NSG 223 Mod 1.1 Practice Exam | Questions with 100% Correct
Answers | Verified | Latest Update 2026
Why is eliciting a medical history crucial during the initial assessment after a traumatic injury?
A. Comorbidities alter the physiologic response to trauma
B. It is essential to determining the mechanism of injury
C. A medical history helps to identify the cause of injury.
D. The client may become comatose later. correct answers A.
Which consideration will the nurse apply to the assessment of a patient who sustained
penetrating trauma?
1. The extent of injury is related to the amount of energy transferred to the body tissues.
2. The amount of trauma sustained is related to the patient's nutritional status before the injury.
3. If the patient was well hydrated at the time of injury, the extent will be diminished.
4. The primary determinant of injury is the arc traveled by the penetrating object. correct answers
Answer: 1 Explanation: 1. Penetrating trauma refers to injury sustained by the transmission of
energy to body tissues from a moving object that interrupts skin integrity. Penetrating trauma
produces actual tissue penetration and may also cause surrounding tissue deformation based on
the energy transferred by the penetrating object. 2. Pre-injury nutritional status is not a major
factor in the amount of injury sustained. 3. The patient's fluid volume status has little to do with
the amount of injury sustained. 4. The physics of injury does include arc, direction of travel,
diameter of the object, and other components, but these measures all relate to a more specific
concept.
A patient brought into the emergency department with injuries sustained from a motor vehicle
accident (MVA) is complaining of abdominal pain and begins to vomit. The nurse suspects injury
from which most likely source?
1. Shearing
2. Deceleration
3. Compression
,4. Acceleration correct answers Answer: 3 Explanation: 1. Shearing occurs when two parts of the
same structure move in opposite direction causing a tear. Shearing forces are common in MVAs,
but this is not the most specific injury pattern for this patient. 2. Deceleration is a decrease in the
speed of velocity of a moving object. Deceleration injury is common in MVAs but is not the
most specific injury in this situation. 3. Compression is the process of being pressed or squeezed
together with a resulting reduction in volume or size. The small bowel may be compressed
between the vertebral column and the lower part of the steering wheel or an improperly placed
seat belt. The bowel may rupture. Because the patient complained of abdominal pain and started
to vomit, the nurse should suspect that the patient sustained a compression force injury. 4.
Acceleration is the increase in the rate of velocity or speed of a moving object and frequently
occurs in MVAs. It is not the most specific injury pattern suggested by this scenario.
A teenage patient comes into the emergency department with an arrow lodged in his right lower
thoracic region. Which nursing intervention is indicated?
1. Have the patient assume a left side lying position and pull on the arrow to remove it.
2. Slowly move the arrow to the left and right to attempt to dislodge it.
3. Stabilize the arrow by padding around the wound with gauze rolls.
4. Slowly rotate the arrow to attempt to dislodge it. correct answers Answer: 3 Explanation: 1.
The nurse should not pull on the arrow to attempt to remove it. 2. The nurse should not move the
arrow to the left and right since impaled objects may actually be controlling a hemorrhage from
damaged structures and removal may precipitate exsanguination. 3. If the offending weapon is
impaled in the body, it is critical that the object be left in place and protected from further
movement until definitive surgical intervention is available. Protective padding can be placed
around the object, such as gauze rolls or abdominal pads. The nurse should stabilize the arrow by
padding around the wound with gauze rolls. 4. The nurse should not rotate the arrow since
impaled objects may actually be controlling a hemorrhage from damaged structures and removal
may precipitate exsanguination.
The nurse is preparing to assess a motor vehicle accident victim who was lap and shoulder
harness restrained. Due to the mechanism of injury the nurse will look for which most common
injuries?
Select all that apply.
