most appropriate?
A. Allow the patient to sit upright
B. Maintain spinal alignment and appropriate immobilization
C. Remove the cervical collar for comfort
D. Encourage active neck movement
Answer: B. Maintain spinal alignment and appropriate immobilization.
Rationale: Suspected cervical spine injury requires protection of the spinal cord and
maintenance of neutral alignment.
,3. During transport, a mechanically ventilated patient's oxygen saturation suddenly decreases
from 97% to 82%. What should the nurse assess first?
A. Blood glucose
B. Airway and ventilator connections
C. Urine output
D. Temperature
Answer: B. Airway and ventilator connections.
Rationale: Sudden hypoxemia may result from airway obstruction, disconnection, tube
displacement, or ventilator malfunction.
4. Which patient is most appropriate for transport by a specialized critical-care team?
A. Stable patient awaiting routine imaging
B. Patient requiring mechanical ventilation and vasoactive medication
C. Patient with a healed fracture
D. Patient awaiting discharge instructions
Answer: B. Patient requiring mechanical ventilation and vasoactive medication.
Rationale: Patients requiring advanced life support and continuous titration of critical
medications need specialized transport resources.
5. A patient becomes hypotensive during transport. What is the nurse's priority?
A. Complete the transport documentation
B. Reassess ABCs and identify the cause
C. Call the patient's family
D. Obtain dietary preferences
Answer: B. Reassess ABCs and identify the cause.
Rationale: Hypotension can indicate hemorrhage, sepsis, cardiac dysfunction, medication
effects, or other life-threatening conditions.
6. Before departure, which equipment is most important to verify?
A. Television remote
B. Adequate oxygen supply and backup oxygen
C. Patient's personal belongings
D. Visitor identification
, Answer: B. Adequate oxygen supply and backup oxygen.
Rationale: Oxygen is a critical transport resource, and the team must account for anticipated
duration plus reserve.
7. Which finding suggests inadequate perfusion?
A. Warm skin and brisk capillary refill
B. Normal mental status
C. Cool extremities with delayed capillary refill
D. Strong peripheral pulses
Answer: C. Cool extremities with delayed capillary refill.
Rationale: Peripheral vasoconstriction and delayed capillary refill can indicate impaired tissue
perfusion.
8. A patient with suspected internal bleeding becomes tachycardic and pale. What should the
nurse suspect?
A. Improved circulation
B. Compensated shock
C. Hyperglycemia only
D. Normal response to transport
Answer: B. Compensated shock.
Rationale: Tachycardia and peripheral vasoconstriction may occur as compensatory
mechanisms during early hypovolemic shock.
9. Which assessment is particularly important before transporting a patient receiving vasoactive
medication?
A. Hair color
B. Hemodynamic status and infusion requirements
C. Dietary preference
D. Sleep pattern
Answer: B. Hemodynamic status and infusion requirements.
Rationale: Vasoactive drugs can significantly affect blood pressure and perfusion and require
continuous monitoring.
Nurse–Expanded Exam| YEAR 2026–2027 |
Comprehensive 100-Question Practice Test with
Answers & Rationales| Pdf Access ALREADY
GRADED A+.
Questions 1–25: Transport Assessment & Stabilization
1. A critically ill patient requires interfacility transport. Which action should the transport nurse
perform first?
A. Obtain the patient's complete medical history
B. Assess airway, breathing, and circulation
C. Review the patient's insurance information
D. Contact the receiving unit for bed assignment
Answer: B. Assess airway, breathing, and circulation.
Rationale: The primary assessment begins with ABCs to identify immediately life-threatening
problems before transport.
2. A patient with suspected cervical spine injury is being prepared for transport. Which
intervention is most appropriate?
A. Allow the patient to sit upright
B. Maintain spinal alignment and appropriate immobilization
C. Remove the cervical collar for comfort
D. Encourage active neck movement
Answer: B. Maintain spinal alignment and appropriate immobilization.
Rationale: Suspected cervical spine injury requires protection of the spinal cord and
maintenance of neutral alignment.
,3. During transport, a mechanically ventilated patient's oxygen saturation suddenly decreases
from 97% to 82%. What should the nurse assess first?
A. Blood glucose
B. Airway and ventilator connections
C. Urine output
D. Temperature
Answer: B. Airway and ventilator connections.
Rationale: Sudden hypoxemia may result from airway obstruction, disconnection, tube
displacement, or ventilator malfunction.
4. Which patient is most appropriate for transport by a specialized critical-care team?
A. Stable patient awaiting routine imaging
B. Patient requiring mechanical ventilation and vasoactive medication
C. Patient with a healed fracture
D. Patient awaiting discharge instructions
Answer: B. Patient requiring mechanical ventilation and vasoactive medication.
Rationale: Patients requiring advanced life support and continuous titration of critical
medications need specialized transport resources.
5. A patient becomes hypotensive during transport. What is the nurse's priority?
A. Complete the transport documentation
B. Reassess ABCs and identify the cause
C. Call the patient's family
D. Obtain dietary preferences
Answer: B. Reassess ABCs and identify the cause.
Rationale: Hypotension can indicate hemorrhage, sepsis, cardiac dysfunction, medication
effects, or other life-threatening conditions.
6. Before departure, which equipment is most important to verify?
A. Television remote
B. Adequate oxygen supply and backup oxygen
C. Patient's personal belongings
D. Visitor identification
, Answer: B. Adequate oxygen supply and backup oxygen.
Rationale: Oxygen is a critical transport resource, and the team must account for anticipated
duration plus reserve.
7. Which finding suggests inadequate perfusion?
A. Warm skin and brisk capillary refill
B. Normal mental status
C. Cool extremities with delayed capillary refill
D. Strong peripheral pulses
Answer: C. Cool extremities with delayed capillary refill.
Rationale: Peripheral vasoconstriction and delayed capillary refill can indicate impaired tissue
perfusion.
8. A patient with suspected internal bleeding becomes tachycardic and pale. What should the
nurse suspect?
A. Improved circulation
B. Compensated shock
C. Hyperglycemia only
D. Normal response to transport
Answer: B. Compensated shock.
Rationale: Tachycardia and peripheral vasoconstriction may occur as compensatory
mechanisms during early hypovolemic shock.
9. Which assessment is particularly important before transporting a patient receiving vasoactive
medication?
A. Hair color
B. Hemodynamic status and infusion requirements
C. Dietary preference
D. Sleep pattern
Answer: B. Hemodynamic status and infusion requirements.
Rationale: Vasoactive drugs can significantly affect blood pressure and perfusion and require
continuous monitoring.
