CEN Exam Review | Actual Questions and Answers Latest
Updated 2026/2027 (Graded A+)
• Question
What is a pericardial friction rub?
Correct Answer: often heard over the sternal border. The inflammation causes a grating,
scraping or leather-rubbing sound
• Question
Is pericarditis more common in adults or children?
Correct Answer: Adults
• Question
What positions aggravate pericarditis?
Correct Answer: lying flat on the left side, coughing and deep inspiration
• Question
How is pericardial pain relieved?
Correct Answer: NSAIDs because this type of pain is not related to ischemia
• Question
How to characterize a HTN crisis?
Correct Answer: An uncontrolled rise in BP with end organ damage. Diastolic normally
>130. Neuro sx are common as well as papilledema. This condition requires rapid
management
• Question
What can cause a HTN crisis?
Correct Answer: Malignant HTN defined as a BP > 180/120
• Question
How is malignant HTN different from HTN emergency?
Correct Answer: Malignant HTN will have papilloedema
• Question
How to calculate MAP?
Correct Answer: [(2 x DBP) + SBP] divided by 3
,• Question
How fast do you tx an HTN ER?
Correct Answer: decrease between 20-30% over 2-3 hours
• Question
How fast do you tx an HTN urgency?
Correct Answer: reduce BP gradually over 24-48 hours
• Question
What can dig toxicity manifest as?
Correct Answer: acute onset = hyperkalemia chronic = hypokalemia, hypomag and
bradycardia r/t hypokalemia
• Question
Who is more likely to have an aortic dissection?
Correct Answer: Males, HTN pts, and those with Marfans (which is connective tissue
weakness)
• Question
What drug is recommended for wide complex tachycardia in a stable pt?
Correct Answer: Amidodarone
• Question
What joule setting is recommended for emergent cardioversion?
Correct Answer: starting at 50-75 in biphasic and 100 in monophasic
• Question
What drug is rec for SVT?
Correct Answer: Adenosine
• Question
How does hyperkalemia manifest on an EKG?
Correct Answer: peaked T-waves in V1-V5, widened QRS that can turn into sin wave -->
asytole
• Question
How does hypokalemia manifest on an EKG?
Correct Answer: flat T-waves in V1-V5
,• Question
Define US Angina
Correct Answer: CP that occurs with activity and become worse with each episode. 1/2
pts with UA have total or near total occlusion of a coronary artery
• Question
Define Ludwigs angina
Correct Answer: an expansion of an existing untx dental infection/cellulitis to the
submandibular/lingual/mental mandibular spaces
• Question
Define Stable Angina
Correct Answer: predictable event after activites and exercise
• Question
Define Prinzmetals angia
Correct Answer: (variant angina) occurs when the pt is at rest, usually the same time
each day. Prognosis is poor and 50% die w/in first year
• Question
How to tx emergent pericardiditis
Correct Answer: aka cardiac tamponade = pericardialcentesis
• Question
What is characteristic of AA on CXR?
Correct Answer: widened mediastinum
• Question
What is done for an unstable pt w/tachy rhythm?
Correct Answer: synchronized cardioversion vs adenosine is for stable pts
• Question
Who is at risk for a silent MI?
Correct Answer: Diabetics r/t muscular neuropathy
• Question
What does a STEMI in 2, 3 AVF indicate?
Correct Answer: RCA occlusion leading to an inferior MI
, • Question
Where will an anterior MI occur?
Correct Answer: Leads V1-V4
• Question
How does hypocalcemia present on an EKG?
Correct Answer: peaked T-waves; think of the signs, neuromusclar irritability
• Question
What cardiac dz are SLE pts at r/f?
Correct Answer: pericarditis
• Question
What cardiac dz does an exposure to environment toxins lead to?
Correct Answer: myocarditis
• Question
What are 2 forms of PVD?
Correct Answer: Raynauds and Buergers
• Question
What is Raynauds dz?
Correct Answer: chronic peripheral vascular dz that involves episodic vasospasm of the
blood vessels to the skin, mostly the hands resulting in pain/pallor/dec fxn ppt by
cold/stress; no pulse loss
• Question
Describe an arterial occlusion
Correct Answer: sudden occlusion of arterial blood flow mainly caused by an embolus.
severe pain at rest r/t tissue ischemia --> dec perfusion --> possible necrosis
• Question
What are tarry stools indicative of?
Correct Answer: peptic ulcers
• Question
What are bloody stools indicative of?
