CERTIFIED EMERGENCY NURSE (CEN) EXAM ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027 |
EXPERT VERIFIED | MOST TESTED | ENA & ACEP GUIDELINES | ANSWERS &
RATIONALES | 100 REAL QUESTIONS | PASS GUARANTEED - GRADED A+
SECTION 1: TRIAGE
Questions 1-10
Q1. According to the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) 2026 guidelines, the Emergency Severity Index
(ESI) is a:
A) 5-level triage system that prioritizes patients based on acuity and resource needs
B) 3-level triage system
C) 4-level triage system
D) 10-level triage system
Answer: A) 5-level triage system that prioritizes patients based on acuity and resource needs
Rationale: ESI is a 5-level triage algorithm that prioritizes patients based on acuity and anticipated resource
needs.
Q2. According to ESI guidelines, a patient who is unresponsive requires what triage level?
A) Level 1 (Resuscitation)
B) Level 2 (Emergent)
C) Level 3 (Urgent)
D) Level 4 (Semi-urgent)
, CERTIFIED EMERGENCY NURSE (CEN) EXAM ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027 |
EXPERT VERIFIED | MOST TESTED | ENA & ACEP GUIDELINES | ANSWERS &
RATIONALES | 100 REAL QUESTIONS | PASS GUARANTEED - GRADED A+
Answer: A) Level 1 (Resuscitation)
Rationale: Level 1 patients require immediate life-saving interventions and are seen immediately.
Q3. According to ESI guidelines, a patient with chest pain and diaphoresis requires what triage level?
A) Level 1 (Resuscitation)
B) Level 2 (Emergent)
C) Level 3 (Urgent)
D) Level 4 (Semi-urgent)
Answer: B) Level 2 (Emergent)
Rationale: Level 2 patients are high-risk and should be seen within 10-15 minutes.
Q4. According to ESI guidelines, a patient with a fever but stable vital signs requires what triage level?
A) Level 1 (Resuscitation)
B) Level 2 (Emergent)
C) Level 3 (Urgent)
, CERTIFIED EMERGENCY NURSE (CEN) EXAM ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027 |
EXPERT VERIFIED | MOST TESTED | ENA & ACEP GUIDELINES | ANSWERS &
RATIONALES | 100 REAL QUESTIONS | PASS GUARANTEED - GRADED A+
D) Level 4 (Semi-urgent)
Answer: C) Level 3 (Urgent)
Rationale: Level 3 patients are stable but require multiple resources (labs, imaging) and should be seen within
30-60 minutes.
Q5. According to ESI guidelines, a patient with a minor laceration requires what triage level?
A) Level 2 (Emergent)
B) Level 3 (Urgent)
C) Level 4 (Semi-urgent)
D) Level 5 (Non-urgent)
Answer: D) Level 5 (Non-urgent)
Rationale: Level 5 patients require no resources (other than a bandage) and can wait several hours.
Q6. A patient with a chief complaint of "worst headache of my life" should be triaged as:
A) Level 1 (Resuscitation)
B) Level 2 (Emergent)
C) Level 3 (Urgent)
, CERTIFIED EMERGENCY NURSE (CEN) EXAM ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027 |
EXPERT VERIFIED | MOST TESTED | ENA & ACEP GUIDELINES | ANSWERS &
RATIONALES | 100 REAL QUESTIONS | PASS GUARANTEED - GRADED A+
D) Level 4 (Semi-urgent)
Answer: B) Level 2 (Emergent)
Rationale: "Worst headache of my life" is concerning for subarachnoid hemorrhage and requires emergent
evaluation.
Q7. A patient with a chief complaint of "I feel like I'm going to die" should be triaged as:
A) Level 1 (Resuscitation)
B) Level 2 (Emergent)
C) Level 3 (Urgent)
D) Level 4 (Semi-urgent)
Answer: B) Level 2 (Emergent)
Rationale: A sense of impending doom is a concerning symptom associated with serious conditions (MI, PE,
anaphylaxis).
