ATLS Post-Test Application 2025–2026 | Complete
Advanced Trauma Life Support Practice Questions
with Answers & Rationales | Verified Study Guide
for Medical, Nursing & EMS Students | Updated
Trauma Exam Prep Resource
Question 1
Case: A 25-year-old male presents to the emergency department after a motor vehicle
accident. He is conscious but confused and has a laceration to the forehead. What is the
priority intervention?
A) Obtain a CT scan of the head
B) Perform a neurological assessment. (Correct Option)
C) Administer IV fluids
D) Apply a pressure dressing
Rationale: A neurological assessment is critical to evaluate for potential traumatic brain
injury and assess the patient's level of consciousness.
Question 2
Case: A patient presents with a penetrating abdominal wound. What is the most
appropriate initial management?
A) Administer antibiotics
B) Stabilize the patient and prepare for surgery. (Correct Option)
C) Apply a dressing to the wound
D) Monitor vital signs only
Rationale: Stabilizing the patient and preparing for surgical intervention is crucial in cases
of penetrating abdominal trauma to address possible internal injuries.
Question 3
Case: A 30-year-old female falls from a height and has bilateral lower extremity
deformities and signs of shock. What should be the immediate action?
A) Control any external bleeding. (Correct Option)
B) Transport to surgery
C) Administer analgesics
D) Obtain a chest X-ray
Rationale: Controlling external bleeding is the first priority in trauma management to
prevent further hypovolemic shock.
Question 4
Case: A patient with a suspected tension pneumothorax presents with respiratory distress
and tracheal deviation. What is the best immediate intervention?
A) Administer oxygen
B) Perform needle decompression. (Correct Option)
,C) Obtain a chest X-ray
D) Place the patient in a supine position
Rationale: Needle decompression is the immediate lifesaving intervention for a tension
pneumothorax to relieve pressure in the pleural space.
Question 5
Case: A trauma patient is found to have a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 9. What does
this indicate about the patient's condition?
A) Mild head injury
B) Moderate head injury. (Correct Option)
C) Severe head injury
D) No head injury
Rationale: A GCS score of 9 indicates moderate head injury, necessitating close monitoring
and potential intervention.
Question 6
Case: A patient presents with abdominal distension after a blunt abdominal trauma. What
is the most important step in the evaluation?
A) Perform a focused abdominal ultrasound (FAST). (Correct Option)
B) Administer IV fluids
C) Obtain a CT scan
D) Monitor vital signs
Rationale: A focused abdominal ultrasound (FAST) is essential for quickly assessing for
intra-abdominal fluid or organ injuries.
Question 7
Case: A patient with a fractured femur presents with signs of fat embolism (confusion,
petechiae). What is the priority nursing intervention?
A) Administer IV fluids
B) Provide supplemental oxygen. (Correct Option)
C) Prepare for surgery
D) Monitor vital signs
Rationale: Providing supplemental oxygen is critical to address hypoxemia associated with
fat embolism syndrome.
Question 8
Case: A 45-year-old male presents with a stab wound to the chest and decreased breath
sounds on the left side. What should be the immediate intervention?
A) Insert a chest tube. (Correct Option)
B) Administer a bronchodilator
,C) Obtain a chest X-ray
D) Monitor vital signs
Rationale: Inserting a chest tube is necessary to manage a potential hemothorax or
pneumothorax in this patient.
Question 9
Case: A patient arrives with a suspected spinal cord injury after a fall. What is the priority
management?
A) Immobilize the spine. (Correct Option)
B) Assess neurological function
C) Administer IV fluids
D) Obtain imaging studies
Rationale: Immobilizing the spine is critical to prevent further injury while assessing the
patient's neurological status.
Question 10
Case: A patient with a closed head injury presents with a dilated pupil on the right side.
What does this finding suggest?
A) Minor head injury
B) Increased intracranial pressure. (Correct Option)
C) Cerebral edema
D) Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Rationale: A dilated pupil can indicate increased intracranial pressure or brain herniation,
requiring immediate intervention.
