CEN Exam Ques ons and answers RATED A+ 2025/2026
NEW!! 100% VERIFIED CORRECT
The most common symptom of a pa ent who has a pinworm infec on is
A. diarrhea
B. anorexia
C. abdominal pain
D. perianal pruritus - Ans D. Perianal pruritus
Pinworms are the most common cause of anal pruritus in children
A pa ent is being discharged with a presump ve diagnosis of primary herpes simplex viral
infec on. the pa ent understands discharge instruc ons if she states,
A. "Acyclovir will cure my herpes"
B. "My boyfriend will not get this if he uses a condom"
C. "If I get pregnant, I can pass the disease to my baby."
D. "I know that this first episode will last only 4 or 5 days." - Ans C. "If I get pregnant, I can pass
the disease to my baby."
The greatest risk to the fetus occurs when overt HSV infec on is present at the me of delivery.
In this situa on, the principal mechanism of infec on is direct contact with the infected vesicles
during the process of vaginal birth.
A pa ent comes to the emergency department 30 minutes a.er an insect bite to the leg. The
wound is erythematous, swollen, and indurated. The emergency nurse should first
A. Perform an Allen's test.
,B. Examine the inguinal lymph nodes.
C. Check the pulses proximal to the wound.
D. Evaluate inspiratory and expiratory breath sounds. - Ans D. Evaluate inspiratory and
expiratory breath sounds.
Pa ents with insect bites are at risk for anaphylac c reac ons. In assessing for systemic
reac ons, ABC's are a priority. Assessment for breathing includes evalua ng breath sounds.
Which of the following is the most common finding in pulmonary embolism?
A. Dyspnea
B. Crackles (rales)
C. Fever
D. Hemoptysis - Ans A. Dyspnea
With pulmonary embolus, common signs and symptoms include shortness of breath,
tachypnea, tachycardia, and sudden-onset pleuri c chest pain that increases with respira ons.
Dyspnea is the most common sign of pulmonary embolism. Crackles and hemoptysis are likely
to be associated with pulmonary edema. Fever is a possible finding in pa ents with a
pulmonary, but it is not common.
Assessment of a pa ent with severe acute pancrea s reveals ascites and diminished breath
sounds in the right lower lobe. Vital signs are: BP 109/70, HR 110, and RR 38. The emergency
nurse should suspect that the pa ent has developed
A. Pneumonia
B. A pneumothorax
C. Pleural effusion.
,D. A diaphragma c hernia. - Ans C. Pleural effusion.
Pleural effusion is an excess of fluid trapped in the intrapleural space of the lugs. In pancrea s,
this occurs because fluid associated with ascites moves from the periotenal space into the
pleural space through lymph channels. Seventy percent of pleural effusions occur on the right
side.
A confused elderly woman has a blood glucose level of 1175 mg/dL (65mmol/L). Serum ketones
are nega ve and arterial blood gases show a pH of 7.25. The emergency nurse should an cipate
an order to administer which of the following first?
A. Sodium bicarbonate
B. Potassium chloride
C. High-dose insulin
D. Large volumes of IV fluids - Ans D. Large volumes of IV fluids
Increased glucose, nega ve keytones, and acidosis are signs and symptoms of hyperosmolar
hyperglycemic non keto c coma. In the treatment of this state, the goals are rehydra on and
correc ng electrolyte imbalances before potassium replacement and insulin.
A pa ent who has been in a motorcycle crash is awake, alert, and oriented, but complains of
severe neck pain. A cross-table lateral radiograph demonstrates a fracture of the second and
third cervical vertebrae. Shortly a.er the radiograph is taken, the pa ent experiences
respiratory arrest appropriate ini al management of the airway should consist of
A. endotracheal intuba on
B. administra on of oxygen via nasal cannula
C. Jaw thrust maneuver and ven la on with a bag-mask device
D. head- lt maneuver and placement of an oropharyngeal airway. - Ans C. Jaw-thrust
maneuver and ven la on with a bag-mask device.
, The jaw thrust maneuver should be used as the basic airway management in any pa ent with a
suspected cervical spine injury without l ng the head. Endotracheal intuba on will be done,
but it is not the first ac on to be taken.
Which of the following statements should be included in discharge instruc ons for a pa ent
who has undergone treatment for epistaxis?
A. "Drink plenty of hot fluids"
B. "Open your mouth while sneezing."
C. "Avoid humidity in the environment"
D. "Reduce sodium intake" - Ans B. "Open your mouth while sneezing"
Sneezing with the mouth closed will force air through the nasal passages, possibly dislodging
the clot; therefore star ng the bleeding again.
An alert pa ent sustains blunt trauma to the abdomen in a MVC. The pa ent refuses to allow
invasive treatments. Ini al assessment reveals and ecchymo c area in the le. upper quadrant.
The ER nurse should
A. Allow the pa ent to leave a.er signing a medical release form.
B. Request an order to sedate pa ent
C. assess the pa ents neurological status
D. obtain consent from a rela ve treatment. - Ans C. Assess the pa ents neurological status.
A ra onal, competent adult can refuse any treatment. The first step is to establish the pa ents
ability to understand the consequences of refusing treatment. Due to the mechanism of injury,
the pa ent should be evaluated for the presence of a head injury.
