Trauma Practice Questions
Master Trauma for the NREMT exam with comprehensive practice questions, detailed explanations, and proven study strategies.
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Practice Questions
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Students Passed
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What You'll Learn
Trauma is a critical topic on the NREMT exam, as emergency medical responders must be prepared to assess and manage a wide range of traumatic injuries. This includes understanding the underlying mechanisms of injury, performing a thorough primary and secondary survey, and providing appropriate interventions to stabilize the patient. Mastering the trauma content is essential for demonstrating competency as an emergency medical provider and passing the NREMT exam.
Key Concepts
Mechanism of Injury
The specific event or force that caused a traumatic injury, such as a motor vehicle collision, fall, or gunshot wound. Understanding the mechanism is crucial for anticipating potential injuries and guiding the assessment and management.
Primary Survey
The initial rapid assessment to identify and address life-threatening conditions, following the ABCDE approach: Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, and Exposure.
Hemorrhage Control
Techniques used to stop or slow down significant external bleeding, such as the application of direct pressure, tourniquets, hemostatic dressings, or wound packing.
Shock
A state of inadequate tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery, often resulting from severe blood or fluid loss, which can lead to organ dysfunction and death if not properly managed.
Spinal Immobilization
The proper techniques and equipment used to stabilize the spine in patients with suspected spinal injuries, in order to prevent further neurological damage.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Failing to properly assess the mechanism of injury and anticipate potential injuries
- Neglecting to perform a thorough primary survey and address life-threatening conditions first
- Improper or delayed application of hemorrhage control measures
- Misidentifying or inadequately managing shock
- Incorrectly applying spinal immobilization techniques
Sample Trauma Questions
Question 1
An adult patient with a suspected closed femur fracture presents with swelling, deformity, diminished pulses, and early signs of hypovolemic shock. There is no visible external blood loss. Approximately how much blood can be lost into the thigh due to a closed femoral shaft fracture?
500–1000 mL
(Correct)1000–1500 mL
1500–2,000 mL
Over 2000 mL
Explanation:
Correct answer: 500–1000 mL. Hemodynamic instability is a key concern in prehospital care and can arise from blood loss secondary to a fracture. Rib fractures can produce 100 to 200 mL of blood loss, and tibial fractures may result in 300 to 500 mL of blood loss. Femur fractures may result in 800 to...
Question 2
A patient experiences a sudden blow to the chest, resulting in a cardiac dysrhythmia that occurs during the heart's repolarization phase. This condition is best described as:
Commotio cordis
(Correct)Takotsubo syndrome
Sudden cardiac death
Acute coronary syndrome
Explanation:
Correct answer: Commotio cordis. Commotio cordis can occur if the chest sustains a direct impact during a critical portion of the heart's repolarization phase; this can result in immediate cardiac arrest. This phenomenon can be observed after a patient has been struck in the chest with objects such ...
Question 3
A 20-year-old patient presents with a suspected closed head injury along with a closed femur fracture. They are cool, clammy, and appear anxious. Vital signs show a respiratory rate (RR) of 22 breaths per minute, heart rate (HR) of 120 beats per minute, and blood pressure (BP) of 100/48 mm Hg. What is the MOST likely cause of their condition?
Internal bleeding around the femur fracture
(Correct)Pain from the suspected femur fracture
Closed head injury
Internal bleeding from a disrupted aorta
Explanation:
Correct answer: Internal bleeding around the femur fracture. Hypovolemic shock results from insufficient fluid or volume within the circulatory system and can stem from bleeding (hemorrhagic) or dehydration (non-hemorrhagic) causes. Common indicators encompass altered mental status, a rapid, weak pu...
Study Tips for Trauma
Familiarize yourself with the common mechanisms of injury and the associated patterns of traumatic injuries
Practice the steps of the primary survey and secondary survey until they become second nature
Regularly review and practice hemorrhage control techniques, such as applying direct pressure, tourniquets, and hemostatic dressings
Understand the various types and stages of shock, and how to properly manage them
Become proficient in the proper techniques for spinal immobilization, including the use of cervical collars and long backboards
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Related NREMT Topics
NREMT Question Types
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Trauma questions are on the NREMT?
Trauma makes up approximately 14% of the NREMT exam. Upsero includes hundreds of practice questions covering all aspects of this topic.
How do I study for Trauma?
Start with understanding the key concepts, then practice with realistic exam questions. Upsero's ReadyScore tracks your mastery of Trauma so you know when you're ready for the real exam.
Are the practice questions similar to the real NREMT?
Yes! Our Trauma questions are designed to match the exact format, difficulty, and style of the actual NREMT exam. Many students say our questions are even harder than the real exam.