CHAPTER 72 EMERGENCY NURSING
(SUDDARTH) EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS|| GRADED A+|| LATEST
UPDATE 2026
1. Which patient should the nurse prioritize as needing emergent treatment, assuming
no other injuries are present except the ones outlined below?
A) A patient with a blunt chest trauma with some difficulty breathing
B) A patient with a sore neck who was immobilized in the field on a backboard with a
cervical collar
C) A patient with a possible fractured tibia with adequate pedal pulses
D) A patient with an acute onset of confusion -CORRECTANSWER Ans: A
Feedback: The patient with blunt chest trauma possibly has a compromised airway.
Establishment and maintenance of a patent airway and adequate ventilation is
prioritized over other health problems, including skeletal injuries and changes in
cognition.
2. The nurse observes that the family members of a patient who was injured in an
accident are blaming each other for the circumstances leading up to the accident. The
nurse appropriately lets the family members express their feelings of responsibility,
while explaining that there was probably little they could do to prevent the injury. In what
stage of crisis is this family? A) Anxiety and denial B) Remorse and guilt C) Anger D)
Grief -CORRECTANSWER : B Feedback: Remorse and guilt are natural processes of
,the stages of a crisis and should be facilitated for the family members to process the
crisis. The familys sense of blame and responsibility are more suggestive of guilt than
anger, grief, or anxiety.
3. A patient is brought to the ED by ambulance with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
The nurse knows that the most common hollow organ injured in this type of injury is
what?
A) Liver
B) Small bowel
C) Stomach
D) Large bowel -CORRECTANSWER ans: B Feedback: Penetrating abdominal wounds
have a high incidence of injury to hollow organs, especially the small bowel. The liver is
also injured frequently, but it is a solid organ.
4. A patient has been brought to the ED with multiple trauma after a motor vehicle
accident. After immediate threats to life have been addressed, the nurse and trauma
team should take what action?
A) Perform a rapid physical assessment.
B) Initiate health education.
C) Perform diagnostic imaging.
D) Establish the circumstances of the accident. -CORRECTANSWER ans: A Feedback:
Once immediate threats to life have been corrected, a rapid physical examination is
done to identify injuries and priorities of treatment. Health education is initiated later in
, the care process and diagnostic imaging would take place after a rapid physical
assessment. It is not the care teams responsibility to determine the circumstances of
the accident.
5. The nursing educator is reviewing the signs and symptoms of heat stroke with a
group of nurses who provide care in a desert region. The educator should describe what
sign or symptom? A) Hypertension with a wide pulse pressure B) Anhidrosis C) Copious
diuresis - 1351 D) Cheyne-Stokes respirations -CORRECTANSWER : B Feedback:
Heat stroke is manifested by anhidrosis confusion, bizarre behavior, coma, elevated
body temperature, hot dry skin, tachypnea, hypotension, and tachycardia. This health
problem is not associated with anhidrosis or Cheyne-Stokes respirations.
6. A patient is brought to the ED by ambulance after swallowing highly acidic toilet bowl
cleaner 2 hours earlier. The patient is alert and oriented. What is the care teams most
appropriate treatment?
A) Administering syrup of ipecac
B) Performing a gastric lavage
C) Giving milk to drink
D) Referring to psychiatry -CORRECTANSWER ans: C Feedback: A patient who has
swallowed an acidic substance, such as toilet bowl cleaner, may be given milk or water
to drink for dilution. Gastric lavage must be performed within 1 hour of ingestion. A
psychiatric consult may be considered once the patient is physically stable and it is
(SUDDARTH) EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS|| GRADED A+|| LATEST
UPDATE 2026
1. Which patient should the nurse prioritize as needing emergent treatment, assuming
no other injuries are present except the ones outlined below?
A) A patient with a blunt chest trauma with some difficulty breathing
B) A patient with a sore neck who was immobilized in the field on a backboard with a
cervical collar
C) A patient with a possible fractured tibia with adequate pedal pulses
D) A patient with an acute onset of confusion -CORRECTANSWER Ans: A
Feedback: The patient with blunt chest trauma possibly has a compromised airway.
Establishment and maintenance of a patent airway and adequate ventilation is
prioritized over other health problems, including skeletal injuries and changes in
cognition.
2. The nurse observes that the family members of a patient who was injured in an
accident are blaming each other for the circumstances leading up to the accident. The
nurse appropriately lets the family members express their feelings of responsibility,
while explaining that there was probably little they could do to prevent the injury. In what
stage of crisis is this family? A) Anxiety and denial B) Remorse and guilt C) Anger D)
Grief -CORRECTANSWER : B Feedback: Remorse and guilt are natural processes of
,the stages of a crisis and should be facilitated for the family members to process the
crisis. The familys sense of blame and responsibility are more suggestive of guilt than
anger, grief, or anxiety.
3. A patient is brought to the ED by ambulance with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
The nurse knows that the most common hollow organ injured in this type of injury is
what?
A) Liver
B) Small bowel
C) Stomach
D) Large bowel -CORRECTANSWER ans: B Feedback: Penetrating abdominal wounds
have a high incidence of injury to hollow organs, especially the small bowel. The liver is
also injured frequently, but it is a solid organ.
4. A patient has been brought to the ED with multiple trauma after a motor vehicle
accident. After immediate threats to life have been addressed, the nurse and trauma
team should take what action?
A) Perform a rapid physical assessment.
B) Initiate health education.
C) Perform diagnostic imaging.
D) Establish the circumstances of the accident. -CORRECTANSWER ans: A Feedback:
Once immediate threats to life have been corrected, a rapid physical examination is
done to identify injuries and priorities of treatment. Health education is initiated later in
, the care process and diagnostic imaging would take place after a rapid physical
assessment. It is not the care teams responsibility to determine the circumstances of
the accident.
5. The nursing educator is reviewing the signs and symptoms of heat stroke with a
group of nurses who provide care in a desert region. The educator should describe what
sign or symptom? A) Hypertension with a wide pulse pressure B) Anhidrosis C) Copious
diuresis - 1351 D) Cheyne-Stokes respirations -CORRECTANSWER : B Feedback:
Heat stroke is manifested by anhidrosis confusion, bizarre behavior, coma, elevated
body temperature, hot dry skin, tachypnea, hypotension, and tachycardia. This health
problem is not associated with anhidrosis or Cheyne-Stokes respirations.
6. A patient is brought to the ED by ambulance after swallowing highly acidic toilet bowl
cleaner 2 hours earlier. The patient is alert and oriented. What is the care teams most
appropriate treatment?
A) Administering syrup of ipecac
B) Performing a gastric lavage
C) Giving milk to drink
D) Referring to psychiatry -CORRECTANSWER ans: C Feedback: A patient who has
swallowed an acidic substance, such as toilet bowl cleaner, may be given milk or water
to drink for dilution. Gastric lavage must be performed within 1 hour of ingestion. A
psychiatric consult may be considered once the patient is physically stable and it is
