CEN EXAM 2 COMPREHENSIVE CERTIFIED
EMERGENCY NURSE STUDY GUIDE 2026
◉ An emergency nurse is providing discharge instructions for a
patient with pelvic inflammatory disease. Which statement made by
the patient indicates an understanding of these instructions?
Getting pregnant shouldn't be a problem once the infection goes
away.
I'll take the medicine for nausea when I feel sick to my stomach.
I will be at increased risk for ectopic pregnancy.
I will follow up with my doctor tomorrow.
Answer: I will be at increased risk for ectopic pregnancy.
◉ A 16-year-old presents with severe left upper quadrant
abdominal pain after an over-the-handlebars bicycle collision. Vital
signs are BP 100/60 mm Hg, HR 100 beats/min, RR 30 breaths/min,
T 37.0 C (98.6 F), SpO2 89% without supplemental oxygen. There is
bruising over the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. Auscultation
reveals diminished breath sounds on the left accompanied by
gurgling. Based on this history and assessment, the nurse suspects
which injury?
Small bowel rupture
Ruptured diaphragm
Flail chest
,Hepatic injury
Answer: Ruptured diaphragm
◉ A patient presents with chest pain. The nurse performs a 12-lead
electrocardiogram that reveals an abnormal Q wave. What does the
nurse suspect?
A current injury
An old infarction
An acute infarction
Ischemia
Answer: An old infarction
◉ A patient is brought to the ED by emergency medical services with
increased aggression and making clear homicidal threats. What
immediate action will the nurse expect to promote staff and patient
safety?
Administration of antipsychotics
One-to-one observation
Place in a seclusion room
Application of restraints
Answer: Place in a seclusion room
,◉ A 28-year-old female presents with shortness of breath, dizziness,
and diaphoresis. Her vital signs are BP 118/74 mm Hg, HR 122
beats/min, RR 26 breaths/min, T 37.7 C (99.9 F), SpO2 92% without
supplemental oxygen. Her health history includes fractures of the
left tibia and fibula following an MVC 3 weeks ago. Surgical fixation
was required. Her only current medications are an oral
contraceptive and intermittent ibuprofen for pain. Assessment of the
casted left leg reveals that the toes are swollen. With this
information, which diagnostic testing will the nurse expect as the
highest priority?
Sputum cultures
Chest radiograph
Computed tomographic pulmonary angiography
Radiograph of the left leg
Answer: Computed tomographic pulmonary angiography
◉ A family of 10 presents to the ED with complaints of fever, muscle
pain, and unexplained bruising ongoing for 7 days. After completing
the screening, the nurse notes that the family recently traveled to
Sierra Leone. What is the highest priority intervention the triage
nurse needs to perform?
Notify infection prevention
Leave the family in the waiting room
Evacuate the waiting room
Inform those waiting that Ebola has been detected
, Answer: Notify infection prevention
◉ A patient presents to the ED with complaints of fatigue and
insomnia. Assessment findings reveal the patient is awake, alert, and
oriented, has a round moon face, buffalo hump back, hirsutism and
prominent striae on the trunk. Vital signs are normal. Which of the
following scenarios is most consistent with this patient's
presentation?
A high school wrestler who admits to taking his grandfather's
furosemide before a meet
A patient with insulin-dependent diabetes who took insulin,
without eating breakfast.
A patient with severe chronic asthma who has been on prednisone
for several years
A patient who underwent a thyroidectomy several years ago who
recently ran out of medication
Answer: A patient with severe chronic asthma who has been on
prednisone for several years
◉ A patient who was brought to the ED by ambulance following a
motor vehicle collision, in which the driver hit a tree, has BP 92/48
mm Hg, HR 128 beats/min, RR 34 breaths/min, SpO2 91% with
supplemental oxygen via a nonrebreather. He has labored breathing,
cyanosis, absent breath sounds on the right, and jugular vein
distension. Which of the following conditions would be suspected?
