CEN Question Bank 2: Emergency Nursing Practice Questions, Answers & Rationales for CEN
Exam Prep
a splenic hematoma. - correct answer ✔✔A patient who returns to the emergency department
3 days after a motor vehicle crash has pain in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen.
Assessment reveals pain on palpation, and the patient is hemodynamically stable. The nurse
should be MOST concerned about the possibility of:
bleeding from a liver laceration.
a splenic hematoma.
a pneumothorax.
a costochondritis.
disseminated intravascular coagulation. - correct answer ✔✔A trauma patient has received
multiple transfusions in the emergency department and starts to ooze blood from the IV sites.
This suggests the development of:
sepsis.
disseminated intravascular coagulation.
multisystem organ failure.
hemophilia.
does not urinate for more than 8 hours - correct answer ✔✔Which of the following indicates
significant dehydration in a 6-month-old infant with a history of vomiting and diarrhea?
does not urinate for more than 8 hours
cries loudly during the physical examination
has three loose stools in 3 hours
has two bouts of projectile vomiting
Tell me how you will take the antibiotics. - correct answer ✔✔A patient who has an infection
returns to the emergency department. After determining that the patient has not been taking
,the prescribed antibiotics, the nurse reviews the instructions with the patient. Which of the
following responses by the nurse is MOST appropriate?
If you don't take the antibiotics, you will need to return for injections.
Here is a list of times you will take the antibiotics.
Do you have any questions about how to take the antibiotics?
Tell me how you will take the antibiotics.
back blows.
The American Heart Association recommends back blows followed by chest compressions to
dislodge an obstruction. Abdominal thrusts should never be performed on an infant nor should
a blind finger sweep be used. Intubation takes time and should not be the first intervention. -
correct answer ✔✔The FIRST intervention for an infant with complete airway obstruction after
inhalation of a foreign body is
a finger sweep.
intubation.
back blows.
abdominal thrusts.
place the patient into a treatment room with the door open. - correct answer ✔✔A patient
presents with his family members, who state that he has struck his brother and has been violent
and paranoid. The nurse should FIRST:
assess the brother for possible injuries.
place the patient into a treatment room with the door open.
notify police of the assault.
escort the patient to the quiet room to await the social worker.
rising core body temperature. - correct answer ✔✔A patient with acute cocaine intoxication
should be expected to have
first-degree AV block.
,flaccid extremities.
rising core body temperature.
drowsiness.
metabolic acidosis - correct answer ✔✔A patient suspected of having anorexia nervosa is being
triaged. The emergency nurse expects which blood abnormality commonly related to this
disease?
decreased blood urea nitrogen
hyperkalemia
metabolic acidosis
increased glomerular filtration rate
hemophilia B - correct answer ✔✔Which clotting disorder is caused by the absence or
deficiency of factor IX?
hypercoagulation
Von Willebrand Disease
hemophilia B
hemophilia C
compartment syndrome. - correct answer ✔✔A patient who has a long-leg cast has pain out of
proportion to the injury and decreased sensation in the affected leg. Urinalysis reveals
myoglobinemia. These findings MOST likely indicate
fat emboli.
nerve laceration.
compartment syndrome.
deep vein thrombosis.
, epinephrine. - correct answer ✔✔A patient presents with audible wheezing and has an oxygen
saturation of 88% on room air. The patient reports eating shrimp for lunch. It would be a
PRIORITY for the nurse to administer
diphenhydramine.
epinephrine.
oxygen.
albuterol.
furosemide (Lasix).
Adverse effects of blood transfusions include circulatory overload. Signs/symptoms include
those similar to heart failure (dyspnea, tachypnea, crackles). Treatment includes administering
diuretics (furosemide). - correct answer ✔✔Following the transfusion of a unit of packed red
blood cells, a patient develops dyspnea, tachypnea, and posterior bilateral crackles. The nurse
should anticipate an order for
furosemide (Lasix).
digoxin (Lanoxin).
calcium chloride.
nesiritide (Natrecor).
Initiate IV access. - correct answer ✔✔A patient presents with a history of abdominal pain,
nausea, and vomiting for 2 days. Upon standing, the patient complains of dizziness. The nurse
should anticipate an order to do which of the following FIRST?
Initiate IV access.
Draw blood for a CBC.
Insert a nasogastric tube.
