CPEN/BCEN Certified Exam
CPEN/BCEN Exam – Nursing Exam with Solutions | Graded A+
(Questions and Answers)
6-year-old presents with a homemade splint on the left arm after falling off of a bicycle. Which
of the following should be the nurse's PRIORITY? - Correct Answer- Assess the neurovascular
status
A 12-year-old presents with low-grade fever and diffuse abdominal pain which increases with
coughing. These symptoms suggest - Correct Answer- appendicitis
When assessing an infant with coarctation of the aorta, a nurse should expect to find - Correct
Answer- absent or diminished femoral pulses
Continuous monitoring of a child's ETCO2 during cardiac arrest reveals 8 mmHg. This indicates
that CPR is - Correct Answer- ineffective and adjustments need to be made to compressions
Abdominal pain can be a characteristic of which respiratory diagnosis? - Correct Answer-
pneumonia
Which of the following is the NEXT step for a newborn with a heart rate of 80 beats/min after
initial drying and suctioning? - Correct Answer- Initiate ventilations
Following a diagnosis of hyphema, discharge instructions to the care giver should include -
Correct Answer- re-bleeding may occur
Which of the following is the treatment of choice for a lethargic neonate with narrow complex
tachycardia and a heart rate of 230 beats/min? - Correct Answer- cardioversion
1
,CPEN/BCEN Certified Exam
A child presents with a fever, sore throat, and general malaise approximately 48 hours after a
camping trip. It would be a PRIORITY for the nurse to - Correct Answer- examine the child for
open wounds.
Which of the following is a common sign of meningococcal meningitis? - Correct Answer-
petechiae
A patient is receiving intravenous potassium replacement. The nurse suspects hyperkalemia
based on which the following: - Correct Answer- peaked T waves
The nurse should anticipate notifying the proper authorities for which of the following patients? -
Correct Answer- 6-year-old with positive gonorrhea
Which of the following is MOST indicative of compartment syndrome? - Correct Answer- pain
out of proportion to the severity of the injury
A 16-year-old is brought to the Emergency Department by friends following a seizure. They
report it lasted about two minutes and broke up the party. The priority diagnostic test is: - Correct
Answer- a urine drug screen.
9-month-old presents to the Emergency Department with a mid-shaft tibia fracture. Which of the
following statements from the parent might indicate history of non-accidental trauma (NAT). -
Correct Answer- Patient was riding a tricycle and fell off
A 12-month-old presents with a 2-day history of nausea and vomiting. Vital signs include:
BP 80/60 mm HgHR 56 beats/minRR 12 breaths/min
The child is limp and ashen. Which of the following is the PRIORITY intervention? - Correct
Answer- manual ventilations
2
, CPEN/BCEN Certified Exam
A 6-year-old presents with a sudden onset of fever, chills, and macular rash of the palms, wrist,
ankles, and soles of the feet. The child was recently on a camping trip. The nurse suspects -
Correct Answer- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
An 18-month-old patient presents to the Emergency Department with upper respiratory
symptoms and wheezing. Chest x-ray reveals a radiopaque object in the left lower lobe. The
nurse prepares the patient for a: - Correct Answer- Rigid bronchoscopy
A 2-year-old is crying and clinging to the mother in triage. Which of the following pain scales is
MOST appropriate for the nurse to use when assessing the child? - Correct Answer- FLACC
A 2-month-old presents with irritability and is inconsolable. Which finding would lead the
emergency nurse to suspect shaken baby syndrome? - Correct Answer- Bilateral retinal
hemorrhages
A child arrives by ambulance following a witnessed seizure. As the nurse is preparing to start a
peripheral IV, the child begins to have generalized seizure activity. Which medication can be
given intranasally to control the seizure? - Correct Answer- midazolam (Versed)
An infant presents to the emergency department with feeding intolerance after 3 days of cold-like
symptoms. Upon assessment, the patient is found to have an altered mental status, sunken
fontanels, and decreased muscle tone. Vital signs are as follows:
BP 66/30 mmHgHR 198 beats/minRR 50 breaths/minT (rectal) 97.3˚ F (36.3˚ C)
The PRIORITY intervention is to - Correct Answer- administer antibiotics.
A nurse is caring for a 3-year-old that has a decrease in hearing and pain to right ear. Upon exam,
the nurse notes impacted cerumen. The nurse should question an order for irrigation if the
caregiver mentions a history of - Correct Answer- tympanic membrane rupture.