Question 11
Case: A trauma patient presents with severe abdominal pain and rigid abdomen. What is
the most appropriate initial step?
A) Administer analgesics
B) Prepare for surgical intervention. (Correct Option)
C) Monitor vital signs
D) Order laboratory tests
Rationale: A rigid abdomen suggests potential intra-abdominal bleeding or organ
perforation, necessitating immediate surgical intervention.
Question 12
Case: A patient with a significant mechanism of injury presents with hypotension and
tachycardia. What is the priority intervention?
A) Administer analgesics
B) Initiate IV fluid resuscitation. (Correct Option)
, C) Obtain a CT scan
D) Monitor urine output
Rationale: Initiating IV fluid resuscitation is critical to address shock and stabilize the
patient's hemodynamic status.
Question 13
Case: A 60-year-old male presents after a fall with a suspected pelvic fracture. What is the
most appropriate initial management?
A) Stabilize the pelvis. (Correct Option)
B) Administer pain medication
C) Obtain imaging
D) Monitor vital signs
Rationale: Stabilizing the pelvis can help reduce potential bleeding and improve
hemodynamic stability in cases of pelvic fractures.
Question 14
Case: A patient presents with a gunshot wound to the abdomen and is hemodynamically
unstable. What is the priority intervention?
A) Prepare for exploratory laparotomy. (Correct Option)
B) Administer antibiotics
C) Obtain imaging studies
D) Monitor vital signs
Rationale: Immediate surgical intervention is necessary for hemodynamically unstable
patients with penetrating abdominal injuries.
Question 15
Case: A patient with a blunt chest injury presents with hypotension and tachycardia. What
condition should be suspected?
A) Pulmonary contusion
B) Cardiac tamponade. (Correct Option)
C) Hemothorax
D) Pneumothorax
Rationale: Hypotension and tachycardia in the setting of blunt chest trauma may indicate
cardiac tamponade, which requires immediate intervention.
Question 16
Case: A 35-year-old female presents with a laceration to the neck. What is the priority
assessment?
A) Assess for airway compromise
B) Evaluate for vascular injury. (Correct Option)
Advanced Trauma Life Support Practice Questions
with Answers & Rationales | Verified Study Guide
for Medical, Nursing & EMS Students | Updated
Trauma Exam Prep Resource
Question 1
Case: A 25-year-old male presents to the emergency department after a motor vehicle
accident. He is conscious but confused and has a laceration to the forehead. What is the
priority intervention?
A) Obtain a CT scan of the head
B) Perform a neurological assessment. (Correct Option)
C) Administer IV fluids
D) Apply a pressure dressing
Rationale: A neurological assessment is critical to evaluate for potential traumatic brain
injury and assess the patient's level of consciousness.
Question 2
Case: A patient presents with a penetrating abdominal wound. What is the most
appropriate initial management?
A) Administer antibiotics
B) Stabilize the patient and prepare for surgery. (Correct Option)
C) Apply a dressing to the wound
D) Monitor vital signs only
Rationale: Stabilizing the patient and preparing for surgical intervention is crucial in cases
of penetrating abdominal trauma to address possible internal injuries.
Question 3
Case: A 30-year-old female falls from a height and has bilateral lower extremity
deformities and signs of shock. What should be the immediate action?
A) Control any external bleeding. (Correct Option)
B) Transport to surgery
C) Administer analgesics
D) Obtain a chest X-ray
Rationale: Controlling external bleeding is the first priority in trauma management to
prevent further hypovolemic shock.
Question 4
Case: A patient with a suspected tension pneumothorax presents with respiratory distress
and tracheal deviation. What is the best immediate intervention?
A) Administer oxygen
B) Perform needle decompression. (Correct Option)
,C) Obtain a chest X-ray
D) Place the patient in a supine position
Rationale: Needle decompression is the immediate lifesaving intervention for a tension
pneumothorax to relieve pressure in the pleural space.
Question 5
Case: A trauma patient is found to have a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 9. What does
this indicate about the patient's condition?
