ENA Shock Emergencies Study Guide 2026 | Emergency Nursing Review & Exam
Prep
You are caring for a patient in the emergency department who is extremely anxious. She is short
of breath and slightly nauseated. She has large red hives all over her body and reports that her
skin is burning and itchy. She is flushed, hypotensive, and tachycardic. What type of shock
should you suspect?
A. Septic shock
B. Neurogenic shock
C. Anaphylactic shock
D. Hypovolemic shock - correct answer ✔✔C. Anaphylactic shock
Which disorder is a cause of cardiogenic shock?
A. Dysrhythmias
B. Pulmonary embolus
C. Pericardial tamponade
D. Tension pneumothorax - correct answer ✔✔A. Dysrhythmias
When a patient is in the compensatory stage of shock, the body preferentially maintains blood
flow to which organs?
A. Lungs and kidneys
B. Heart and brain
C. Gastrointestinal tract and heart
D. Brain and kidneys - correct answer ✔✔B. Heart and brain
Which disorder may cause hypovolemic shock?
A. Burns
, B. Sepsis
C. Anaphylaxis
D. Severe myocardial contusion - correct answer ✔✔A. Burns
Emergency needle thoracentesis is a treatment for which type of shock?
A. Cardiogenic shock
B. Hypovolemic shock
C. Distributive shock
D. Obstructive shock - correct answer ✔✔D. Obstructive shock
In a pediatric patient, which finding is an early sign of shock?
A. Bradypnea
B. Bradycardia
C. Hypotension
D. Delayed capillary refill - correct answer ✔✔D. Delayed capillary refill
Which type of shock is typically associated with acute spinal cord disruption from trauma or
spinal anesthesia?
A. Cardiogenic shock
B. Obstructive shock
C. Neurogenic shock
D. Hypovolemic shock - correct answer ✔✔C. Neurogenic shock
Which parameter is a resuscitation endpoint for shock?
A. Mean arterial pressure of 40 mm Hg
B. Arterial pH of 7.52
Prep
You are caring for a patient in the emergency department who is extremely anxious. She is short
of breath and slightly nauseated. She has large red hives all over her body and reports that her
skin is burning and itchy. She is flushed, hypotensive, and tachycardic. What type of shock
should you suspect?
A. Septic shock
B. Neurogenic shock
C. Anaphylactic shock
D. Hypovolemic shock - correct answer ✔✔C. Anaphylactic shock
Which disorder is a cause of cardiogenic shock?
A. Dysrhythmias
B. Pulmonary embolus
C. Pericardial tamponade
D. Tension pneumothorax - correct answer ✔✔A. Dysrhythmias
When a patient is in the compensatory stage of shock, the body preferentially maintains blood
flow to which organs?
A. Lungs and kidneys
B. Heart and brain
C. Gastrointestinal tract and heart
D. Brain and kidneys - correct answer ✔✔B. Heart and brain
Which disorder may cause hypovolemic shock?
A. Burns
, B. Sepsis
C. Anaphylaxis
D. Severe myocardial contusion - correct answer ✔✔A. Burns
Emergency needle thoracentesis is a treatment for which type of shock?
A. Cardiogenic shock
B. Hypovolemic shock
C. Distributive shock
D. Obstructive shock - correct answer ✔✔D. Obstructive shock
In a pediatric patient, which finding is an early sign of shock?
A. Bradypnea
B. Bradycardia
C. Hypotension
D. Delayed capillary refill - correct answer ✔✔D. Delayed capillary refill
Which type of shock is typically associated with acute spinal cord disruption from trauma or
spinal anesthesia?
A. Cardiogenic shock
B. Obstructive shock
C. Neurogenic shock
D. Hypovolemic shock - correct answer ✔✔C. Neurogenic shock
Which parameter is a resuscitation endpoint for shock?
A. Mean arterial pressure of 40 mm Hg
B. Arterial pH of 7.52
