ATCN Exam Questions and Complete
Answers
tension pneumothorax signs - Answer: •respirstory distress •tachycardia, hypotension •absent
breath sounds on the affected side •neck vein distention •tracheal deviation, away from injured side
The predominant cause of preventable death - Answer: Hemorrhage
What does decreased level of consciousness indicate? - Answer: Poor brain perfusion due to blood
loss with subsequent hypoxia
cardiac tamponade (Beck's Triad) - Answer: •Venous pressure elevation (distended neck veins)
•decline in arterial pressure (hypotension) •muffled heart tones
Balanced fluid resuscitation/Permissive hypotension - Answer: Maintains end organ perfusion.
Strategy used until definitive control of hemorrhage occurs. Raising blood pressure too quickly with
aggressive fluid resuscitation without control of hemorrhage can increase bleeding fluid
When can tranexamic acid (clot promoter) be considered? - Answer: May be considered in severely
injured patient that presents within 3 hours of injury
GCS - Answer:
Why do you insert tubes (pharyngeal, endotracheal, or gastric) through mouth when facial fractures
are present - Answer: This is because a cribriform plate fracture may be suspected. Insertion of
tubes through mouth prevents inadvertent insertion of the tube through the cribriform plate
Why insert gastric tubes in traumas? - Answer: Decompress abdomen and reduce resistance to
diaphragmatic excursion and decrease risk of aspiration. Also to assess for blood with potential
upper gastro-intestinal injury
secondary survey AMPLE - Answer: i. Allergies
ii. Meds currently taking
iii. PMHx/pregnancy
Answers
tension pneumothorax signs - Answer: •respirstory distress •tachycardia, hypotension •absent
breath sounds on the affected side •neck vein distention •tracheal deviation, away from injured side
The predominant cause of preventable death - Answer: Hemorrhage
What does decreased level of consciousness indicate? - Answer: Poor brain perfusion due to blood
loss with subsequent hypoxia
cardiac tamponade (Beck's Triad) - Answer: •Venous pressure elevation (distended neck veins)
•decline in arterial pressure (hypotension) •muffled heart tones
Balanced fluid resuscitation/Permissive hypotension - Answer: Maintains end organ perfusion.
Strategy used until definitive control of hemorrhage occurs. Raising blood pressure too quickly with
aggressive fluid resuscitation without control of hemorrhage can increase bleeding fluid
When can tranexamic acid (clot promoter) be considered? - Answer: May be considered in severely
injured patient that presents within 3 hours of injury
GCS - Answer:
Why do you insert tubes (pharyngeal, endotracheal, or gastric) through mouth when facial fractures
are present - Answer: This is because a cribriform plate fracture may be suspected. Insertion of
tubes through mouth prevents inadvertent insertion of the tube through the cribriform plate
Why insert gastric tubes in traumas? - Answer: Decompress abdomen and reduce resistance to
diaphragmatic excursion and decrease risk of aspiration. Also to assess for blood with potential
upper gastro-intestinal injury
secondary survey AMPLE - Answer: i. Allergies
ii. Meds currently taking
iii. PMHx/pregnancy