Aspiration
EMERGENCY NURSE STUDY GUIDE 2026
◉ An emergency nurse is providing discharge instructions for a
patient with pelvic inflammatory disease. Which statement made by
the patient indicates an understanding of these instructions?
Getting pregnant shouldn't be a problem once the infection goes
away.
I'll take the medicine for nausea when I feel sick to my stomach.
I will be at increased risk for ectopic pregnancy.
I will follow up with my doctor tomorrow.
Answer: I will be at increased risk for ectopic pregnancy.
◉ A 16-year-old presents with severe left upper quadrant
abdominal pain after an over-the-handlebars bicycle collision. Vital
signs are BP 100/60 mm Hg, HR 100 beats/min, RR 30 breaths/min,
T 37.0 C (98.6 F), SpO2 89% without supplemental oxygen. There is
bruising over the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. Auscultation
reveals diminished breath sounds on the left accompanied by
gurgling. Based on this history and assessment, the nurse suspects
which injury?
Small bowel rupture
Ruptured diaphragm
Flail chest
,Hepatic injury
Answer: Ruptured diaphragm
◉ A patient presents with chest pain. The nurse performs a 12-lead
electrocardiogram that reveals an abnormal Q wave. What does the
nurse suspect?
A current injury
An old infarction
An acute infarction
Ischemia
Answer: An old infarction
◉ A patient is brought to the ED by emergency medical services with
increased aggression and making clear homicidal threats. What
immediate action will the nurse expect to promote staff and patient
safety?
Administration of antipsychotics
One-to-one observation
Place in a seclusion room
Application of restraints
Answer: Place in a seclusion room
,◉ A 28-year-old female presents with shortness of breath, dizziness,
and diaphoresis. Her vital signs are BP 118/74 mm Hg, HR 122
beats/min, RR 26 breaths/min, T 37.7 C (99.9 F), SpO2 92% without
supplemental oxygen. Her health history includes fractures of the
left tibia and fibula following an MVC 3 weeks ago. Surgical fixation
was required. Her only current medications are an oral
contraceptive and intermittent ibuprofen for pain. Assessment of the
casted left leg reveals that the toes are swollen. With this
information, which diagnostic testing will the nurse expect as the
highest priority?
Sputum cultures
Chest radiograph
Computed tomographic pulmonary angiography
Radiograph of the left leg
Answer: Computed tomographic pulmonary angiography
◉ A family of 10 presents to the ED with complaints of fever, muscle
pain, and unexplained bruising ongoing for 7 days. After completing
the screening, the nurse notes that the family recently traveled to
Sierra Leone. What is the highest priority intervention the triage
nurse needs to perform?
Notify infection prevention
Leave the family in the waiting room
Evacuate the waiting room
Inform those waiting that Ebola has been detected
, Answer: Notify infection prevention
◉ A patient presents to the ED with complaints of fatigue and
insomnia. Assessment findings reveal the patient is awake, alert, and
oriented, has a round moon face, buffalo hump back, hirsutism and
prominent striae on the trunk. Vital signs are normal. Which of the
following scenarios is most consistent with this patient's
presentation?
A high school wrestler who admits to taking his grandfather's
furosemide before a meet
A patient with insulin-dependent diabetes who took insulin,
without eating breakfast.
A patient with severe chronic asthma who has been on prednisone
for several years
A patient who underwent a thyroidectomy several years ago who
recently ran out of medication
Answer: A patient with severe chronic asthma who has been on
prednisone for several years
◉ A patient who was brought to the ED by ambulance following a
motor vehicle collision, in which the driver hit a tree, has BP 92/48
mm Hg, HR 128 beats/min, RR 34 breaths/min, SpO2 91% with
supplemental oxygen via a nonrebreather. He has labored breathing,
cyanosis, absent breath sounds on the right, and jugular vein
distension. Which of the following conditions would be suspected?
Aspiration