Correct Answer: ulcerative colitis
Updated 2026/2027 (Graded A+)
• Question
What is a pericardial friction rub?
Correct Answer: often heard over the sternal border. The inflammation causes a grating,
scraping or leather-rubbing sound
• Question
Is pericarditis more common in adults or children?
Correct Answer: Adults
• Question
What positions aggravate pericarditis?
Correct Answer: lying flat on the left side, coughing and deep inspiration
• Question
How is pericardial pain relieved?
Correct Answer: NSAIDs because this type of pain is not related to ischemia
• Question
How to characterize a HTN crisis?
Correct Answer: An uncontrolled rise in BP with end organ damage. Diastolic normally
>130. Neuro sx are common as well as papilledema. This condition requires rapid
management
• Question
What can cause a HTN crisis?
Correct Answer: Malignant HTN defined as a BP > 180/120
• Question
How is malignant HTN different from HTN emergency?
Correct Answer: Malignant HTN will have papilloedema
• Question
How to calculate MAP?
Correct Answer: [(2 x DBP) + SBP] divided by 3
,• Question
How fast do you tx an HTN ER?
Correct Answer: decrease between 20-30% over 2-3 hours
• Question
How fast do you tx an HTN urgency?
Correct Answer: reduce BP gradually over 24-48 hours
• Question
What can dig toxicity manifest as?
Correct Answer: acute onset = hyperkalemia chronic = hypokalemia, hypomag and
bradycardia r/t hypokalemia
• Question
Who is more likely to have an aortic dissection?
Correct Answer: Males, HTN pts, and those with Marfans (which is connective tissue
weakness)
• Question
What drug is recommended for wide complex tachycardia in a stable pt?
Correct Answer: Amidodarone
• Question
What joule setting is recommended for emergent cardioversion?
Correct Answer: starting at 50-75 in biphasic and 100 in monophasic
• Question
What drug is rec for SVT?
Correct Answer: Adenosine
• Question
How does hyperkalemia manifest on an EKG?
Correct Answer: peaked T-waves in V1-V5, widened QRS that can turn into sin wave -->
asytole
• Question
How does hypokalemia manifest on an EKG?
Correct Answer: flat T-waves in V1-V5
,• Question
Define US Angina
Correct Answer: CP that occurs with activity and become worse with each episode. 1/2
pts with UA have total or near total occlusion of a coronary artery
• Question
Define Ludwigs angina
Correct Answer: an expansion of an existing untx dental infection/cellulitis to the
submandibular/lingual/mental mandibular spaces
• Question
Define Stable Angina
Correct Answer: predictable event after activites and exercise
• Question
Define Prinzmetals angia
Correct Answer: (variant angina) occurs when the pt is at rest, usually the same time
each day. Prognosis is poor and 50% die w/in first year
• Question
How to tx emergent pericardiditis
Correct Answer: aka cardiac tamponade = pericardialcentesis
• Question
What is characteristic of AA on CXR?
Correct Answer: widened mediastinum
• Question
What is done for an unstable pt w/tachy rhythm?
Correct Answer: synchronized cardioversion vs adenosine is for stable pts
• Question
Who is at risk for a silent MI?
Correct Answer: Diabetics r/t muscular neuropathy
• Question
What does a STEMI in 2, 3 AVF indicate?
Correct Answer: RCA occlusion leading to an inferior MI
, • Question
Where will an anterior MI occur?
Correct Answer: Leads V1-V4
• Question
How does hypocalcemia present on an EKG?
Correct Answer: peaked T-waves; think of the signs, neuromusclar irritability
• Question
What cardiac dz are SLE pts at r/f?
Correct Answer: pericarditis
• Question
What cardiac dz does an exposure to environment toxins lead to?
Correct Answer: myocarditis
• Question
What are 2 forms of PVD?
Correct Answer: Raynauds and Buergers
• Question
What is Raynauds dz?
Correct Answer: chronic peripheral vascular dz that involves episodic vasospasm of the
blood vessels to the skin, mostly the hands resulting in pain/pallor/dec fxn ppt by
cold/stress; no pulse loss
• Question
Describe an arterial occlusion
Correct Answer: sudden occlusion of arterial blood flow mainly caused by an embolus.
severe pain at rest r/t tissue ischemia --> dec perfusion --> possible necrosis
• Question
What are tarry stools indicative of?
Correct Answer: peptic ulcers
• Question
What are bloody stools indicative of?
Correct Answer: ulcerative colitis
