CEN - practice exam questions with
answers
The nurse is caring for a patient who has a high fever,
central nervous system dysfunction and tachycardia. The
nurse should recognize that the patient may be
experiencing
A. myxedema crisis.
B. Beck's triad.
C. thyroid storm.
D. hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome
(HHNS). - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔C. Thyroid storm
Which of the following assessment findings associated
with a skull fracture indicate the need for further
intervention?
A. otorrhea, nausea, and vomiting
B. decreasing level of consciousness and restlessness
C. early evidence of periorbital ecchymosis and
photophobia
D. rhinorrhea and headache or dizziness - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔B. decreasing level of consciousness and
restlessness
,Upon initial assessment of a male patient involved in a
motor vehicle crash, the nurse observes bruises in
various stages of healing to his torso. He denies any
medical history. When asked about the bruising, the
patient avoids eye contact, states that he fell yesterday,
and asks if his male partner has arrived to the ED. The
nurse suspects:
A. the patient may have undiagnosed coagulopathy.
B. the bruising was sustained during the motor vehicle
crash.
C. the patient may be a victim of domestic violence.
D. the bruising is a result of the stated fall. - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔C. the patient may be a victim of domestic
violence.
The nurse is caring for a patient who became
unresponsive after diving head-first into a shallow pool.
The patient is experiencing refractory hypotension. The
nurse should prepare for the administration of
a. lactated Ringers.
b. norepinephrine.
c. normal saline.
,d. epinephrine. - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔b.
norepinephrine
A 3-year-old child who has acute respiratory distress is
admitted to the emergency department. The child is
sitting forward and drooling, and the neck is extended.
These findings support the diagnosis of
A. epiglottitis.
B. bronchiolitis.
C. croup.
D. aspiration of a foreign body. - CORRECT ANSWERS
✔✔A. epiglottitis
The nurse understands that adenosine is administered
A. IV push over 1-2 seconds.
B. as a bolus over 10-15 minutes.
C. as a bolus over 1 hour.
D. IV push over 1-2 minutes. - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔A.
IV push over 1-2 seconds.
A man who briefly lost consciousness after a motor
vehicle crash is alert and oriented upon arrival at the
emergency department. The patient states that he is fine
except for an abrasion where his head hit the door frame
, of the vehicle. The patient complains of blurred vision 1
hour later. The nurse should FIRST
A. repeat the neurologic assessment.
B. obtain orthostatic vital signs.
C. assess visual acuity.
D. obtain blood glucose measurement. - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔A. repeat the neurologic assessment.
After a non-traumatic resuscitation, the patient has a
perfusing ECG rhythm and a stable blood pressure, but
the patient remains comatose. The nurse should NEXT
prepare for
A. initiation of targeted temperature management.
B. initiation of stroke protocol.
C. transport to the cardiac catheterization lab.
D. transport to the neurovascular suite. - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔A. initiation of targeted temperature
management.
After a patient has an episode of violent behavior in the
waiting room, an important intervention is to
A. tell the patient to get himself under control.
B. instruct the patient to be quiet and speak only when
spoken to.
answers
The nurse is caring for a patient who has a high fever,
central nervous system dysfunction and tachycardia. The
nurse should recognize that the patient may be
experiencing
A. myxedema crisis.
B. Beck's triad.
C. thyroid storm.
D. hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome
(HHNS). - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔C. Thyroid storm
Which of the following assessment findings associated
with a skull fracture indicate the need for further
intervention?
A. otorrhea, nausea, and vomiting
B. decreasing level of consciousness and restlessness
C. early evidence of periorbital ecchymosis and
photophobia
D. rhinorrhea and headache or dizziness - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔B. decreasing level of consciousness and
restlessness
,Upon initial assessment of a male patient involved in a
motor vehicle crash, the nurse observes bruises in
various stages of healing to his torso. He denies any
medical history. When asked about the bruising, the
patient avoids eye contact, states that he fell yesterday,
and asks if his male partner has arrived to the ED. The
nurse suspects:
A. the patient may have undiagnosed coagulopathy.
B. the bruising was sustained during the motor vehicle
crash.
C. the patient may be a victim of domestic violence.
D. the bruising is a result of the stated fall. - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔C. the patient may be a victim of domestic
violence.
The nurse is caring for a patient who became
unresponsive after diving head-first into a shallow pool.
The patient is experiencing refractory hypotension. The
nurse should prepare for the administration of
a. lactated Ringers.
b. norepinephrine.
c. normal saline.
,d. epinephrine. - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔b.
norepinephrine
A 3-year-old child who has acute respiratory distress is
admitted to the emergency department. The child is
sitting forward and drooling, and the neck is extended.
These findings support the diagnosis of
A. epiglottitis.
B. bronchiolitis.
C. croup.
D. aspiration of a foreign body. - CORRECT ANSWERS
✔✔A. epiglottitis
The nurse understands that adenosine is administered
A. IV push over 1-2 seconds.
B. as a bolus over 10-15 minutes.
C. as a bolus over 1 hour.
D. IV push over 1-2 minutes. - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔A.
IV push over 1-2 seconds.
A man who briefly lost consciousness after a motor
vehicle crash is alert and oriented upon arrival at the
emergency department. The patient states that he is fine
except for an abrasion where his head hit the door frame
, of the vehicle. The patient complains of blurred vision 1
hour later. The nurse should FIRST
A. repeat the neurologic assessment.
B. obtain orthostatic vital signs.
C. assess visual acuity.
D. obtain blood glucose measurement. - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔A. repeat the neurologic assessment.
After a non-traumatic resuscitation, the patient has a
perfusing ECG rhythm and a stable blood pressure, but
the patient remains comatose. The nurse should NEXT
prepare for
A. initiation of targeted temperature management.
B. initiation of stroke protocol.
C. transport to the cardiac catheterization lab.
D. transport to the neurovascular suite. - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔A. initiation of targeted temperature
management.
After a patient has an episode of violent behavior in the
waiting room, an important intervention is to
A. tell the patient to get himself under control.
B. instruct the patient to be quiet and speak only when
spoken to.
