TNCC Questions & Answers – 8th Edition
What are the three processes that transfer oxygen from the air to the lungs and
blood stream
Ventilation: the active mechanical movement of air into and out of the lungs
Diffusion: the passive movement of gases from an area of higher concentration to
an area of lower concentration
Perfusion: the movement of blood to and from the lungs as a delivery medium of
oxygen to the entire body.
When would you use a nasopharyngeal airway versus an oral pharyngeal airway?
Nasopharyngeal airways is contraindicated in patients with facial trauma or a
suspected basilar skull fracture. Oral pharyngeal airways is used in unresponsive
patients unable to maintain their airway, without a gag reflex as a temporary
measure to facilitate ventilation with a bag mask device or spontaneous ventilation
until the patient can be intubated.
Describe the measurement of an NPA
Measure from the tip of the patient’s nose to the tip of the patient’s earlobe.
Measurement of an OPA
Place the proximal end or flange of the airway adjunct at the corner of the mouth to
the tip of the mandibular angle.
True or false: NPAs and OPAs are definitive airways.
False. When placing one of these? One should consider the potential need for a
definitive airway.
Name the three ways to confirm ETT placement
Placement of a CO2 monitoring device
Assessing for equal chest rise and fall
Listening at the epigastrium and four lung fields for equal breath sounds.
When capnography measurement reads greater than 45MMHG, the nurse should
consider increasing or decreasing the ventilation rate?
Increasing the ventilation rate. Doing so would allow the patient to blow off
retained CO2.
When capnography measurement reads less than 35MMHG, the nurse should
consider increasing or decreasing the ventilation rate?
Decreasing the ventilation rate. By doing so, the nurse allows the patient to retain
CO2.
What are the three stages of shock?
Compensated
Decompensated or progressive
Irreversible.
What are the signs of compensated shock?
Anxiety
Confusion
Restlessness
Increased respiratory rate
Narrowing pulse pressure were diastolic increases yet systolic remains unchanged
Tachycardia with bounding pulses
Decreased urinary output