Chapter 16

Question 1

The Good Samaritan law will protect all people who offer assistance. What is necessary for
this protection?
a. A license
b. The person acts prudently
c. Licensed supervision
d. The patient improves

Answer 1

b. The person acts prudently

Question 2

When administering first aid in emergency situations, the nurse must first survey victims for
severity of injuries. What term correctly describes this process?
a. The Good Samaritan law
b. An emergency interview
c. Triage
d. Taking vital signs

Answer 2

c. Triage

Question 3

A nurse is assessing victims in an emergency situation. What will the nurse assess forfirst?
a. Hemorrhage
b. Fractures
c. Mobility
d. Abnormal breathing

Answer 3

d. Abnormal breathing

Question 4

CPR has been initiated at an accident site. When can CPR be terminated?
a. Victim is clinically dead.
b. Victim is brain dead.
c. Paramedics arrive.
d. Rescuer perceives CPR is futile.

Answer 4

c. Paramedics arrive.

Question 5

The nurse determines clinical death and initiates CPR immediately. How long is
resuscitation considered possible?
a. If cardiopulmonary arrest has existed for no more 2 minutes
b. If cardiopulmonary arrest has existed for no more 3minutes
c. If cardiopulmonary arrest has existed for no more 4minutes
d. If cardiopulmonary arrest has existed for no more 5minutes

Answer 5

c. If cardiopulmonary arrest has existed for no more 4minutes

Question 6

When assessing the adult victim for pulselessness, the CPR rescuer should palpate the most
reliable and accessible pulse. Which pulse will be palpated?
a. Radial
b. Brachial
c. Carotid
d. Femoral

Answer 6

c. Carotid

Question 7

When a patient suddenly experiences respiratory difficulty in the cafeteria, the nurse begins
assessment for foreign-body airway obstruction. What is the most appropriate question to
ask the victim?
a. “What did you swallow?”
b. “Are you choking?”
c. “Are you OK?”
d. “Can I help you?”

Answer 7

b. “Are you choking?”

Question 8

The patient arrived at the emergency department in pain and bleeding profusely with the
following vital signs: BP 80/54, P 102, RR 22. What does the nurse recognize that these
symptoms indicate?
a. Inadequate perfusion
b. Circulatory shock
c. Massive vasodilation
d. Heart failure

Answer 8

b. Circulatory shock

Question 9

CPR has been initiated on an adult patient. How will the nurse confirm the effectiveness of
CPR?
a. Assessing an EKG pattern with each compression
b. Assessing a palpable carotid pulse during each compression
c. Assuring a compression depth of to 2 in
d. Observing pupils that change from pinpoint to dilated

Answer 9

b. Assessing a palpable carotid pulse during each compression

Question 10

A patient with multiple serious injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident is lying beside his
wrecked motorcycle unconscious and bleeding when the rescuer arrives at the scene. What
will be the rescuer’s priority action?
a. Assessing blood loss
b. Assessing respiratory status
c. Obtaining vital signs
d. Organizing laypeople at the scene

Answer 10

b. Assessing respiratory status

Question 11

The worried mother of an accident victim asks the nurse how much circulating blood an
average adult male is supposed to have. What will the nurse reply?
a. 8 pints
b. 10 pints
c. 12 pints
d. 14 pints

Answer 11

c. 12 pints

Question 12

The nurse is assessing a patient who is severely bleeding and at risk for hypovolemic shock.
What can the nurse anticipate?
a. Slow, labored breathing
b. Hot, flushed skin
c. Edematous extremities
d. Weak, thready pulse

Answer 12

d. Weak, thready pulse

Question 13

A nurse assesses an accident victim who has bright red blood spurting from a laceration on
his right forearm. Where will the nurse apply pressure after applying direct pressure and
elevating the limb?
a. Right subclavian artery
b. Right radial artery
c. Right ulnar artery
d. Right brachial artery

Answer 13

d. Right brachial artery

Question 14

The nurse is attempting to control bleeding in a patient with a profusely bleeding scalp
wound. What is the most effective initial treatment of this bleeding?
a. Elevate the head.
b. Apply direct pressure.
c. Apply an ice pack.
d. Apply indirect pressure.

Answer 14

b. Apply direct pressure.

Question 15

When other methods have failed to stop the bleeding and the victim’s life is in danger, the
rescuer at the scene applies a tourniquet to a young woman’s leg above the knee. What is
another step that is essential for the rescuer to follow?
a. Never release the tourniquet.
b. Wrap the tourniquet around the limb twice.
c. Mark the patient with a “T.”
d. Leave the limb elevated.

Answer 15

a. Never release the tourniquet.

Question 16

The nurse is teaching a patient with epistaxis about the best way to control bleeding. What
information will the nurse relay to this patient?
a. Place ice on the nose and pinch the nostrils.
b. Maintain a flat position.
c. Pack nostrils with cotton.
d. Lean backward.

Answer 16

a. Place ice on the nose and pinch the nostrils.

