2026 Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist (EAWS) Ultimate
Common Core Exam Study Guide & PDF Practice Test
Master the NAVEDTRA 43902 curriculum with this comprehensive EAWS Common
Core study guide designed to help you ace your written exam and command oral board.
It contains high-yield practice questions and exact answer keys covering safety, flight
deck hazards, first aid, and CBRN defense. Download this material to secure your
signatures, pass your testing phase, and confidently earn your Navy aviation warfare
wings.
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a patient with heart failure. Which of the
following assessments is the priority before administering the medication?
A) Monitor the patient's blood pressure
B) Auscultate the apical pulse for one full minute
C) Check the patient's latest serum potassium level
D) Review the patient's daily fluid intake and output
Rationale: Digoxin decreases the heart rate. The nurse must assess the apical pulse for
a full minute and hold the medication if the heart rate is below 60 beats per minute to
prevent severe bradycardia.
Question 2
A patient is prescribed lithium carbonate for bipolar disorder. Which of the following
dietary instructions should the nurse provide?
A) Restrict daily fluid intake to 1 liter
B) Decrease intake of green leafy vegetables
C) Maintain a consistent intake of dietary sodium
D) Avoid foods high in tyramine like aged cheese
Rationale: Decreased sodium intake causes the kidneys to retain lithium, leading to
toxic levels. Conversely, increased sodium causes lithium excretion, lowering efficacy.
Consistent sodium and fluid intake are mandatory.
Question 3
A nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving a continuous intravenous heparin
infusion. Which of the following laboratory values should the nurse monitor to adjust the
dosage?
A) Prothrombin time (PT)
B) International Normalized Ratio (INR)
,C) Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
D) Platelet count
Rationale: The aPTT is used to monitor the therapeutic effectiveness of unfractionated
heparin. PT and INR are used to monitor oral warfarin therapy.
Question 4
A patient with a history of deep vein thrombosis is prescribed warfarin. Which of the
following medications should the nurse instruct the patient to avoid?
A) Acetaminophen
B) Aspirin
C) Metoprolol
D) Atorvastatin
Rationale: Aspirin inhibits platelet aggregation and increases the risk of severe bleeding
when combined with the anticoagulant warfarin.
Question 5
A nurse is monitoring a patient receiving vancomycin via intermittent IV bolus. The
patient develops flushing, a rash on the face and neck, and hypotension. Which action
should the nurse take first?
A) Administer diphenhydramine immediately
B) Slow the rate of the IV infusion
C) Discontinue the IV access completely
D) Call the rapid response team
Rationale: These symptoms describe "Red Man Syndrome," a histamine-mediated
reaction caused by rapid infusion of vancomycin. The priority action is to slow the
infusion rate, not necessarily stop it permanently unless an anaphylactic reaction
occurs.
Question 6
A nurse is caring for a patient with acute pancreatitis. Which of the following laboratory
results should the nurse expect to find?
A) Elevated serum calcium
B) Decreased white blood cell count
C) Elevated serum amylase and lipase
D) Decreased serum bilirubin
Rationale: Pancreatitis causes inflammation and injury to pancreatic acinar cells,
resulting in the release of digestive enzymes amylase and lipase directly into the
bloodstream.
Question 7
,A patient with liver cirrhosis presents with hepatic encephalopathy. Which of the
following medications should the nurse expect the provider to prescribe?
A) Furosemide
B) Lactulose
C) Spironolactone
D) Rifaximin
Rationale: Lactulose promotes the excretion of ammonia through the stool, which
lowers blood ammonia levels and improves the neurological symptoms of hepatic
encephalopathy.
Question 8
A nurse is assessing a patient with a chest tube connected to a water-seal drainage
system. The nurse notes continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber. How should
the nurse interpret this finding?
A) The system is functioning normally
B) The patient's lung has fully re-expanded
C) There is an air leak in the system
D) The suction pressure is too high
Rationale: Intermittent bubbling is normal during exhalation or coughing. Continuous
bubbling in the water-seal chamber indicates a persistent air leak in the drainage
system or at the insertion site.
Question 9
A patient is admitted with a diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome. Which of the following
clinical manifestations should the nurse expect to observe?
A) Weight loss and hypotension
B) Splenomegaly, moon face, and purple striae
C) Hyponatremia and hyperkalemia
D) Hypoglycemia and tremors
Rationale: Cushing's syndrome is caused by hypercortisolism. Classic signs include
central obesity, a rounded "moon face," a buffalo hump, and purple stretch marks
(striae) on the abdomen.
