CEN EXAM (UPDATED 2025-2026) ACTUAL QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 100% CORRECT | (RATED A+)
Which of the following statements made by a patient would lead the nurse
to conclude that the patient understands risk factors for pulmonary
embolism?
While on a long flight, I should get up and walk to stretch my legs every
hour.
Resuming my birth control pills will lower my risk of cancer and my risk of
another clot.
If I drink plenty of water while driving on a long trip, this shouldn't happen
again.
Switching from my regular cigarettes to the electronic ones can reduce my
risk. - ANSWER -While on a long flight, I should get up and walk to stretch
my legs every hour.
An emergency nurse is providing discharge instructions for a patient with
pelvic inflammatory disease. Which statement made by the patient indicates
an understanding of these instructions?
Getting pregnant shouldn't be a problem once the infection goes away.
I'll take the medicine for nausea when I feel sick to my stomach.
I will be at increased risk for ectopic pregnancy.
I will follow up with my doctor tomorrow. - ANSWER -I will be at increased
risk for ectopic pregnancy.
A 16-year-old presents with severe left upper quadrant abdominal pain after
an over-the-handlebars bicycle collision. Vital signs are BP 100/60 mm Hg,
HR 100 beats/min, RR 30 breaths/min, T 37.0 C (98.6 F), SpO2 89% without
supplemental oxygen. There is bruising over the left upper quadrant of the
abdomen. Auscultation reveals diminished breath sounds on the left
accompanied by gurgling. Based on this history and assessment, the nurse
suspects which injury?
,Small bowel rupture
Ruptured diaphragm
Flail chest
Hepatic injury - ANSWER -Ruptured diaphragm
A patient presents with chest pain. The nurse performs a 12-lead
electrocardiogram that reveals an abnormal Q wave. What does the nurse
suspect?
A current injury
An old infarction
An acute infarction
Ischemia - ANSWER -An old infarction
A patient is brought to the ED by emergency medical services with increased
aggression and making clear homicidal threats. What immediate action will
the nurse expect to promote staff and patient safety?
Administration of antipsychotics
One-to-one observation
Place in a seclusion room
Application of restraints - ANSWER -Place in a seclusion room
A 28-year-old female presents with shortness of breath, dizziness, and
diaphoresis. Her vital signs are BP 118/74 mm Hg, HR 122 beats/min, RR 26
breaths/min, T 37.7 C (99.9 F), SpO2 92% without supplemental oxygen. Her
health history includes fractures of the left tibia and fibula following an MVC
3 weeks ago. Surgical fixation was required. Her only current medications
are an oral contraceptive and intermittent ibuprofen for pain. Assessment of
the casted left leg reveals that the toes are swollen. With this information,
which diagnostic testing will the nurse expect as the highest priority?
Sputum cultures
Chest radiograph
Computed tomographic pulmonary angiography
,Radiograph of the left leg - ANSWER -Computed tomographic pulmonary
angiography
A family of 10 presents to the ED with complaints of fever, muscle pain, and
unexplained bruising ongoing for 7 days. After completing the screening, the
nurse notes that the family recently traveled to Sierra Leone. What is the
highest priority intervention the triage nurse needs to perform?
Notify infection prevention
Leave the family in the waiting room
Evacuate the waiting room
Inform those waiting that Ebola has been detected - ANSWER -Notify
infection prevention
A patient presents to the ED with complaints of fatigue and insomnia.
Assessment findings reveal the patient is awake, alert, and oriented, has a
round moon face, buffalo hump back, hirsutism and prominent striae on the
trunk. Vital signs are normal. Which of the following scenarios is most
consistent with this patient's presentation?
A high school wrestler who admits to taking his grandfather's furosemide
before a meet
A patient with insulin-dependent diabetes who took insulin, without eating
breakfast.
A patient with severe chronic asthma who has been on prednisone for
several years
A patient who underwent a thyroidectomy several years ago who recently
ran out of medication - ANSWER -A patient with severe chronic asthma who
has been on prednisone for several years
A patient who was brought to the ED by ambulance following a motor
vehicle collision, in which the driver hit a tree, has BP 92/48 mm Hg, HR 128
beats/min, RR 34 breaths/min, SpO2 91% with supplemental oxygen via a
nonrebreather. He has labored breathing, cyanosis, absent breath sounds on
, the right, and jugular vein distension. Which of the following conditions
would be suspected?
Aspiration
Flail chest
Cardiac tamponade
Tension pneumothorax - ANSWER -Tension pneumothorax
What is the most common cause of cardiogenic shock?
Sustained cardiac dysrhythmias
Acute valvular dysfunction
Myocardial infarction
End-stage cardiomyopathy - ANSWER -Myocardial infarction
The disease most commonly associated with the catarrhal, paroxysmal and
convalescent stages is best treated with classification of medications?
Immune globulin
Steroids
Antiretroviral therapy
Macrolide antibiotics - ANSWER -Macrolide antibiotics
A 28-year-old female presents to the ED with complaints of dizziness, fear of
dying, and hot flashes that began 10 minutes prior to arrival. The patient is
trembling and tachypneic. Which anxiety disorder is the patient exhibiting?
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Panic attack
Acute stress disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder - ANSWER -Panic attack
A 30-year-old male presents to the emergency department with excruciating
pain on the right side of his head. It has been coming and going all day. His
right eye is reddened and skin is flushed. What type of headache is this
patient experiencing?