The best indica on of adequate ssue perfusion in a pa ent in shock is
A. a urine output of 30mL/hr
B. An oxygen satura on of > 70%
NEW!! 100% VERIFIED CORRECT
The most common symptom of a pa ent who has a pinworm infec on is
A. diarrhea
B. anorexia
C. abdominal pain
D. perianal pruritus - Ans D. Perianal pruritus
Pinworms are the most common cause of anal pruritus in children
A pa ent is being discharged with a presump ve diagnosis of primary herpes simplex viral
infec on. the pa ent understands discharge instruc ons if she states,
A. "Acyclovir will cure my herpes"
B. "My boyfriend will not get this if he uses a condom"
C. "If I get pregnant, I can pass the disease to my baby."
D. "I know that this first episode will last only 4 or 5 days." - Ans C. "If I get pregnant, I can pass
the disease to my baby."
The greatest risk to the fetus occurs when overt HSV infec on is present at the me of delivery.
In this situa on, the principal mechanism of infec on is direct contact with the infected vesicles
during the process of vaginal birth.
A pa ent comes to the emergency department 30 minutes a.er an insect bite to the leg. The
wound is erythematous, swollen, and indurated. The emergency nurse should first
A. Perform an Allen's test.
,B. Examine the inguinal lymph nodes.
C. Check the pulses proximal to the wound.
D. Evaluate inspiratory and expiratory breath sounds. - Ans D. Evaluate inspiratory and
expiratory breath sounds.
Pa ents with insect bites are at risk for anaphylac c reac ons. In assessing for systemic
reac ons, ABC's are a priority. Assessment for breathing includes evalua ng breath sounds.
Which of the following is the most common finding in pulmonary embolism?
A. Dyspnea
B. Crackles (rales)
C. Fever
D. Hemoptysis - Ans A. Dyspnea
With pulmonary embolus, common signs and symptoms include shortness of breath,
tachypnea, tachycardia, and sudden-onset pleuri c chest pain that increases with respira ons.
Dyspnea is the most common sign of pulmonary embolism. Crackles and hemoptysis are likely
to be associated with pulmonary edema. Fever is a possible finding in pa ents with a
pulmonary, but it is not common.
Assessment of a pa ent with severe acute pancrea s reveals ascites and diminished breath
sounds in the right lower lobe. Vital signs are: BP 109/70, HR 110, and RR 38. The emergency
nurse should suspect that the pa ent has developed
A. Pneumonia
B. A pneumothorax
C. Pleural effusion.
,D. A diaphragma c hernia. - Ans C. Pleural effusion.
Pleural effusion is an excess of fluid trapped in the intrapleural space of the lugs. In pancrea s,
this occurs because fluid associated with ascites moves from the periotenal space into the
pleural space through lymph channels. Seventy percent of pleural effusions occur on the right
side.
A confused elderly woman has a blood glucose level of 1175 mg/dL (65mmol/L). Serum ketones
are nega ve and arterial blood gases show a pH of 7.25. The emergency nurse should an cipate
an order to administer which of the following first?
A. Sodium bicarbonate
B. Potassium chloride
C. High-dose insulin
D. Large volumes of IV fluids - Ans D. Large volumes of IV fluids
Increased glucose, nega ve keytones, and acidosis are signs and symptoms of hyperosmolar
hyperglycemic non keto c coma. In the treatment of this state, the goals are rehydra on and
correc ng electrolyte imbalances before potassium replacement and insulin.
A pa ent who has been in a motorcycle crash is awake, alert, and oriented, but complains of
severe neck pain. A cross-table lateral radiograph demonstrates a fracture of the second and
third cervical vertebrae. Shortly a.er the radiograph is taken, the pa ent experiences
respiratory arrest appropriate ini al management of the airway should consist of
A. endotracheal intuba on
B. administra on of oxygen via nasal cannula
C. Jaw thrust maneuver and ven la on with a bag-mask device
D. head- lt maneuver and placement of an oropharyngeal airway. - Ans C. Jaw-thrust
maneuver and ven la on with a bag-mask device.
, The jaw thrust maneuver should be used as the basic airway management in any pa ent with a
suspected cervical spine injury without l ng the head. Endotracheal intuba on will be done,
but it is not the first ac on to be taken.
Which of the following statements should be included in discharge instruc ons for a pa ent
who has undergone treatment for epistaxis?
A. "Drink plenty of hot fluids"
B. "Open your mouth while sneezing."
C. "Avoid humidity in the environment"
D. "Reduce sodium intake" - Ans B. "Open your mouth while sneezing"
Sneezing with the mouth closed will force air through the nasal passages, possibly dislodging
the clot; therefore star ng the bleeding again.
An alert pa ent sustains blunt trauma to the abdomen in a MVC. The pa ent refuses to allow
invasive treatments. Ini al assessment reveals and ecchymo c area in the le. upper quadrant.
The ER nurse should
A. Allow the pa ent to leave a.er signing a medical release form.
B. Request an order to sedate pa ent
C. assess the pa ents neurological status
D. obtain consent from a rela ve treatment. - Ans C. Assess the pa ents neurological status.
A ra onal, competent adult can refuse any treatment. The first step is to establish the pa ents
ability to understand the consequences of refusing treatment. Due to the mechanism of injury,
the pa ent should be evaluated for the presence of a head injury.
The best indica on of adequate ssue perfusion in a pa ent in shock is
A. a urine output of 30mL/hr
B. An oxygen satura on of > 70%
