NSG EMERGENCY NURSING EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026
Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
Core Domains
Emergency triage and prioritization
Airway, breathing, and circulation management
Trauma and resuscitation nursing
Medical emergencies and acute deterioration
Pharmacology and safe medication administration
Ethical, legal, and professional practice
Infection prevention and emergency preparedness
Neurological, cardiac, and respiratory emergencies
Introduction
This assessment is designed to evaluate advanced emergency nursing knowledge, clinical judgment, and rapid decision-making in urgent and life-
threatening situations. It measures understanding of foundational theory, bedside interventions, safety standards, and evidence-based practice
across common emergency presentations. The questions combine multiple-choice and scenario-based application to test prioritization, assessment,
intervention, and evaluation skills. Candidates are expected to apply knowledge to real-world cases involving airway compromise, shock, trauma,
cardiopulmonary emergencies, medication safety, ethical conduct, and legal compliance. The format emphasizes practical reasoning, accurate
triage, and timely nursing action in high-pressure settings.
Section One: Questions 1–100
1. A patient arrives in the emergency unit with severe shortness of breath, cyanosis, and inability to speak full sentences. What is the nurse’s priority
action?
A. Obtain a full medical history
B. Assess temperature
C. Establish airway and provide oxygen
D. Prepare for discharge
🟢 Correct answer: C. Establish airway and provide oxygen
, 🔴 RATIONALE: Airway and breathing are the immediate priorities in a patient showing signs of respiratory distress and hypoxia.
2. Which triage category should be assigned to a patient with chest pain, diaphoresis, and hypotension?
A. Non-urgent
B. Urgent but stable
C. Emergent
D. Delayed
🟢 Correct answer: C. Emergent
🔴 RATIONALE: Chest pain with hypotension may indicate life-threatening cardiac compromise requiring immediate attention.
3. A nurse suspects hypovolemic shock in a trauma patient. Which finding best supports this diagnosis?
A. Bradycardia and hypertension
B. Tachycardia and cool clammy skin
C. Bounding pulse and flushing
D. Slow capillary refill with warm extremities
🟢 Correct answer: B. Tachycardia and cool clammy skin
🔴 RATIONALE: Hypovolemic shock commonly presents with compensatory tachycardia, poor perfusion, and cool clammy skin.
4. Which intervention is most appropriate for a patient with an obstructed airway due to a foreign body who is conscious?
A. Give oral fluids
B. Perform abdominal thrusts
C. Encourage deep breathing
D. Place in Trendelenburg position
🟢 Correct answer: B. Perform abdominal thrusts
🔴 RATIONALE: Abdominal thrusts are indicated for conscious adults with severe foreign-body airway obstruction.
5. In emergency triage, what does “red” usually indicate?
A. Minor injury
B. Delayed care
C. Immediate life-threatening condition
D. Comfortable waiting status
🟢 Correct answer: C. Immediate life-threatening condition
, 🔴 RATIONALE: Red triage status identifies patients who require immediate intervention due to life-threatening conditions.
6. A patient with suspected stroke arrives within one hour of symptom onset. What is the nurse’s most appropriate action?
A. Offer a meal
B. Activate stroke protocol
C. Delay assessment until family arrives
D. Give analgesics first
🟢 Correct answer: B. Activate stroke protocol
🔴 RATIONALE: Early activation of stroke protocols is essential to reduce time to diagnosis and treatment.
7. Which sign is most consistent with hypoxia?
A. Bradycardia
B. Cyanosis
C. Polyuria
D. Hypertension
🟢 Correct answer: B. Cyanosis
🔴 RATIONALE: Cyanosis reflects inadequate oxygenation and is a classic sign of hypoxia.
8. A patient in ventricular fibrillation is found unresponsive. What should the nurse do first?
A. Check blood glucose
B. Start chest compressions and defibrillation
C. Give oxygen by nasal cannula
D. Obtain an ECG after 30 minutes
🟢 Correct answer: B. Start chest compressions and defibrillation
🔴 RATIONALE: Ventricular fibrillation is a shockable cardiac arrest rhythm requiring immediate CPR and defibrillation.