AND ANSWERS 100% CORRECT | (RATED A+)
Which of the following statements made by a patient would lead the nurse
to conclude that the patient understands risk factors for pulmonary
embolism?
While on a long flight, I should get up and walk to stretch my legs every
hour.
Resuming my birth control pills will lower my risk of cancer and my risk of
another clot.
If I drink plenty of water while driving on a long trip, this shouldn't happen
again.
Switching from my regular cigarettes to the electronic ones can reduce my
risk. - ANSWER -While on a long flight, I should get up and walk to stretch
my legs every hour.
An emergency nurse is providing discharge instructions for a patient with
pelvic inflammatory disease. Which statement made by the patient indicates
an understanding of these instructions?
Getting pregnant shouldn't be a problem once the infection goes away.
I'll take the medicine for nausea when I feel sick to my stomach.
I will be at increased risk for ectopic pregnancy.
I will follow up with my doctor tomorrow. - ANSWER -I will be at increased
risk for ectopic pregnancy.
A 16-year-old presents with severe left upper quadrant abdominal pain after
an over-the-handlebars bicycle collision. Vital signs are BP 100/60 mm Hg,
HR 100 beats/min, RR 30 breaths/min, T 37.0 C (98.6 F), SpO2 89% without
supplemental oxygen. There is bruising over the left upper quadrant of the
abdomen. Auscultation reveals diminished breath sounds on the left
accompanied by gurgling. Based on this history and assessment, the nurse
suspects which injury?
,Small bowel rupture
Ruptured diaphragm
Flail chest
Hepatic injury - ANSWER -Ruptured diaphragm
A patient presents with chest pain. The nurse performs a 12-lead
electrocardiogram that reveals an abnormal Q wave. What does the nurse
suspect?
A current injury
An old infarction
An acute infarction
Ischemia - ANSWER -An old infarction
A patient is brought to the ED by emergency medical services with increased
aggression and making clear homicidal threats. What immediate action will
the nurse expect to promote staff and patient safety?
Administration of antipsychotics
One-to-one observation
Place in a seclusion room
Application of restraints - ANSWER -Place in a seclusion room
A 28-year-old female presents with shortness of breath, dizziness, and
diaphoresis. Her vital signs are BP 118/74 mm Hg, HR 122 beats/min, RR 26
breaths/min, T 37.7 C (99.9 F), SpO2 92% without supplemental oxygen. Her
health history includes fractures of the left tibia and fibula following an MVC
3 weeks ago. Surgical fixation was required. Her only current medications
are an oral contraceptive and intermittent ibuprofen for pain. Assessment of
the casted left leg reveals that the toes are swollen. With this information,
which diagnostic testing will the nurse expect as the highest priority?
Sputum cultures
Chest radiograph
Computed tomographic pulmonary angiography
,Radiograph of the left leg - ANSWER -Computed tomographic pulmonary
angiography
A family of 10 presents to the ED with complaints of fever, muscle pain, and
unexplained bruising ongoing for 7 days. After completing the screening, the
nurse notes that the family recently traveled to Sierra Leone. What is the
highest priority intervention the triage nurse needs to perform?
Notify infection prevention
Leave the family in the waiting room
Evacuate the waiting room
Inform those waiting that Ebola has been detected - ANSWER -Notify
infection prevention
A patient presents to the ED with complaints of fatigue and insomnia.
Assessment findings reveal the patient is awake, alert, and oriented, has a
round moon face, buffalo hump back, hirsutism and prominent striae on the
trunk. Vital signs are normal. Which of the following scenarios is most
consistent with this patient's presentation?
A high school wrestler who admits to taking his grandfather's furosemide
before a meet
A patient with insulin-dependent diabetes who took insulin, without eating
breakfast.
A patient with severe chronic asthma who has been on prednisone for
several years
A patient who underwent a thyroidectomy several years ago who recently
ran out of medication - ANSWER -A patient with severe chronic asthma who
has been on prednisone for several years
A patient who was brought to the ED by ambulance following a motor
vehicle collision, in which the driver hit a tree, has BP 92/48 mm Hg, HR 128
beats/min, RR 34 breaths/min, SpO2 91% with supplemental oxygen via a
nonrebreather. He has labored breathing, cyanosis, absent breath sounds on
, the right, and jugular vein distension. Which of the following conditions
would be suspected?
Aspiration
Flail chest
Cardiac tamponade
Tension pneumothorax - ANSWER -Tension pneumothorax
What is the most common cause of cardiogenic shock?
Sustained cardiac dysrhythmias
Acute valvular dysfunction
Myocardial infarction
End-stage cardiomyopathy - ANSWER -Myocardial infarction
The disease most commonly associated with the catarrhal, paroxysmal and
convalescent stages is best treated with classification of medications?
Immune globulin
Steroids
Antiretroviral therapy
Macrolide antibiotics - ANSWER -Macrolide antibiotics
A 28-year-old female presents to the ED with complaints of dizziness, fear of
dying, and hot flashes that began 10 minutes prior to arrival. The patient is
trembling and tachypneic. Which anxiety disorder is the patient exhibiting?
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Panic attack
Acute stress disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder - ANSWER -Panic attack
A 30-year-old male presents to the emergency department with excruciating
pain on the right side of his head. It has been coming and going all day. His
right eye is reddened and skin is flushed. What type of headache is this
patient experiencing?