Q8. A patient with a chief complaint of "I can't catch my breath" should be triaged as:
A) Level 1 (Resuscitation)
B) Level 2 (Emergent)
EXPERT VERIFIED | MOST TESTED | ENA & ACEP GUIDELINES | ANSWERS &
RATIONALES | 100 REAL QUESTIONS | PASS GUARANTEED - GRADED A+
SECTION 1: TRIAGE
Questions 1-10
Q1. According to the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) 2026 guidelines, the Emergency Severity Index
(ESI) is a:
A) 5-level triage system that prioritizes patients based on acuity and resource needs
B) 3-level triage system
C) 4-level triage system
D) 10-level triage system
Answer: A) 5-level triage system that prioritizes patients based on acuity and resource needs
Rationale: ESI is a 5-level triage algorithm that prioritizes patients based on acuity and anticipated resource
needs.
Q2. According to ESI guidelines, a patient who is unresponsive requires what triage level?
A) Level 1 (Resuscitation)
B) Level 2 (Emergent)
C) Level 3 (Urgent)
D) Level 4 (Semi-urgent)
, CERTIFIED EMERGENCY NURSE (CEN) EXAM ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027 |
EXPERT VERIFIED | MOST TESTED | ENA & ACEP GUIDELINES | ANSWERS &
RATIONALES | 100 REAL QUESTIONS | PASS GUARANTEED - GRADED A+
Answer: A) Level 1 (Resuscitation)
Rationale: Level 1 patients require immediate life-saving interventions and are seen immediately.
Q3. According to ESI guidelines, a patient with chest pain and diaphoresis requires what triage level?
A) Level 1 (Resuscitation)
B) Level 2 (Emergent)
C) Level 3 (Urgent)
D) Level 4 (Semi-urgent)
Answer: B) Level 2 (Emergent)
Rationale: Level 2 patients are high-risk and should be seen within 10-15 minutes.
Q4. According to ESI guidelines, a patient with a fever but stable vital signs requires what triage level?
A) Level 1 (Resuscitation)
B) Level 2 (Emergent)
C) Level 3 (Urgent)
, CERTIFIED EMERGENCY NURSE (CEN) EXAM ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027 |
EXPERT VERIFIED | MOST TESTED | ENA & ACEP GUIDELINES | ANSWERS &
RATIONALES | 100 REAL QUESTIONS | PASS GUARANTEED - GRADED A+
D) Level 4 (Semi-urgent)
Answer: C) Level 3 (Urgent)
Rationale: Level 3 patients are stable but require multiple resources (labs, imaging) and should be seen within
30-60 minutes.
Q5. According to ESI guidelines, a patient with a minor laceration requires what triage level?
A) Level 2 (Emergent)
B) Level 3 (Urgent)
C) Level 4 (Semi-urgent)
D) Level 5 (Non-urgent)
Answer: D) Level 5 (Non-urgent)
Rationale: Level 5 patients require no resources (other than a bandage) and can wait several hours.
Q6. A patient with a chief complaint of "worst headache of my life" should be triaged as:
A) Level 1 (Resuscitation)
B) Level 2 (Emergent)
C) Level 3 (Urgent)
, CERTIFIED EMERGENCY NURSE (CEN) EXAM ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027 |
EXPERT VERIFIED | MOST TESTED | ENA & ACEP GUIDELINES | ANSWERS &
RATIONALES | 100 REAL QUESTIONS | PASS GUARANTEED - GRADED A+
D) Level 4 (Semi-urgent)
Answer: B) Level 2 (Emergent)
Rationale: "Worst headache of my life" is concerning for subarachnoid hemorrhage and requires emergent
evaluation.
Q7. A patient with a chief complaint of "I feel like I'm going to die" should be triaged as:
A) Level 1 (Resuscitation)
B) Level 2 (Emergent)
C) Level 3 (Urgent)
D) Level 4 (Semi-urgent)
Answer: B) Level 2 (Emergent)
Rationale: A sense of impending doom is a concerning symptom associated with serious conditions (MI, PE,
anaphylaxis).
Q8. A patient with a chief complaint of "I can't catch my breath" should be triaged as:
A) Level 1 (Resuscitation)
B) Level 2 (Emergent)