9. What is the best initial action when a patient presents with active severe bleeding from a limb wound?
A. Apply direct pressure
B. Clean the wound with saline
C. Elevate without pressure
D. Cover with dry gauze only and wait
🟢 Correct answer: A. Apply direct pressure
Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
Core Domains
Emergency triage and prioritization
Airway, breathing, and circulation management
Trauma and resuscitation nursing
Medical emergencies and acute deterioration
Pharmacology and safe medication administration
Ethical, legal, and professional practice
Infection prevention and emergency preparedness
Neurological, cardiac, and respiratory emergencies
Introduction
This assessment is designed to evaluate advanced emergency nursing knowledge, clinical judgment, and rapid decision-making in urgent and life-
threatening situations. It measures understanding of foundational theory, bedside interventions, safety standards, and evidence-based practice
across common emergency presentations. The questions combine multiple-choice and scenario-based application to test prioritization, assessment,
intervention, and evaluation skills. Candidates are expected to apply knowledge to real-world cases involving airway compromise, shock, trauma,
cardiopulmonary emergencies, medication safety, ethical conduct, and legal compliance. The format emphasizes practical reasoning, accurate
triage, and timely nursing action in high-pressure settings.
Section One: Questions 1–100
1. A patient arrives in the emergency unit with severe shortness of breath, cyanosis, and inability to speak full sentences. What is the nurse’s priority
action?
A. Obtain a full medical history
B. Assess temperature
C. Establish airway and provide oxygen
D. Prepare for discharge
🟢 Correct answer: C. Establish airway and provide oxygen
, 🔴 RATIONALE: Airway and breathing are the immediate priorities in a patient showing signs of respiratory distress and hypoxia.
2. Which triage category should be assigned to a patient with chest pain, diaphoresis, and hypotension?
A. Non-urgent
B. Urgent but stable
C. Emergent
D. Delayed
🟢 Correct answer: C. Emergent
🔴 RATIONALE: Chest pain with hypotension may indicate life-threatening cardiac compromise requiring immediate attention.
3. A nurse suspects hypovolemic shock in a trauma patient. Which finding best supports this diagnosis?
A. Bradycardia and hypertension
B. Tachycardia and cool clammy skin
C. Bounding pulse and flushing
D. Slow capillary refill with warm extremities
🟢 Correct answer: B. Tachycardia and cool clammy skin
🔴 RATIONALE: Hypovolemic shock commonly presents with compensatory tachycardia, poor perfusion, and cool clammy skin.
4. Which intervention is most appropriate for a patient with an obstructed airway due to a foreign body who is conscious?
A. Give oral fluids
B. Perform abdominal thrusts
C. Encourage deep breathing
D. Place in Trendelenburg position
🟢 Correct answer: B. Perform abdominal thrusts
🔴 RATIONALE: Abdominal thrusts are indicated for conscious adults with severe foreign-body airway obstruction.
5. In emergency triage, what does “red” usually indicate?
A. Minor injury
B. Delayed care
C. Immediate life-threatening condition
D. Comfortable waiting status
🟢 Correct answer: C. Immediate life-threatening condition
, 🔴 RATIONALE: Red triage status identifies patients who require immediate intervention due to life-threatening conditions.
6. A patient with suspected stroke arrives within one hour of symptom onset. What is the nurse’s most appropriate action?
A. Offer a meal
B. Activate stroke protocol
C. Delay assessment until family arrives
D. Give analgesics first
🟢 Correct answer: B. Activate stroke protocol
🔴 RATIONALE: Early activation of stroke protocols is essential to reduce time to diagnosis and treatment.
7. Which sign is most consistent with hypoxia?
A. Bradycardia
B. Cyanosis
C. Polyuria
D. Hypertension
🟢 Correct answer: B. Cyanosis
🔴 RATIONALE: Cyanosis reflects inadequate oxygenation and is a classic sign of hypoxia.
8. A patient in ventricular fibrillation is found unresponsive. What should the nurse do first?
A. Check blood glucose
B. Start chest compressions and defibrillation
C. Give oxygen by nasal cannula
D. Obtain an ECG after 30 minutes
🟢 Correct answer: B. Start chest compressions and defibrillation
🔴 RATIONALE: Ventricular fibrillation is a shockable cardiac arrest rhythm requiring immediate CPR and defibrillation.
9. What is the best initial action when a patient presents with active severe bleeding from a limb wound?
A. Apply direct pressure
B. Clean the wound with saline
C. Elevate without pressure
D. Cover with dry gauze only and wait
🟢 Correct answer: A. Apply direct pressure
