1|Page
CEN Online Review Practice Post-test Already passed
Latest updated 2025 Expert Verified
CEN - Certified Emergency Nurse Specialization - Board
of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN
CERTIFIED)
All questions with Answers and Rationales
1. A male patient arrives following a motor vehicle collision. Emergency
medical services report vital signs: HR 92 beats/min, RR 20 breaths/min, BP
128/74 mm Hg, SpO2 96% with a nonrebreather at 15 L/min. They state that
the airbag malfunctioned and he hit the steering wheel. The nurse assesses
the patient and finds bruising to the sternum, muffled heart tones, and the
following vital signs: HR 102 beats/min, RR 18 breaths/min, BP 122/94 mm
Hg, SpO2 92%. What pathophysiologic process does the nurse recognize?
Low pulse pressure
Decrease in afterload
High pulse pressure
Cushing triad
Correct: The mechanism and clinical manifestations are indications of a probable pericardial
tamponade. The other sign associated with pericardial tamponade is a low or narrowing pulse pressure.
As the pericardium fills with blood, the heart loses its ability to pump.
2. A patient presents with vaginal bleeding and cramping. She tells the
emergency nurse, "I passed clots at home. I think I lost my baby." Pelvic
examination reveals that the cervical os is open. Which type of spontaneous
abortion most likely occurred?
Missed abortion
Septic abortion
Inevitable abortion
Threatened abortion
Correct: An inevitable abortion occurs when the cervical os has opened and membranes have ruptured.
The patient experiences vaginal bleeding and lower abdominal cramping.
3. After exposure in a house fire, the patient presents to the emergency
department with dyspnea and hoarse vocalization. Which condition does the
nurse suspect?
Angioedema
Pneumonia
Asthma exacerbation
Respiratory distress syndrome
,2|Page
Correct: Thermal injuries, as in an exposure to a house fire, can cause an upper airway inhalation
injury. The patient exhibits angioedema, the sudden development of swelling deep in the submucosal
or subcutaneous tissue - the larynx and oropharynx in this case. Hoarse vocalization is an indication of
vocal cord involvement and potential obstruction. Timely intubation is indicated for this condition.
,3|Page
4. Which of the following clinical presentations is most consistent with a
patient who has pancreatitis?
Pain with palpation of the right subcostal area during inspiration
Diffuse cramping abdominal pain
Epigastric pain that radiates to the back
Dull, constant umbilical pain
Correct: Pancreatitis pain is located in the epigastrium and is described as dull and steady. Because of
the pancreas' retroperitoneal location, pain may radiate through the abdomen to the back.
5. 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
Correct: The disease most commonly associated with the catarrhal, paroxysmal and convalescent
stages is pertussis. Pertussis is best treated with macrolide antibiotics.
6. A patient presents to the ED stating he had been hit in the right eye with a
glass bottle two days ago. On assessment, the eye is reddened, tearing, and
there is an irregular pupil. Which ocular emergency is associated with these
assessment findings?
Retinal detachment
Hyphema
Foreign body
Iritis
Incorrect, The answer is Iritis: Foreign bodies in the eye are generally superficial and the patient will
state that they feel something in the eye. Clinical manifestations include excessive pain, tearing, and
photophobia. Iritis is inflammation of the middle portion of the eye. Clinical manifestations include pain,
blurred vision, photophobia, redness around the outer ring of the iris, and an irregular pupil.
7. Which eye condition requires bilateral patching of the
eyes?
Hyphema
Ruptured globe
Corneal ulcer
Keratitis
Correct: Interventions for a ruptured globe include patching both eyes to limit movement.
, 4|Page
8. Distributive shock is best characterized by which of the following patient
presentations?
Following a motor vehicle collision, a 20-year-old female has decreased
sensation below the nipple line. Vital signs are BP 80/50 mm Hg, HR 54
beats/min, RR 10 breaths/min, T 36.7 C (98.2 F), SpO2 93% on 15 L/min via
nonrebreather mask.
Following a motor vehicle collision, a 45-year-old male suffered massive blood
loss from a partially amputated leg. Vital signs are BP 90/48 mm Hg, HR 120
beats/min, RR 24 breaths/min, T 36.7 C (98.2 F), SpO2 96% without
supplemental oxygen.
A 36-year-old female with fatigue for two days presents with the following
vital signs BP 89/45 mm Hg, HR 190 beats/min, RR 26 breaths/min, T 36.7
C (98.2 F), SpO2 88% with 15 L/min via nonrebreather mask.