1. Lumbar spine fractures
2. Fractured patella
, 3. Pulmonary contusion
4. Flexion fracture of the cervical spine
5. Contusion of the small bowel correct answers Answer: 3, 5 Explanation: 1. Lumbar spine
fractures are more commonly seen in lap belt only restrained drivers. 2. Fractured patella is more
commonly seen in unrestrained front seat passengers and fall injuries. 3. Since the patient was
restrained with a lap and shoulder harness, the nurse will most likely assess contusions
underlying the location of the harness. Pulmonary contusions are an example of this injury. 4.
Flexion fracture of the cervical spine is most likely seen with an unrestrained driver. 5. Since the
patient was restrained with a lap and shoulder harness, the nurse will most likely assess
contusions underlying the location of the harness. Small bowel contusions are an example
A pregnant patient in her third trimester has been involved in a motor vehicle accident. Which
intervention should the nurse implement to treat the patient's symptoms of hypotension?
1. Turn the patient to the right lateral position.
2. Turn the patient to the left lateral position.
3. Place the patient in Trendelenburg's position.
4. Place the patient in the supine position. correct answers Answer: 2 Explanation: 1. The right
lateral position would allow compromise of the inferior vena cava. 2. Placing the patient in the
left lateral position shifts the uterus to the left, thus preventing the heavy uterus from
compressing the inferior vena cava against the spinal column and decreasing venous return and
preload. 3. Placing the patient in Trendelenburg's position would compress the inferior vena cava
and may compromise the patient's ability to breathe. 4. Supine positioning can result in
development of inferior vena cava syndrome, making it difficult to treat hypotension.
A 78-year-old woman slipped and fell on an ice-covered sidewalk. The nurse would be most
concerned that the patient has an unstable pelvic fracture if which assessment finding is present?
1. The patient fell directly on her coccyx.
2. The patient was incontinent of urine at the time of the fall.
3. The patient has bruising across her labia.
4. The patient complains of sharp pain just above her waist on the right side. correct answers
Answer: 3 Explanation: 1. Falling directly on the coccyx does not increase (or diminish)
likelihood of an unstable pelvic fracture. 2. Presence (or absence) of incontinence of urine is not
a factor in risk for unstable fracture. 3. Presence of perineal ecchymosis is an indicator that
Answers | Verified | Latest Update 2026
Why is eliciting a medical history crucial during the initial assessment after a traumatic injury?
A. Comorbidities alter the physiologic response to trauma
B. It is essential to determining the mechanism of injury
C. A medical history helps to identify the cause of injury.
D. The client may become comatose later. correct answers A.
Which consideration will the nurse apply to the assessment of a patient who sustained
penetrating trauma?
1. The extent of injury is related to the amount of energy transferred to the body tissues.
2. The amount of trauma sustained is related to the patient's nutritional status before the injury.
3. If the patient was well hydrated at the time of injury, the extent will be diminished.
4. The primary determinant of injury is the arc traveled by the penetrating object. correct answers
Answer: 1 Explanation: 1. Penetrating trauma refers to injury sustained by the transmission of
energy to body tissues from a moving object that interrupts skin integrity. Penetrating trauma
produces actual tissue penetration and may also cause surrounding tissue deformation based on
the energy transferred by the penetrating object. 2. Pre-injury nutritional status is not a major
factor in the amount of injury sustained. 3. The patient's fluid volume status has little to do with
the amount of injury sustained. 4. The physics of injury does include arc, direction of travel,
diameter of the object, and other components, but these measures all relate to a more specific
concept.
A patient brought into the emergency department with injuries sustained from a motor vehicle
accident (MVA) is complaining of abdominal pain and begins to vomit. The nurse suspects injury
from which most likely source?
1. Shearing
2. Deceleration
3. Compression
,4. Acceleration correct answers Answer: 3 Explanation: 1. Shearing occurs when two parts of the
same structure move in opposite direction causing a tear. Shearing forces are common in MVAs,
but this is not the most specific injury pattern for this patient. 2. Deceleration is a decrease in the
speed of velocity of a moving object. Deceleration injury is common in MVAs but is not the
most specific injury in this situation. 3. Compression is the process of being pressed or squeezed
together with a resulting reduction in volume or size. The small bowel may be compressed
between the vertebral column and the lower part of the steering wheel or an improperly placed
seat belt. The bowel may rupture. Because the patient complained of abdominal pain and started
to vomit, the nurse should suspect that the patient sustained a compression force injury. 4.
