TNCC 8TH EDITION COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED
A+
◉ What are some possible interventions for cardiogenic shock?
Answer: - inotropic support
- antidysrhythmic medications
- correction or treatment of underlying causes
◉ What is damage control resuscitation? Answer: rapid restoration
of homeostasis through the control of hemorrhage, administration of
blood, and other interventions directed toward the prevention of the
trauma triad of death
◉ What type of rapid fluid infuser is used at your facility? Where is
the equipment located? Answer: -Level 1 H-1200 in the trauma
rooms
◉ Why is it critical to rapidly recognize an intervene during
compensatory stage of shock? Answer: by intervening early, you are
able to maintain a blood pressure and tissue perfusion. more
perfusion=more live tissues
,◉ What two physiological abnormalities should be avoided to
prevent secondary brain injury in a patient with a traumatic brain
injury? Answer: hypoxia and hypotension
◉ What are early indications for increasing intracranial pressure?
Answer: severe headache, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, change
in mental status
◉ What are the three signs of Cushing's triad and why is it ominous
when these three signs are present? Answer: -widening pulse
pressure
-reflex bradycardia
irregular, decreased respiratory effort
◉ What focal brain injury is typically caused by arterial bleeding
versus Venus bleeding? Answer: arterial: epidural hematoma
venous: subdural hematoma
◉ What mechanism of injury is associated with major injuries to the
thorax? Answer: blunt traumas such as MVCs, fall from heights,
sports related injuries
◉ What injuries are associated with fractures the thorax? What is
significance of a flail chest and what interventions should be
anticipated? Answer: typically pneumothorax, pulmonary contusion,
,lacerated organs, and/or flail chest. Flail chest is significant because
is causes parodoxical chest movement, leading to severe respiratory
compromise. Interventions include supplemental O2, prep for
intubation, possible surgery
◉ What are the three signs of Beck's triad? What are the limitations
when assessing these sign signs when a patient is hypovolemic?
Answer: Beck's triad includes: hypotension, distended neck veins,
muffled heart sounds. Hypovolemia may prevent distention of neck
veins and the often loud trauma bay may disallow identifying
muffled heart sounds
◉ What is the most important intervention for a patient in acute
respiratory distress with tachycardia, hypotension, jugular vein,
distention, and unilateral absent breath sounds? Answer: needle
decompression of a tension pneumothorax
◉ What are the differences between a simple (closed)
pneumothorax and a complex or communicating open
pneumothorax? What causes progression to a tension
pneumothorax? Answer: A simple (closed) pneumothorax occurs
when air leaks from the lung into the pleural space without a chest
wall injury, while a complex or communicating open pneumothorax
happens when a wound in the chest wall allows air from the outside
to directly enter the pleural space, creating a communication
between the outside atmosphere and the chest cavity. Tension
, pneumo is caused by the air entering the pleural space but cannot
escape on expiration
◉ What interventions should the nurse anticipate for a patient with
a massive hemothorax? Answer: -prep for a chest tube
- 2 large bore IVs
-initiate massive transfusion protocol
- prep for the OR
◉ What are the indications for resuscitative thoracotomy? Answer: -
penetrating chest trauma with cardiac arrest
-cardiac tamponade
- pulseless and receiving CPR within 15 min of trauma
- refractory shock and systolic is less than 65
◉ What injuries are common with blunt abdominal trauma?
Answer: MVCs, assaults, falls
◉ What are some examples of hollow abdominal organs? Solid
abdominal organs? Answer: Hollow: gallbladder, stomach, small
bowel, and large bowel.
Solid: liver, spleen, kidneys, and pancreas
2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED
A+
◉ What are some possible interventions for cardiogenic shock?
Answer: - inotropic support
- antidysrhythmic medications
- correction or treatment of underlying causes
◉ What is damage control resuscitation? Answer: rapid restoration
of homeostasis through the control of hemorrhage, administration of
blood, and other interventions directed toward the prevention of the
trauma triad of death
◉ What type of rapid fluid infuser is used at your facility? Where is
the equipment located? Answer: -Level 1 H-1200 in the trauma
rooms
◉ Why is it critical to rapidly recognize an intervene during
compensatory stage of shock? Answer: by intervening early, you are
able to maintain a blood pressure and tissue perfusion. more
perfusion=more live tissues
,◉ What two physiological abnormalities should be avoided to
prevent secondary brain injury in a patient with a traumatic brain
injury? Answer: hypoxia and hypotension
◉ What are early indications for increasing intracranial pressure?
Answer: severe headache, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, change
in mental status
◉ What are the three signs of Cushing's triad and why is it ominous
when these three signs are present? Answer: -widening pulse
pressure
-reflex bradycardia
irregular, decreased respiratory effort
◉ What focal brain injury is typically caused by arterial bleeding
versus Venus bleeding? Answer: arterial: epidural hematoma
venous: subdural hematoma
◉ What mechanism of injury is associated with major injuries to the
thorax? Answer: blunt traumas such as MVCs, fall from heights,
sports related injuries
◉ What injuries are associated with fractures the thorax? What is
significance of a flail chest and what interventions should be
anticipated? Answer: typically pneumothorax, pulmonary contusion,
,lacerated organs, and/or flail chest. Flail chest is significant because
is causes parodoxical chest movement, leading to severe respiratory
compromise. Interventions include supplemental O2, prep for
intubation, possible surgery
◉ What are the three signs of Beck's triad? What are the limitations
when assessing these sign signs when a patient is hypovolemic?
Answer: Beck's triad includes: hypotension, distended neck veins,
muffled heart sounds. Hypovolemia may prevent distention of neck
veins and the often loud trauma bay may disallow identifying
muffled heart sounds
◉ What is the most important intervention for a patient in acute
respiratory distress with tachycardia, hypotension, jugular vein,
distention, and unilateral absent breath sounds? Answer: needle
decompression of a tension pneumothorax
◉ What are the differences between a simple (closed)
pneumothorax and a complex or communicating open
pneumothorax? What causes progression to a tension
pneumothorax? Answer: A simple (closed) pneumothorax occurs
when air leaks from the lung into the pleural space without a chest
wall injury, while a complex or communicating open pneumothorax
happens when a wound in the chest wall allows air from the outside
to directly enter the pleural space, creating a communication
between the outside atmosphere and the chest cavity. Tension
, pneumo is caused by the air entering the pleural space but cannot
escape on expiration
◉ What interventions should the nurse anticipate for a patient with
a massive hemothorax? Answer: -prep for a chest tube
- 2 large bore IVs
-initiate massive transfusion protocol
- prep for the OR
◉ What are the indications for resuscitative thoracotomy? Answer: -
penetrating chest trauma with cardiac arrest
-cardiac tamponade
- pulseless and receiving CPR within 15 min of trauma
- refractory shock and systolic is less than 65
◉ What injuries are common with blunt abdominal trauma?
Answer: MVCs, assaults, falls
◉ What are some examples of hollow abdominal organs? Solid
abdominal organs? Answer: Hollow: gallbladder, stomach, small
bowel, and large bowel.
Solid: liver, spleen, kidneys, and pancreas