A) Mild head injury
B) Moderate head injury. (Correct Option)
C) Severe head injury
D) No head injury
Rationale: A GCS score of 9 indicates moderate head injury, necessitating close monitoring
and potential intervention.
Question 6
Case: A patient presents with abdominal distension after a blunt abdominal trauma. What
is the most important step in the evaluation?
A) Perform a focused abdominal ultrasound (FAST). (Correct Option)
B) Administer IV fluids
C) Obtain a CT scan
D) Monitor vital signs
Rationale: A focused abdominal ultrasound (FAST) is essential for quickly assessing for
intra-abdominal fluid or organ injuries.
Question 7
Case: A patient with a fractured femur presents with signs of fat embolism (confusion,
petechiae). What is the priority nursing intervention?
A) Administer IV fluids
B) Provide supplemental oxygen. (Correct Option)
C) Prepare for surgery
D) Monitor vital signs
Rationale: Providing supplemental oxygen is critical to address hypoxemia associated with
fat embolism syndrome.
Question 8
Case: A 45-year-old male presents with a stab wound to the chest and decreased breath
sounds on the left side. What should be the immediate intervention?
A) Insert a chest tube. (Correct Option)
B) Administer a bronchodilator
,C) Obtain a chest X-ray
D) Monitor vital signs
Rationale: Inserting a chest tube is necessary to manage a potential hemothorax or
pneumothorax in this patient.
Question 9
Case: A patient arrives with a suspected spinal cord injury after a fall. What is the priority
management?
A) Immobilize the spine. (Correct Option)
B) Assess neurological function
C) Administer IV fluids
D) Obtain imaging studies
Rationale: Immobilizing the spine is critical to prevent further injury while assessing the
patient's neurological status.
Question 10
Case: A patient with a closed head injury presents with a dilated pupil on the right side.
What does this finding suggest?
A) Minor head injury
B) Increased intracranial pressure. (Correct Option)
C) Cerebral edema
D) Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Rationale: A dilated pupil can indicate increased intracranial pressure or brain herniation,
requiring immediate intervention.
Question 11
Case: A trauma patient presents with severe abdominal pain and rigid abdomen. What is
the most appropriate initial step?
A) Administer analgesics
B) Prepare for surgical intervention. (Correct Option)
C) Monitor vital signs
D) Order laboratory tests
Rationale: A rigid abdomen suggests potential intra-abdominal bleeding or organ
perforation, necessitating immediate surgical intervention.
Question 12
Case: A patient with a significant mechanism of injury presents with hypotension and
tachycardia. What is the priority intervention?
A) Administer analgesics
B) Initiate IV fluid resuscitation. (Correct Option)
, C) Obtain a CT scan
D) Monitor urine output
Rationale: Initiating IV fluid resuscitation is critical to address shock and stabilize the
patient's hemodynamic status.
Question 13
Case: A 60-year-old male presents after a fall with a suspected pelvic fracture. What is the
most appropriate initial management?
A) Stabilize the pelvis. (Correct Option)
B) Administer pain medication
C) Obtain imaging
D) Monitor vital signs
Rationale: Stabilizing the pelvis can help reduce potential bleeding and improve
hemodynamic stability in cases of pelvic fractures.
Question 14
Case: A patient presents with a gunshot wound to the abdomen and is hemodynamically
unstable. What is the priority intervention?
A) Prepare for exploratory laparotomy. (Correct Option)
B) Administer antibiotics
C) Obtain imaging studies
D) Monitor vital signs
Rationale: Immediate surgical intervention is necessary for hemodynamically unstable
patients with penetrating abdominal injuries.
Question 15
Case: A patient with a blunt chest injury presents with hypotension and tachycardia. What
condition should be suspected?
A) Pulmonary contusion
B) Cardiac tamponade. (Correct Option)
C) Hemothorax
D) Pneumothorax
Rationale: Hypotension and tachycardia in the setting of blunt chest trauma may indicate
cardiac tamponade, which requires immediate intervention.
Question 16
Case: A 35-year-old female presents with a laceration to the neck. What is the priority
assessment?
A) Assess for airway compromise
B) Evaluate for vascular injury. (Correct Option)