Administer pain medication.
application of a compression dressing.
Exam Prep
a splenic hematoma. - correct answer ✔✔A patient who returns to the emergency department
3 days after a motor vehicle crash has pain in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen.
Assessment reveals pain on palpation, and the patient is hemodynamically stable. The nurse
should be MOST concerned about the possibility of:
bleeding from a liver laceration.
a splenic hematoma.
a pneumothorax.
a costochondritis.
disseminated intravascular coagulation. - correct answer ✔✔A trauma patient has received
multiple transfusions in the emergency department and starts to ooze blood from the IV sites.
This suggests the development of:
sepsis.
disseminated intravascular coagulation.
multisystem organ failure.
hemophilia.
does not urinate for more than 8 hours - correct answer ✔✔Which of the following indicates
significant dehydration in a 6-month-old infant with a history of vomiting and diarrhea?
does not urinate for more than 8 hours
cries loudly during the physical examination
has three loose stools in 3 hours
has two bouts of projectile vomiting
Tell me how you will take the antibiotics. - correct answer ✔✔A patient who has an infection
returns to the emergency department. After determining that the patient has not been taking
,the prescribed antibiotics, the nurse reviews the instructions with the patient. Which of the
following responses by the nurse is MOST appropriate?
If you don't take the antibiotics, you will need to return for injections.
Here is a list of times you will take the antibiotics.
Do you have any questions about how to take the antibiotics?
Tell me how you will take the antibiotics.
back blows.
The American Heart Association recommends back blows followed by chest compressions to
dislodge an obstruction. Abdominal thrusts should never be performed on an infant nor should
a blind finger sweep be used. Intubation takes time and should not be the first intervention. -
correct answer ✔✔The FIRST intervention for an infant with complete airway obstruction after
inhalation of a foreign body is
a finger sweep.
intubation.
back blows.
abdominal thrusts.
place the patient into a treatment room with the door open. - correct answer ✔✔A patient
presents with his family members, who state that he has struck his brother and has been violent
and paranoid. The nurse should FIRST:
assess the brother for possible injuries.
place the patient into a treatment room with the door open.
notify police of the assault.
escort the patient to the quiet room to await the social worker.
rising core body temperature. - correct answer ✔✔A patient with acute cocaine intoxication
should be expected to have
first-degree AV block.
,flaccid extremities.
rising core body temperature.
drowsiness.
metabolic acidosis - correct answer ✔✔A patient suspected of having anorexia nervosa is being
triaged. The emergency nurse expects which blood abnormality commonly related to this
disease?
decreased blood urea nitrogen
hyperkalemia
metabolic acidosis
increased glomerular filtration rate
hemophilia B - correct answer ✔✔Which clotting disorder is caused by the absence or
deficiency of factor IX?
hypercoagulation
Von Willebrand Disease
hemophilia B
hemophilia C
compartment syndrome. - correct answer ✔✔A patient who has a long-leg cast has pain out of
proportion to the injury and decreased sensation in the affected leg. Urinalysis reveals
myoglobinemia. These findings MOST likely indicate
fat emboli.
nerve laceration.
compartment syndrome.
deep vein thrombosis.
, epinephrine. - correct answer ✔✔A patient presents with audible wheezing and has an oxygen
saturation of 88% on room air. The patient reports eating shrimp for lunch. It would be a
PRIORITY for the nurse to administer
diphenhydramine.
epinephrine.
oxygen.
albuterol.
furosemide (Lasix).
Adverse effects of blood transfusions include circulatory overload. Signs/symptoms include
those similar to heart failure (dyspnea, tachypnea, crackles). Treatment includes administering
diuretics (furosemide). - correct answer ✔✔Following the transfusion of a unit of packed red
blood cells, a patient develops dyspnea, tachypnea, and posterior bilateral crackles. The nurse
should anticipate an order for
furosemide (Lasix).
digoxin (Lanoxin).
calcium chloride.
nesiritide (Natrecor).
Initiate IV access. - correct answer ✔✔A patient presents with a history of abdominal pain,
nausea, and vomiting for 2 days. Upon standing, the patient complains of dizziness. The nurse
should anticipate an order to do which of the following FIRST?
Initiate IV access.
Draw blood for a CBC.
Insert a nasogastric tube.
Administer pain medication.
application of a compression dressing.