A 16-year-old presents after running a cross country match. The patient is extremely fatigued
with muscle pain and reports nausea and dark urine. The nurse should expect a diagnosis of -
Correct Answer- rhabdomyolysis
3
CPEN/BCEN Exam – Nursing Exam with Solutions | Graded A+
(Questions and Answers)
6-year-old presents with a homemade splint on the left arm after falling off of a bicycle. Which
of the following should be the nurse's PRIORITY? - Correct Answer- Assess the neurovascular
status
A 12-year-old presents with low-grade fever and diffuse abdominal pain which increases with
coughing. These symptoms suggest - Correct Answer- appendicitis
When assessing an infant with coarctation of the aorta, a nurse should expect to find - Correct
Answer- absent or diminished femoral pulses
Continuous monitoring of a child's ETCO2 during cardiac arrest reveals 8 mmHg. This indicates
that CPR is - Correct Answer- ineffective and adjustments need to be made to compressions
Abdominal pain can be a characteristic of which respiratory diagnosis? - Correct Answer-
pneumonia
Which of the following is the NEXT step for a newborn with a heart rate of 80 beats/min after
initial drying and suctioning? - Correct Answer- Initiate ventilations
Following a diagnosis of hyphema, discharge instructions to the care giver should include -
Correct Answer- re-bleeding may occur
Which of the following is the treatment of choice for a lethargic neonate with narrow complex
tachycardia and a heart rate of 230 beats/min? - Correct Answer- cardioversion
1
,CPEN/BCEN Certified Exam
A child presents with a fever, sore throat, and general malaise approximately 48 hours after a
camping trip. It would be a PRIORITY for the nurse to - Correct Answer- examine the child for
open wounds.
Which of the following is a common sign of meningococcal meningitis? - Correct Answer-
petechiae
A patient is receiving intravenous potassium replacement. The nurse suspects hyperkalemia
based on which the following: - Correct Answer- peaked T waves
The nurse should anticipate notifying the proper authorities for which of the following patients? -
Correct Answer- 6-year-old with positive gonorrhea
Which of the following is MOST indicative of compartment syndrome? - Correct Answer- pain
out of proportion to the severity of the injury
A 16-year-old is brought to the Emergency Department by friends following a seizure. They
report it lasted about two minutes and broke up the party. The priority diagnostic test is: - Correct
Answer- a urine drug screen.
9-month-old presents to the Emergency Department with a mid-shaft tibia fracture. Which of the
following statements from the parent might indicate history of non-accidental trauma (NAT). -
Correct Answer- Patient was riding a tricycle and fell off
A 12-month-old presents with a 2-day history of nausea and vomiting. Vital signs include:
BP 80/60 mm HgHR 56 beats/minRR 12 breaths/min
The child is limp and ashen. Which of the following is the PRIORITY intervention? - Correct
Answer- manual ventilations
2
, CPEN/BCEN Certified Exam
A 6-year-old presents with a sudden onset of fever, chills, and macular rash of the palms, wrist,
ankles, and soles of the feet. The child was recently on a camping trip. The nurse suspects -
Correct Answer- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
An 18-month-old patient presents to the Emergency Department with upper respiratory
symptoms and wheezing. Chest x-ray reveals a radiopaque object in the left lower lobe. The
nurse prepares the patient for a: - Correct Answer- Rigid bronchoscopy
A 2-year-old is crying and clinging to the mother in triage. Which of the following pain scales is
MOST appropriate for the nurse to use when assessing the child? - Correct Answer- FLACC
A 2-month-old presents with irritability and is inconsolable. Which finding would lead the
emergency nurse to suspect shaken baby syndrome? - Correct Answer- Bilateral retinal
hemorrhages
A child arrives by ambulance following a witnessed seizure. As the nurse is preparing to start a
peripheral IV, the child begins to have generalized seizure activity. Which medication can be
given intranasally to control the seizure? - Correct Answer- midazolam (Versed)
An infant presents to the emergency department with feeding intolerance after 3 days of cold-like
symptoms. Upon assessment, the patient is found to have an altered mental status, sunken
fontanels, and decreased muscle tone. Vital signs are as follows:
BP 66/30 mmHgHR 198 beats/minRR 50 breaths/minT (rectal) 97.3˚ F (36.3˚ C)
The PRIORITY intervention is to - Correct Answer- administer antibiotics.
A nurse is caring for a 3-year-old that has a decrease in hearing and pain to right ear. Upon exam,
the nurse notes impacted cerumen. The nurse should question an order for irrigation if the
caregiver mentions a history of - Correct Answer- tympanic membrane rupture.
A 16-year-old presents after running a cross country match. The patient is extremely fatigued
with muscle pain and reports nausea and dark urine. The nurse should expect a diagnosis of -
Correct Answer- rhabdomyolysis
3
