CEN EXAM 2025 WITH ACCURATE
ANSWERS
A 40-year-old man presents to the emergency department with minimal urine
output for the past two days. His history includes recent kidney stones. Which
type of renal injury does this represent?
Intrarenal
Intrinsic
Prerenal
Postrenal - correct-answer-Postrenal
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 - correct-answer-Ruptured diaphragm
A middle-aged male patient presents to the ED with complaint of fever. He is
awake, alert, and in no acute distress. On arrival, vital signs are BP 118/58 mm Hg,
HR 112 beats/min, RR 20 breaths/min, SpO2 95%, T 38.8 C (101.9 F). His medical
history includes human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and he is taking antiviral
medications. Using a 5-level triage system, this patient would be triaged as which
acuity level?
Acuity Level 4 (non-urgent)
Acuity Level 2 (emergent)
Acuity Level 1 (life-threatening situation)
Acuity Level 3 (urgent) - correct-answer-Acuity Level 2 (emergent)
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 - correct-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 - correct-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 - correct-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 - correct-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 - correct-answer-A patient with severe chronic asthma who has
been on prednisone for several years
ANSWERS
A 40-year-old man presents to the emergency department with minimal urine
output for the past two days. His history includes recent kidney stones. Which
type of renal injury does this represent?
Intrarenal
Intrinsic
Prerenal
Postrenal - correct-answer-Postrenal
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 - correct-answer-Ruptured diaphragm
A middle-aged male patient presents to the ED with complaint of fever. He is
awake, alert, and in no acute distress. On arrival, vital signs are BP 118/58 mm Hg,
HR 112 beats/min, RR 20 breaths/min, SpO2 95%, T 38.8 C (101.9 F). His medical
history includes human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and he is taking antiviral
medications. Using a 5-level triage system, this patient would be triaged as which
acuity level?
Acuity Level 4 (non-urgent)
Acuity Level 2 (emergent)
Acuity Level 1 (life-threatening situation)
Acuity Level 3 (urgent) - correct-answer-Acuity Level 2 (emergent)
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 - correct-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 - correct-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 - correct-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 - correct-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 - correct-answer-A patient with severe chronic asthma who has
been on prednisone for several years