Question 17

A farm worker who has been kicked in the stomach by a mule passes a foul, black, tarry
stool. What is this called?
a. Loose stool
b. Melena
c. Hematuria
d. Hemoptysis

Answer 17

b. Melena

Question 18

A machinist visits the industrial nurse’s clinic with a deep laceration of the thigh. What
should be the nurse’s first action?
a. Splint the thigh and apply tape to approximate the edges.
b. Apply ice and a pressure dressing to the thigh.
c. Give a tetanus booster injection.
d. Wash the laceration with an antiseptic.

Answer 18

d. Wash the laceration with an antiseptic.

Question 19

The patient’s lower chest has been punctured with a knife that is still in place. What should
the nurse’s first action be?
a. Remove the knife.
b. Apply an airtight dressing over the wound.
c. Place the patient in a modified Trendelenburg’s position.
d. Immobilize the knife with dressings and tape.

Answer 19

d. Immobilize the knife with dressings and tape.

Question 20

A patient arrives in the emergency department with a sucking wound to the left chest. What
is the first action the nurse should take?
a. Place several layers of gauze dressing over the wound.
b. Place the patient in a supine position.
c. Cover the wound with an airtight dressing taped on three sides.
d. Turn the patient to the left side.

Answer 20

c. Cover the wound with an airtight dressing taped on three sides.

Question 21

The nurse is assisting a victim of an accident who requires bandaging of the right lower
extremity. What should the nurse do when applying the bandage?
a. Use sterile material.
b. Leave the toes exposed.
c. Bandage the extremity tightly.
d. Bend the knee after bandaging.

Answer 21

b. Leave the toes exposed.

Question 22

A patient who had taken a poisonous substance is brought to the emergency department.
What is the first action the nurse should take?
a. Give syrup of ipecac.
b. Contact the poison control center.
c. Give milk to coat the stomach.
d. Observe for symptoms.

Answer 22

b. Contact the poison control center.

Question 23

A patient has been stung by a bee and is brought to the emergency department. The nurse
observes the sting site and identifies that the stinger is still in the skin. What action should
the nurse take?
a. Remove it with sterile tweezers.
b. Soak the area with a cold compress.
c. Scrape the stinger with the side of a knife.
d. Squeeze the surrounding tissue to expel the stinger.

Answer 23

c. Scrape the stinger with the side of a knife.

Question 24

The patient with heatstroke has been undressed and treated with cold packs and a fan. The
patient’s temperature is now down to 101.2°F (38.4°C). The patient starts to shiver. What
action should the emergency department nurse take?
a. Raise the head of the bed.
b. Offer warm liquids.
c. Remove cold packs and fan.
d. Continue with cooling interventions.

Answer 24

c. Remove cold packs and fan.

Question 25

The patient is admitted to the emergency department, having suffered frostbite to the hands,
which are grayish-white in color. What action should the nurse implement when attempting
to warm the hands?
a. Have the patient rub the hands together briskly.
b. Wipe the hands vigorously with a warm towel.
c. Run tepid water over the hands to warm slowly.
d. Wrap the hands in hot, moist towels.

Answer 25

d. Wrap the hands in hot, moist towels.

Question 26

A visitor in the hospital slips and falls. The patient’s arm appears dislocated and the visitor
is unable to move it. What is the first action the nurse should implement?
a. Apply cold packs.
b. Check range of motion.
c. Splint the arm.
d. Apply an Ace bandage.

Answer 26

c. Splint the arm.

Question 27

The patient is brought to the emergency department after having fractured an arm 12 hours
ago. The arm is very edematous from the fingers to the elbow, and the patient cannot move
it. What should be the initial action of the nurse?
a. Test range of motion.
b. Take the vital signs.
c. Place ice packs on the arm.
d. Check fingers for capillary refill.

Answer 27

d. Check fingers for capillary refill.

Question 28

When assessing a patient who has suffered a burn injury, the nurse classifies the burn as a
deep partial-thickness burn. What is this observation most likely based upon?
a. Painful reddened skin
b. Charred skin with milky-white areas
c. Erythema and blisters
d. Erythema, pain, and swelling

Answer 28

c. Erythema and blisters

Question 29

The nurse arrives on the scene of a fire. What is the first thing the nurse will do for a burn
victim?
a. Apply dressings.
b. Cover with a blanket.
c. Cool the burn immediately.
d. Apply topical ointment.

Answer 29

c. Cool the burn immediately.

Question 30

A patient is admitted to the hospital after receiving a blow to the head. The patient begins to
show signs of shock. How should the patient be positioned?
a. With the head lower than the body
b. Flat with the legs elevated
c. Flat on the back
d. In a side-lying position

Answer 30

c. Flat on the back

Question 31

While on break in the hospital cafeteria a nurse witnesses her pregnant coworker start to
choke. The coworker is conscious, but unable to breathe. Where should the nurse administer
thrusts?
a. Below the navel
b. The chest
c. At the xiphoid process
d. The upper back

Answer 31

b. The chest

Question 32

A burn patient is brought into the emergency department with the following burns: half of the front torso, entire left arm, and front of left leg. The nurse should record that thepatient
has a % burn.
a. 27
b. 25
c. 50
d. 43

Answer 32

a. 27