TCRN Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive All-in-One Guide to Ace Your Trauma Certified Registered Nurse Certification!

When a trauma patient presents with clear fluid draining from the nose, it is crucial to assess whether this fluid is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which could indicate a potential skull fracture or other significant head injury. Collecting the fluid is the appropriate action because it allows for further evaluation and testing.

Analyzing the collected fluid can help healthcare professionals determine if the drainage is indeed CSF, which would change the management plan significantly, as it poses risks of meningitis or other complications. Furthermore, collecting the fluid aligns with best practices for monitoring and understanding the patient's condition, providing essential information for diagnostics and treatment planning.

The other options do not facilitate proper management of the situation. Tilting the head back could potentially increase intracranial pressure or worsen a possible injury. Applying pressure could impede the natural drainage and also complicate the assessment. Inserting nasal tampons may obstruct fluid drainage and hinder the collection of vital information needed for a comprehensive evaluation. Thus, collecting the fluid is the best approach in this scenario.