50 Questions and verified answers
(with rationale where appropriate).
Graded A+
1. "The nurse is caring for a 120 kg male is brought in after a warehouse fire and is calculating the
patient's fluid resuscitation needs. He has painful red blistering to the entire surface of both upper
extremities and superficial burns to the anterior chest. Using the modified Lund and Browder chart
to calculate the total BSA burned, how much IV fluids would be administered in the first 8 hours?
A) 2280 mL
B) 3840 mL
C) 4560 mL
D) 7680 mL - Correct answer A) 2280 mL
(upper arm 4+4 / lower arm 3+3 / hand 2.5+2.5) = 19% TBSA.
120 kg x (2 mL) x (19% TBSA) = 4560 mL
(half of fluids given in first 8 hours) = 2280 mL"
2. "Which of the following assessment findings differentiates a tension pneumothorax from a simple
pneumothorax?
A) increased work of breathing
B) unilaterally diminished breath sounds
C) pleuritic chest pain
D) hypotension that worsens with inspiration - Correct answer D) hypotension that worsens with
inspiration.
Assessment findings associated with tension pneumothorax include anxiety, severe restlessness,
severe respiratory distress, and absent breath sounds on the injured side. Hypotension due to
compression of the heart and great vessels is consistent with obstructive shock. Hypotension
worsens with inspiration due to increased intrathoracic pressure. Late signs include distended neck
veins, tracheal deviation, and cyanosis."
3. "Which of the following is a component of the trauma triad of death?
A) Acidosis
B) hyperthermia
C) hemorrhage
D) sepsis - Correct answer A) Acidosis
1
, hypothermia, metabolic acidosis, coagulopathy"
4. "A patient has been in the ED for several hours waiting to be admitted. He sustained multiple rib
fractures and a femur fracture after a fall. He has been awake, alert, and c/o leg pain. His wife
reported suddenly becoming anxious and confused. Upon reassessment, the patient is restless,
with respiratory distress and petechiae to his neck. the patient is exhibiting signs of symptoms
commonly associated with which of the following conditions?
A) acute lung injury
B) fat embolism
C) PTX
D) pulmonary contusion - Correct answer B) fat embolism"
5. You are treating a 27-year old male in respiratory distress who was involved in a house fire.
Calculating TBSA burned is deferred d/t the need for emergent intubation. At what rate should you
begin fluid resuscitation?
A) 1000 mL/hr
B) 500 mL/hr
C) 250 mL/hr
D) 125 mL/hr - Correct answer B) 500 mL/hr"
6. "A 49-year old restrained driver involved in a MVC presents to the trauma center c/o abd, pelvic, and
bil lower extremity pain Vitals signs are stable. The nurse can anticipate all of these negative fast
exam except which of the following?
A. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage
B. Serial FAST exams
C. Abdominal and pelvic CT scans
D. Serial abdominal assessments - Correct answer A) diagnostic peritoneal lavage
The FAST exam is done at the bedside to identify pathological fluid in the abdominal and pelvic
cavities. FAST exams reduce the use of more invasive diagnostic peritoneal lavage and can be
repeated if clinical changes or hemodynamic changes occur. A negative FAST study does not rule out
injury and may warrant a follow-up computed tomography scan. Serial FAST exams can identify
increasing abdominal fluid collections from hemorrhage. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage/diagnostic
peritoneal aspiration is performed by the surgical team to rapidly identify the presence of
hemorrhage in patients who are hemodynamically unstable after trauma."
7. "Which pulse pressure description is an indication of early hypovolemic shock?
A) widened
B) narrowed
C) bounding
D) weak - Correct answer B) narrowed"
8. "Which of the following considerations is most important when caring for a geriatric trauma patient?
A) head to to exam
2