TNCC Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Guide for Trauma Nurse Core Course Prep

The primary focus during a trauma resuscitation is to stabilize vital signs and manage fluid replacement. In a trauma setting, patients often present with life-threatening injuries and unstable physiological parameters. The immediate goal is to restore perfusion and stabilize the patient's condition. This includes assessing and addressing airway patency, breathing, and circulation—often referred to as the ABCs of trauma care.

Managing fluid replacement is critical, as significant blood loss can lead to hypovolemic shock, which compromises cardiac output and tissue perfusion. Administering intravenous fluids or blood products helps to restore intravascular volume, improve hemodynamic status, and ultimately preserve organ function.

While surgical interventions and psychosocial support are essential components of comprehensive trauma care, they are not prioritized during the initial resuscitation phase. The immediate focus lies in stabilizing the patient's vital signs to prevent further deterioration and to set the stage for subsequent interventions, such as surgeries or mental health support, once the patient is stabilized. Planning for transfer to rehabilitation may occur later in the patient's care continuum, but it is not part of the resuscitation priorities.