CEN Test Exam Professional Issues with Comprehensive Q & A
2023/2024
The ENA Code of Ethics expects the emergency nurse to do all of the following EXCEPT:
a. Maintain accountability for individual practice
b. Act to protect the patient from incompetent or illegal practice
c. Work to improve access to health care for all
d. Complete all required tasks for every patient correct answers D. An integral part of being an effective
ED nurse is knowing what tasks can or should be delegated to other roles. The ED nurse should not
expect to perform all tasks for every patient but should know what tasks can be delegated.
Emergency nurses are encouraged to use evidence based practices (EBP) in the practice of emergency
nursing. Which of the following practices is not recommended by the Emergency Nurse's Association?
a. Use of two or more patient identifiers when providing care.
b. Not taking verbal or telephone orders.
c. Comply with hand hygiene guidelines
d. Assure central lines are inserted under sterile conditions. correct answers B. Although verbal and
telephone orders are not ideal, the practice of emergency nursing often requires taking verbal orders. In
those cases, the nurse must employ the practice of reading back the order to ensure that it was received
and recorded accurately.
An emergency nurse provides education to a community group about bike and helmet safety. At this
educational offering, the nurse provides helmets for children who do not have them. This is an example
of a nurse providing:
a. Primary prevention
b. Secondary prevention
c. Tertiary prevention
d. None of the above correct answers A. Primary prevention averts disease or injury by reducing risk
factors for a particular individual or group. Secondary prevention aims to detect injury or disease early to
limit the effects. Tertiary preventions focus on treating a disease or injury to limit disability and preserve
function.
The term used to describe pain that is due to a stimulus that does not normally provoke pain is:
a. Allodynia
b. Analgesia
c. Hyperalgesia
d. Neuralgia correct answers A. Allodynia is the perception of pain with a stimulus that does not
normally cause pain. Analgesia is the absence of pain in response to a stimulus that would normally be
considered painful. Hyperalgesia is an increased, or greater than expected, response to a stimulus that is
painful. Neuralgia is pain in a nerve or nerves.
Since care in the emergency department is episodic, interpreters are not required during patient care.
a. True
b. False correct answers B. If the ED nurse is not able to adequately communicate with a patient, an
interpreter must be provided. Specifically, an interpreter is critical when the patient's history is being
elicited, when the physician or nurse is explaining the patient's condition or treatment or when spiritual
or religious counseling is requested. In addition to each of these circumstances, an interpreter must be
, provided to obtain informed consent or permission for treatment. The ED nurse must also provide an
interpreter when living wills or powers of attorney are discussed. Any discussion of medications or
allergies requires an interpreter. Discussions of billing, insurance or education should be explained
through an interpreter. When in doubt, the prudent nurse will call for an interpreter. It is strongly
recommended not to use family to interpret.
A patient can directly sue an emergency department nurse for violation of the HIPAA law.
a. True
b. False correct answers B. HIPAA does not create a private right of action; therefore, a patient cannot
directly sue any provider for HIPAA violations. However, a patient may make formal complaints to the
OCR who may refer those complaints to the Department of Justice for criminal investigation.
A child may be considered an emancipated minor and capable of making medical decisions without
parental consent in certain circumstances. Although laws in states may differ, general considerations may
include all of the following EXCEPT:
a. Marital status
b. Membership in the armed forces
c. Self-declaration of emancipation by the minor
d. Court certification correct answers C. If a child desires to be an emancipated minor without fulfilling
the criteria in any other way, a court must declare the emancipation. A child cannot declare himself or
herself to be emancipated. The prudent ED nurse will understand the laws in his or her state that govern
the rules around emancipation of a minor.
Informed consent implies that the patient with intact mental capacity understands the risks and benefits
of the proposed treatment and any alternatives to treatment. The ED nurse must delay treatment for an
informed consent when:
a. A known diabetic collapses in the waiting room.
b. Emergent treatment is required to protect the patient's health.
c. An unaccompanied 14-year-old child walks into the Emergency department with a snake bite.
d. The surgeon who will be doing the appendectomy on a stable patient is delayed in the OR. correct
answers D. Although medical personnel must attempt to get informed consent from the patient or
someone authorized to consent for him, emergency department nurses must not wait to provide
treatment when such a delay would result in a life or limb-threatening outcome for the patient. Since the
stable patient with appendicitis must wait for the surgeon to complete his work in the OR, the ED nurse
should not get the consent signed until the patient has an opportunity to speak with the surgeon.
You are working in triage in the emergency department and have several patients waiting in the waiting
area for treatment. Mr. Smith arrived an hour ago for treatment for a sexually transmitted disease. You
call "Mr. Smith" to come back for treatment. When he comes back to the treatment area, he complains
that his HIPAA rights have been violated since you announced his name aloud. Which of the following is
a TRUE statement?
a. His HIPAA rights have not been violated.
b. His HIPAA rights may have been violated; contact the facility privacy officer.
c. His HIPAA rights have definitely been violated; contact the facility privacy officer.
d. It is unclear whether his HIPAA rights have been violated. correct answers A. His HIPAA rights have not
been violated. According to the HIPAA regulation [45 CFR 164.502 (a)(1)(iii): "Incidental Uses and
Disclosures"], simply calling a patient's name in a waiting area does not connect any medical information
with the specific patient so there would not be a violation.
