Trauma Nursing Flashcards

A trauma patient arrives after a high-speed MVC. During the primary survey, the nurse identifies absent breath sounds on the left and tracheal deviation to the right. What is the priority action?

Answer: Perform needle thoracostomy on the left side

Absent breath sounds with tracheal deviation indicate tension pneumothorax requiring immediate needle decompression without waiting for imaging.

During the primary survey (ABCDE), when is massive hemorrhage control addressed in the updated ATLS framework?

Answer: Before airway — as the first priority (ABC)

Updated ATLS guidelines add (catastrophic hemorrhage control) before airway management in the primary survey.

A patient with an open abdominal wound has loops of bowel eviscerated. Which nursing action is most appropriate?

Answer: Cover with a moist saline dressing and do not reinsert

Eviscerated abdominal contents should be covered with a moist, sterile saline dressing and never pushed back into the abdomen.

A trauma patient has a GCS of 9 (E2V3M4). What does this GCS score indicate about the patient's airway?

Answer: Definitive airway management should be considered

A GCS ≤8 is a widely used threshold for considering definitive airway management due to inability to protect the airway.

Which type of shock is most likely in a trauma patient with distended neck veins, muffled heart sounds, and hypotension without obvious external hemorrhage?

Answer: Obstructive shock from cardiac tamponade

Beck's triad (hypotension, JVD, muffled heart sounds) in trauma indicates obstructive shock from pericardial tamponade.

A patient with a suspected pelvic fracture has ongoing hemodynamic instability. Which intervention is priority to reduce pelvic volume and control hemorrhage?

Answer: Application of a commercial pelvic binder or sheet wrap

A pelvic binder reduces pelvic volume and tamponades venous bleeding, serving as a temporizing measure until definitive care.