EMERGENCY NURSING EXAM 1
QUESTIONS AND WELL DETAILED
ANSWERS | LATEST UPDATE 2026||
GRADED A+
what is the goal of the ED
-stabilize and then move to more appropriate care setting
(need to go home or to a unit)
why do patients present to the ED?
Sudden illness or injury requiring immediate intervention, instant gratification to be seen
what are the outcomes of the ED?
-discharge
-transfer
-admission
-death
staying in the ED is a FAILED outcome!!
Role of the ED Nurse
-rapid stabilization & triage
-patient advocacy in chaotic environments
-provide comfort & reassurance to patients/families
-coordinate care and communication across disciplines
(transportation services, fam members for rides)
,-maintain adequate throughput!
-management of the critical ill
-disaster nursing
-implementing legal and ethical standards / Provision of Care for Vulnerable
ICU
IMCU
intermediate care unit (IMC)
PCU
progressive care unit
triage meaning
french for "to sort"
what is the purpose of triage
-categorize patients by severity, time, and number of resources they will need
-most critical treated first
(name, DOB, when did it start, vs, allergies, story)
-nurse will use ESI (emergency severity index) to triage in a standardized way
emergency severity index - 1
MOST SEVERE
Immediate life-saving intervention
going to die within the next couple of min
(ex. active CPR, flaccid bb)
CANNOT WAIT
emergency severity index - 2
, high risk patients:
-cannot or should not wait
-needs 2 or more resources
-high risk situation
-severe pain/distress
-concerning vital signs
PT THAT IS NOT GOING TO DIE RN BUT CANNOT WAIT
(ex. chest pain bc can decompensated quickly)
CANNOT WAIT
emergency severity index - 3
-physiologically stable and requiring multiple resources
-2 or more resources
#3 is going to be our most common acuity and requires us to "explore more"
CAN WAIT
emergency severity index - 4
-physiologically stable
-only require 1 resource
CAN WAIT
emergency severity index - 5
-least acute patients
-stable and does not require any resources
CAN WAIT
what are the 3 questions the nurse uses to determine ESI?
QUESTIONS AND WELL DETAILED
ANSWERS | LATEST UPDATE 2026||
GRADED A+
what is the goal of the ED
-stabilize and then move to more appropriate care setting
(need to go home or to a unit)
why do patients present to the ED?
Sudden illness or injury requiring immediate intervention, instant gratification to be seen
what are the outcomes of the ED?
-discharge
-transfer
-admission
-death
staying in the ED is a FAILED outcome!!
Role of the ED Nurse
-rapid stabilization & triage
-patient advocacy in chaotic environments
-provide comfort & reassurance to patients/families
-coordinate care and communication across disciplines
(transportation services, fam members for rides)
,-maintain adequate throughput!
-management of the critical ill
-disaster nursing
-implementing legal and ethical standards / Provision of Care for Vulnerable
ICU
IMCU
intermediate care unit (IMC)
PCU
progressive care unit
triage meaning
french for "to sort"
what is the purpose of triage
-categorize patients by severity, time, and number of resources they will need
-most critical treated first
(name, DOB, when did it start, vs, allergies, story)
-nurse will use ESI (emergency severity index) to triage in a standardized way
emergency severity index - 1
MOST SEVERE
Immediate life-saving intervention
going to die within the next couple of min
(ex. active CPR, flaccid bb)
CANNOT WAIT
emergency severity index - 2
, high risk patients:
-cannot or should not wait
-needs 2 or more resources
-high risk situation
-severe pain/distress
-concerning vital signs
PT THAT IS NOT GOING TO DIE RN BUT CANNOT WAIT
(ex. chest pain bc can decompensated quickly)
CANNOT WAIT
emergency severity index - 3
-physiologically stable and requiring multiple resources
-2 or more resources
#3 is going to be our most common acuity and requires us to "explore more"
CAN WAIT
emergency severity index - 4
-physiologically stable
-only require 1 resource
CAN WAIT
emergency severity index - 5
-least acute patients
-stable and does not require any resources
CAN WAIT
what are the 3 questions the nurse uses to determine ESI?