Acceleration is the increase in the rate of velocity or speed of a moving object and frequently
occurs in MVAs. It is not the most specific injury pattern suggested by this scenario.
A teenage patient comes into the emergency department with an arrow lodged in his right lower
thoracic region. Which nursing intervention is indicated?
1. Have the patient assume a left side lying position and pull on the arrow to remove it.
2. Slowly move the arrow to the left and right to attempt to dislodge it.
3. Stabilize the arrow by padding around the wound with gauze rolls.
4. Slowly rotate the arrow to attempt to dislodge it. correct answers Answer: 3 Explanation: 1.
The nurse should not pull on the arrow to attempt to remove it. 2. The nurse should not move the
arrow to the left and right since impaled objects may actually be controlling a hemorrhage from
damaged structures and removal may precipitate exsanguination. 3. If the offending weapon is
impaled in the body, it is critical that the object be left in place and protected from further
movement until definitive surgical intervention is available. Protective padding can be placed
around the object, such as gauze rolls or abdominal pads. The nurse should stabilize the arrow by
padding around the wound with gauze rolls. 4. The nurse should not rotate the arrow since
impaled objects may actually be controlling a hemorrhage from damaged structures and removal
may precipitate exsanguination.
The nurse is preparing to assess a motor vehicle accident victim who was lap and shoulder
harness restrained. Due to the mechanism of injury the nurse will look for which most common
injuries?
Select all that apply.
1. Lumbar spine fractures
2. Fractured patella
, 3. Pulmonary contusion
4. Flexion fracture of the cervical spine
5. Contusion of the small bowel correct answers Answer: 3, 5 Explanation: 1. Lumbar spine
fractures are more commonly seen in lap belt only restrained drivers. 2. Fractured patella is more
commonly seen in unrestrained front seat passengers and fall injuries. 3. Since the patient was
restrained with a lap and shoulder harness, the nurse will most likely assess contusions
underlying the location of the harness. Pulmonary contusions are an example of this injury. 4.
Flexion fracture of the cervical spine is most likely seen with an unrestrained driver. 5. Since the
patient was restrained with a lap and shoulder harness, the nurse will most likely assess
contusions underlying the location of the harness. Small bowel contusions are an example
A pregnant patient in her third trimester has been involved in a motor vehicle accident. Which
intervention should the nurse implement to treat the patient's symptoms of hypotension?
1. Turn the patient to the right lateral position.
2. Turn the patient to the left lateral position.
3. Place the patient in Trendelenburg's position.
4. Place the patient in the supine position. correct answers Answer: 2 Explanation: 1. The right
lateral position would allow compromise of the inferior vena cava. 2. Placing the patient in the
left lateral position shifts the uterus to the left, thus preventing the heavy uterus from
compressing the inferior vena cava against the spinal column and decreasing venous return and
preload. 3. Placing the patient in Trendelenburg's position would compress the inferior vena cava
and may compromise the patient's ability to breathe. 4. Supine positioning can result in
development of inferior vena cava syndrome, making it difficult to treat hypotension.
A 78-year-old woman slipped and fell on an ice-covered sidewalk. The nurse would be most
concerned that the patient has an unstable pelvic fracture if which assessment finding is present?
1. The patient fell directly on her coccyx.
2. The patient was incontinent of urine at the time of the fall.
3. The patient has bruising across her labia.
4. The patient complains of sharp pain just above her waist on the right side. correct answers
Answer: 3 Explanation: 1. Falling directly on the coccyx does not increase (or diminish)
likelihood of an unstable pelvic fracture. 2. Presence (or absence) of incontinence of urine is not
a factor in risk for unstable fracture. 3. Presence of perineal ecchymosis is an indicator that
