CEN Exam (Updated 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
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