2023/2024
The ENA Code of Ethics expects the emergency nurse to do all of the following EXCEPT:
a. Maintain accountability for individual practice
b. Act to protect the patient from incompetent or illegal practice
c. Work to improve access to health care for all
d. Complete all required tasks for every patient correct answers D. An integral part of being an effective
ED nurse is knowing what tasks can or should be delegated to other roles. The ED nurse should not
expect to perform all tasks for every patient but should know what tasks can be delegated.
Emergency nurses are encouraged to use evidence based practices (EBP) in the practice of emergency
nursing. Which of the following practices is not recommended by the Emergency Nurse's Association?
a. Use of two or more patient identifiers when providing care.
b. Not taking verbal or telephone orders.
c. Comply with hand hygiene guidelines
d. Assure central lines are inserted under sterile conditions. correct answers B. Although verbal and
telephone orders are not ideal, the practice of emergency nursing often requires taking verbal orders. In
those cases, the nurse must employ the practice of reading back the order to ensure that it was received
and recorded accurately.
An emergency nurse provides education to a community group about bike and helmet safety. At this
educational offering, the nurse provides helmets for children who do not have them. This is an example
of a nurse providing:
a. Primary prevention
b. Secondary prevention
c. Tertiary prevention
d. None of the above correct answers A. Primary prevention averts disease or injury by reducing risk
factors for a particular individual or group. Secondary prevention aims to detect injury or disease early to
limit the effects. Tertiary preventions focus on treating a disease or injury to limit disability and preserve
function.
The term used to describe pain that is due to a stimulus that does not normally provoke pain is:
a. Allodynia
b. Analgesia
c. Hyperalgesia
d. Neuralgia correct answers A. Allodynia is the perception of pain with a stimulus that does not
normally cause pain. Analgesia is the absence of pain in response to a stimulus that would normally be
considered painful. Hyperalgesia is an increased, or greater than expected, response to a stimulus that is
painful. Neuralgia is pain in a nerve or nerves.
Since care in the emergency department is episodic, interpreters are not required during patient care.
a. True
b. False correct answers B. If the ED nurse is not able to adequately communicate with a patient, an
interpreter must be provided. Specifically, an interpreter is critical when the patient's history is being
elicited, when the physician or nurse is explaining the patient's condition or treatment or when spiritual
or religious counseling is requested. In addition to each of these circumstances, an interpreter must be
, provided to obtain informed consent or permission for treatment. The ED nurse must also provide an
interpreter when living wills or powers of attorney are discussed. Any discussion of medications or
allergies requires an interpreter. Discussions of billing, insurance or education should be explained
through an interpreter. When in doubt, the prudent nurse will call for an interpreter. It is strongly
recommended not to use family to interpret.
A patient can directly sue an emergency department nurse for violation of the HIPAA law.
a. True
b. False correct answers B. HIPAA does not create a private right of action; therefore, a patient cannot
directly sue any provider for HIPAA violations. However, a patient may make formal complaints to the
OCR who may refer those complaints to the Department of Justice for criminal investigation.
A child may be considered an emancipated minor and capable of making medical decisions without
parental consent in certain circumstances. Although laws in states may differ, general considerations may
include all of the following EXCEPT:
a. Marital status
b. Membership in the armed forces
c. Self-declaration of emancipation by the minor
d. Court certification correct answers C. If a child desires to be an emancipated minor without fulfilling
the criteria in any other way, a court must declare the emancipation. A child cannot declare himself or
herself to be emancipated. The prudent ED nurse will understand the laws in his or her state that govern
the rules around emancipation of a minor.
Informed consent implies that the patient with intact mental capacity understands the risks and benefits
of the proposed treatment and any alternatives to treatment. The ED nurse must delay treatment for an
informed consent when:
a. A known diabetic collapses in the waiting room.
b. Emergent treatment is required to protect the patient's health.
c. An unaccompanied 14-year-old child walks into the Emergency department with a snake bite.
d. The surgeon who will be doing the appendectomy on a stable patient is delayed in the OR. correct
answers D. Although medical personnel must attempt to get informed consent from the patient or
someone authorized to consent for him, emergency department nurses must not wait to provide
treatment when such a delay would result in a life or limb-threatening outcome for the patient. Since the
stable patient with appendicitis must wait for the surgeon to complete his work in the OR, the ED nurse
should not get the consent signed until the patient has an opportunity to speak with the surgeon.
You are working in triage in the emergency department and have several patients waiting in the waiting
area for treatment. Mr. Smith arrived an hour ago for treatment for a sexually transmitted disease. You
call "Mr. Smith" to come back for treatment. When he comes back to the treatment area, he complains
that his HIPAA rights have been violated since you announced his name aloud. Which of the following is
a TRUE statement?
a. His HIPAA rights have not been violated.
b. His HIPAA rights may have been violated; contact the facility privacy officer.
c. His HIPAA rights have definitely been violated; contact the facility privacy officer.
d. It is unclear whether his HIPAA rights have been violated. correct answers A. His HIPAA rights have not
been violated. According to the HIPAA regulation [45 CFR 164.502 (a)(1)(iii): "Incidental Uses and
Disclosures"], simply calling a patient's name in a waiting area does not connect any medical information
with the specific patient so there would not be a violation.