CEN Online Review Practice Post-test Already passed
Latest updated 2025 Expert Verified
CEN - Certified Emergency Nurse Specialization - Board
of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN
CERTIFIED)
All questions with Answers and Rationales
1. A male patient arrives following a motor vehicle collision. Emergency
medical services report vital signs: HR 92 beats/min, RR 20 breaths/min, BP
128/74 mm Hg, SpO2 96% with a nonrebreather at 15 L/min. They state that
the airbag malfunctioned and he hit the steering wheel. The nurse assesses
the patient and finds bruising to the sternum, muffled heart tones, and the
following vital signs: HR 102 beats/min, RR 18 breaths/min, BP 122/94 mm
Hg, SpO2 92%. What pathophysiologic process does the nurse recognize?
Low pulse pressure
Decrease in afterload
High pulse pressure
Cushing triad
Correct: The mechanism and clinical manifestations are indications of a probable pericardial
tamponade. The other sign associated with pericardial tamponade is a low or narrowing pulse pressure.
As the pericardium fills with blood, the heart loses its ability to pump.
2. A patient presents with vaginal bleeding and cramping. She tells the
emergency nurse, "I passed clots at home. I think I lost my baby." Pelvic
examination reveals that the cervical os is open. Which type of spontaneous
abortion most likely occurred?
Missed abortion
Septic abortion
Inevitable abortion
Threatened abortion
Correct: An inevitable abortion occurs when the cervical os has opened and membranes have ruptured.
The patient experiences vaginal bleeding and lower abdominal cramping.
3. After exposure in a house fire, the patient presents to the emergency
department with dyspnea and hoarse vocalization. Which condition does the
nurse suspect?
Angioedema
Pneumonia
Asthma exacerbation
Respiratory distress syndrome
,2|Page
Correct: Thermal injuries, as in an exposure to a house fire, can cause an upper airway inhalation
injury. The patient exhibits angioedema, the sudden development of swelling deep in the submucosal
or subcutaneous tissue - the larynx and oropharynx in this case. Hoarse vocalization is an indication of
vocal cord involvement and potential obstruction. Timely intubation is indicated for this condition.
,3|Page
4. Which of the following clinical presentations is most consistent with a
patient who has pancreatitis?
Pain with palpation of the right subcostal area during inspiration
Diffuse cramping abdominal pain
Epigastric pain that radiates to the back
Dull, constant umbilical pain
Correct: Pancreatitis pain is located in the epigastrium and is described as dull and steady. Because of
the pancreas' retroperitoneal location, pain may radiate through the abdomen to the back.
5. 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
Correct: The disease most commonly associated with the catarrhal, paroxysmal and convalescent
stages is pertussis. Pertussis is best treated with macrolide antibiotics.
6. A patient presents to the ED stating he had been hit in the right eye with a
glass bottle two days ago. On assessment, the eye is reddened, tearing, and
there is an irregular pupil. Which ocular emergency is associated with these
assessment findings?
Retinal detachment
Hyphema
Foreign body
Iritis
Incorrect, The answer is Iritis: Foreign bodies in the eye are generally superficial and the patient will
state that they feel something in the eye. Clinical manifestations include excessive pain, tearing, and
photophobia. Iritis is inflammation of the middle portion of the eye. Clinical manifestations include pain,
blurred vision, photophobia, redness around the outer ring of the iris, and an irregular pupil.
7. Which eye condition requires bilateral patching of the
eyes?
Hyphema
Ruptured globe
Corneal ulcer
Keratitis
Correct: Interventions for a ruptured globe include patching both eyes to limit movement.
, 4|Page
8. Distributive shock is best characterized by which of the following patient
presentations?
Following a motor vehicle collision, a 20-year-old female has decreased
sensation below the nipple line. Vital signs are BP 80/50 mm Hg, HR 54
beats/min, RR 10 breaths/min, T 36.7 C (98.2 F), SpO2 93% on 15 L/min via
nonrebreather mask.
Following a motor vehicle collision, a 45-year-old male suffered massive blood
loss from a partially amputated leg. Vital signs are BP 90/48 mm Hg, HR 120
beats/min, RR 24 breaths/min, T 36.7 C (98.2 F), SpO2 96% without
supplemental oxygen.
A 36-year-old female with fatigue for two days presents with the following
vital signs BP 89/45 mm Hg, HR 190 beats/min, RR 26 breaths/min, T 36.7
C (98.2 F), SpO2 88% with 15 L/min via nonrebreather mask.
