Practice Test Geeks(BCEN) Board of Certification of Emergency Nursing Practice Test
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Trauma and Injury Management Flashcards

7 cards from real BCEN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. A patient with a stab wound to zone II of the neck is hemodynamically stable. The appropriate initial management is:

    Answer: Computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the neck

    Hemodynamically stable patients with zone II neck injuries undergo CTA to evaluate vascular and aerodigestive structures before surgical decisions.

  2. Which intervention is CONTRAINDICATED in a patient with a suspected basilar skull fracture?

    Answer: Nasogastric tube insertion

    Nasogastric tube insertion is contraindicated in basilar skull fracture due to risk of intracranial placement through the cribriform plate.

  3. A burn patient has circumferential full-thickness burns to both lower extremities with absent distal pulses. The priority intervention is:

    Answer: Perform escharotomy

    Circumferential full-thickness burns cause compartment syndrome requiring escharotomy to restore distal perfusion.

  4. According to the Parkland formula, how much fluid should be given in the first 8 hours for a 70 kg patient with 40% TBSA burns?

    Answer: 5,600 mL

    Parkland formula: 4 mL × kg × %TBSA = 4 × 70 × 40 = 11,200 mL total; half (5,600 mL) given in first 8 hours.

  5. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle presents with ecchymosis in a 'tire track' pattern across the abdomen and pelvis. The nurse anticipates injury to which organ most commonly?

    Answer: Small bowel and mesentery

    Crush injury from tire tracks most commonly injures the small bowel and mesentery due to compression against the spine.

  6. A patient presents with a gunshot wound to the abdomen, evisceration of bowel, and hemodynamic instability. The appropriate wound management prior to surgery is:

    Answer: Cover with a moist saline dressing or bowel bag

    Eviscerated bowel should be covered with a moist saline dressing or bowel bag to prevent desiccation; never attempt to replace it.

  7. Which mechanism best explains why elderly trauma patients have higher mortality than younger patients with similar injury severity scores?

    Answer: Reduced physiologic reserve and higher rates of anticoagulant use

    Reduced physiologic reserve, comorbidities, and common anticoagulant use impair the elderly patient's ability to compensate for traumatic injury.

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Trauma and Injury Management Flashcards — BCEN Study Cards with Answers