Question 10
A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a patient who has a new prescription for
sublingual nitroglycerin tablets. Which instruction is correct?
A) Swallow the tablet with a full glass of water
B) Store the tablets in a clear plastic container
C) Place one tablet under the tongue at the onset of chest pain
D) Take up to five tablets 2 minutes apart before calling emergency services
, Rationale: Sublingual nitroglycerin must dissolve under the tongue for rapid absorption.
Patients should take one tablet at the onset of pain, and if pain persists after 5 minutes,
call emergency services before taking a second dose. Max is 3 doses.
Question 11
A patient with a traumatic brain injury has an intracranial pressure (ICP) monitor in
place. Which of the following nursing interventions is appropriate to minimize ICP
elevations?
A) Cluster nursing care activities together
B) Maintain the head of the bed at 30 to 45 degrees
C) Encourage frequent coughing and deep breathing
D) Position the patient with extreme hip flexion
Rationale: Elevating the head of the bed promotes venous drainage from the brain,
which helps lower intracranial pressure. Hip flexion and clustering care can elevate ICP.
Question 12
A nurse is assessing a client who has a skeletal traction device for a fractured femur.
Which of the following findings requires immediate intervention?
A) Serosanguineous drainage at the pin site
B) Weights resting flat on the floor
C) Muscle spasms in the affected extremity
D) Cool skin temperature of the uninjured foot
Rationale: Weights must hang freely at all times to maintain proper traction alignment
and bone reduction. If weights rest on the floor, the traction forces are lost.
Question 13
A nurse is caring for a patient who is 12 hours postoperative following an abdominal
hysterectomy. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent deep vein
thrombosis (DVT)?
A) Place pillows under the patient's knees
B) Encourage early ambulation and leg exercises
C) Massage the patient's calves hourly
D) Limit oral fluid intake
Rationale: Early ambulation and active leg exercises stimulate the calf muscle pump,
increasing venous return and preventing venous stasis that leads to DVT.
Question 14
A patient is diagnosed with pernicious anemia. The nurse should anticipate that the
patient will require lifelong treatment with which of the following?
A) Oral iron supplements
B) Folic acid tablets
Common Core Exam Study Guide & PDF Practice Test
Master the NAVEDTRA 43902 curriculum with this comprehensive EAWS Common
Core study guide designed to help you ace your written exam and command oral board.
It contains high-yield practice questions and exact answer keys covering safety, flight
deck hazards, first aid, and CBRN defense. Download this material to secure your
signatures, pass your testing phase, and confidently earn your Navy aviation warfare
wings.
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a patient with heart failure. Which of the
following assessments is the priority before administering the medication?
A) Monitor the patient's blood pressure
B) Auscultate the apical pulse for one full minute
C) Check the patient's latest serum potassium level
D) Review the patient's daily fluid intake and output
Rationale: Digoxin decreases the heart rate. The nurse must assess the apical pulse for
a full minute and hold the medication if the heart rate is below 60 beats per minute to
prevent severe bradycardia.
Question 2
A patient is prescribed lithium carbonate for bipolar disorder. Which of the following
dietary instructions should the nurse provide?
A) Restrict daily fluid intake to 1 liter
B) Decrease intake of green leafy vegetables
C) Maintain a consistent intake of dietary sodium
D) Avoid foods high in tyramine like aged cheese
Rationale: Decreased sodium intake causes the kidneys to retain lithium, leading to
toxic levels. Conversely, increased sodium causes lithium excretion, lowering efficacy.
Consistent sodium and fluid intake are mandatory.
Question 3
A nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving a continuous intravenous heparin
infusion. Which of the following laboratory values should the nurse monitor to adjust the
dosage?
A) Prothrombin time (PT)
B) International Normalized Ratio (INR)
,C) Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
D) Platelet count
Rationale: The aPTT is used to monitor the therapeutic effectiveness of unfractionated
heparin. PT and INR are used to monitor oral warfarin therapy.
Question 4
A patient with a history of deep vein thrombosis is prescribed warfarin. Which of the
following medications should the nurse instruct the patient to avoid?
A) Acetaminophen
B) Aspirin
C) Metoprolol
D) Atorvastatin
Rationale: Aspirin inhibits platelet aggregation and increases the risk of severe bleeding
when combined with the anticoagulant warfarin.
