CEN ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS -EXAM PACK
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
,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
Tension pneumothorax
What is the most common cause of cardiogenic shock?
Sustained cardiac dysrhythmias
Acute valvular dysfunction
Myocardial infarction
End-stage cardiomyopathy
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
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
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?
Tension
Traumatic
Cluster
Migraine
Cluster
To make certain that chain of custody has been followed appropriately, what is the most responsible task
performed by the emergency nurse?
Keep the evidence at their work station until released to law enforcement
Sign and date the tamper resistant tape in front of law enforcement
Limit the number of people with access to the evidence
Carry the evidence with them until released to law enforcement
Limit the number of people with access to the evidence
Which orthopedic condition is the result of elevated uric acid levels?
Joint effusion
Osteomyelitis
Gouty arthritis
Bursitis
Gouty arthritis
A patient presents to the ED with sensory hallucinations and delusions. He also has disorganized speech
and grossly disordered behavior. What would the nurse expect to take place in order for the patient to be
properly cared for?
A suicide risk assessment
Administration of antipsychotics
Application of restraints
Medical clearance
Medical clearance
A patient has just been diagnosed with endocarditis. While preparing for surgery for valvular repair, which
intervention will the nurse perform?
Insert a urinary catheter
Insert a gastric tube
Begin an infusion of nitroprusside
Administer antibiotics
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
,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
Tension pneumothorax
What is the most common cause of cardiogenic shock?
Sustained cardiac dysrhythmias
Acute valvular dysfunction
Myocardial infarction
End-stage cardiomyopathy
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
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
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?
Tension
Traumatic
Cluster
Migraine
Cluster
To make certain that chain of custody has been followed appropriately, what is the most responsible task
performed by the emergency nurse?
Keep the evidence at their work station until released to law enforcement
Sign and date the tamper resistant tape in front of law enforcement
Limit the number of people with access to the evidence
Carry the evidence with them until released to law enforcement
Limit the number of people with access to the evidence
Which orthopedic condition is the result of elevated uric acid levels?
Joint effusion
Osteomyelitis
Gouty arthritis
Bursitis
Gouty arthritis
A patient presents to the ED with sensory hallucinations and delusions. He also has disorganized speech
and grossly disordered behavior. What would the nurse expect to take place in order for the patient to be
properly cared for?
A suicide risk assessment
Administration of antipsychotics
Application of restraints
Medical clearance
Medical clearance
A patient has just been diagnosed with endocarditis. While preparing for surgery for valvular repair, which
intervention will the nurse perform?
Insert a urinary catheter
Insert a gastric tube
Begin an infusion of nitroprusside
Administer antibiotics
