Trauma Nurse Core Course (TNCC) Practice Exam

The mnemonic ABCDE is used to remember the steps of the Primary Survey in trauma assessment, which is a critical component in the initial evaluation of a trauma patient. This acronym stands for:

- **A**: Airway – Ensuring that the airway is clear and that the patient is able to breathe adequately.

- **B**: Breathing – Assessing the quality of breathing, checking for any signs of respiratory distress or inadequate ventilation.

- **C**: Circulation – Evaluating the circulatory status, including checking for a pulse, assessing skin color, temperature, and controlling any external bleeding.

- **D**: Disability – Conducting a quick assessment of neurological status, often using the AVPU scale (Alert, Verbal, Pain, Unresponsive).

- **E**: Exposure (or Environment) – Exposing the patient to assess for any hidden injuries while preventing hypothermia.

This systematic approach allows healthcare providers to quickly identify and treat life-threatening conditions in an organized manner. The ABCDE mnemonic emphasizes the sequence in which these critical functions should be assessed to ensure an efficient and effective response in urgent situations.

The other options do not represent the standard steps in the Primary Survey, making ABCDE the essential framework for this assessment