Question 5
A nurse is monitoring a patient receiving vancomycin via intermittent IV bolus. The
patient develops flushing, a rash on the face and neck, and hypotension. Which action
should the nurse take first?
A) Administer diphenhydramine immediately
B) Slow the rate of the IV infusion
C) Discontinue the IV access completely
D) Call the rapid response team
Rationale: These symptoms describe "Red Man Syndrome," a histamine-mediated
reaction caused by rapid infusion of vancomycin. The priority action is to slow the
infusion rate, not necessarily stop it permanently unless an anaphylactic reaction
occurs.
Question 6
A nurse is caring for a patient with acute pancreatitis. Which of the following laboratory
results should the nurse expect to find?
A) Elevated serum calcium
B) Decreased white blood cell count
C) Elevated serum amylase and lipase
D) Decreased serum bilirubin
Rationale: Pancreatitis causes inflammation and injury to pancreatic acinar cells,
resulting in the release of digestive enzymes amylase and lipase directly into the
bloodstream.
Question 7
,A patient with liver cirrhosis presents with hepatic encephalopathy. Which of the
following medications should the nurse expect the provider to prescribe?
A) Furosemide
B) Lactulose
C) Spironolactone
D) Rifaximin
Rationale: Lactulose promotes the excretion of ammonia through the stool, which
lowers blood ammonia levels and improves the neurological symptoms of hepatic
encephalopathy.
Question 8
A nurse is assessing a patient with a chest tube connected to a water-seal drainage
system. The nurse notes continuous bubbling in the water-seal chamber. How should
the nurse interpret this finding?
A) The system is functioning normally
B) The patient's lung has fully re-expanded
C) There is an air leak in the system
D) The suction pressure is too high
Rationale: Intermittent bubbling is normal during exhalation or coughing. Continuous
bubbling in the water-seal chamber indicates a persistent air leak in the drainage
system or at the insertion site.
Question 9
A patient is admitted with a diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome. Which of the following
clinical manifestations should the nurse expect to observe?
A) Weight loss and hypotension
B) Splenomegaly, moon face, and purple striae
C) Hyponatremia and hyperkalemia
D) Hypoglycemia and tremors
Rationale: Cushing's syndrome is caused by hypercortisolism. Classic signs include
central obesity, a rounded "moon face," a buffalo hump, and purple stretch marks
(striae) on the abdomen.
Question 10
A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a patient who has a new prescription for
sublingual nitroglycerin tablets. Which instruction is correct?
A) Swallow the tablet with a full glass of water
B) Store the tablets in a clear plastic container
C) Place one tablet under the tongue at the onset of chest pain
D) Take up to five tablets 2 minutes apart before calling emergency services
, Rationale: Sublingual nitroglycerin must dissolve under the tongue for rapid absorption.
Patients should take one tablet at the onset of pain, and if pain persists after 5 minutes,
call emergency services before taking a second dose. Max is 3 doses.
Question 11
A patient with a traumatic brain injury has an intracranial pressure (ICP) monitor in
place. Which of the following nursing interventions is appropriate to minimize ICP
elevations?
A) Cluster nursing care activities together
B) Maintain the head of the bed at 30 to 45 degrees
C) Encourage frequent coughing and deep breathing
D) Position the patient with extreme hip flexion
Rationale: Elevating the head of the bed promotes venous drainage from the brain,
which helps lower intracranial pressure. Hip flexion and clustering care can elevate ICP.
Question 12
A nurse is assessing a client who has a skeletal traction device for a fractured femur.
Which of the following findings requires immediate intervention?
A) Serosanguineous drainage at the pin site
B) Weights resting flat on the floor
C) Muscle spasms in the affected extremity
D) Cool skin temperature of the uninjured foot
Rationale: Weights must hang freely at all times to maintain proper traction alignment
and bone reduction. If weights rest on the floor, the traction forces are lost.
Question 13
A nurse is caring for a patient who is 12 hours postoperative following an abdominal
hysterectomy. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent deep vein
thrombosis (DVT)?
A) Place pillows under the patient's knees
B) Encourage early ambulation and leg exercises
C) Massage the patient's calves hourly
D) Limit oral fluid intake
Rationale: Early ambulation and active leg exercises stimulate the calf muscle pump,
increasing venous return and preventing venous stasis that leads to DVT.
Question 14
A patient is diagnosed with pernicious anemia. The nurse should anticipate that the
patient will require lifelong treatment with which of the following?
A) Oral iron supplements
B) Folic acid tablets
