EMERGENCY NURSING CERTIFICATION
EXAM QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
2026
▶ 2. The nurse observes that the family members of a patient who was injured in an
accident are blaming each other for the circumstances leading up to the accident. The
nurse appropriately lets the family members express their feelings of responsibility,
while explaining that there was probably little they could do to prevent the injury. In what
stage of crisis is this family? A) Anxiety and denial B) Remorse and guilt C) Anger D)
Grief : B Feedback: Remorse and guilt are natural processes of the stages of a crisis
and should be facilitated for the family members to process the crisis. The familys sense
of blame and responsibility are more suggestive of guilt than anger, grief, or anxiety.
▶ 3. A patient is brought to the ED by ambulance with a gunshot wound to the
abdomen. The nurse knows that the most common hollow organ injured in this type of
injury is what?
A) Liver
B) Small bowel
C) Stomach
D) Large bowel ans: B Feedback: Penetrating abdominal wounds have a high
incidence of injury to hollow organs, especially the small bowel. The liver is also injured
frequently, but it is a solid organ.
▶ 4. A patient has been brought to the ED with multiple trauma after a motor vehicle
accident. After immediate threats to life have been addressed, the nurse and trauma
team should take what action?
A) Perform a rapid physical assessment.
B) Initiate health education.
C) Perform diagnostic imaging.
D) Establish the circumstances of the accident. ans: A Feedback: Once immediate
threats to life have been corrected, a rapid physical examination is done to identify
injuries and priorities of treatment. Health education is initiated later in the care process
and diagnostic imaging would take place after a rapid physical assessment. It is not the
care teams responsibility to determine the circumstances of the accident.
▶ 5. The nursing educator is reviewing the signs and symptoms of heat stroke with a
group of nurses who provide care in a desert region. The educator should describe what
sign or symptom? A) Hypertension with a wide pulse pressure B) Anhidrosis C) Copious
diuresis - 1351 D) Cheyne-Stokes respirations : B Feedback: Heat stroke is manifested
by anhidrosis confusion, bizarre behavior, coma, elevated body temperature, hot dry
, skin, tachypnea, hypotension, and tachycardia. This health problem is not associated
with anhidrosis or Cheyne-Stokes respirations.
▶ 6. A patient is brought to the ED by ambulance after swallowing highly acidic toilet
bowl cleaner 2 hours earlier. The patient is alert and oriented. What is the care teams
most appropriate treatment?
A) Administering syrup of ipecac
B) Performing a gastric lavage
C) Giving milk to drink
D) Referring to psychiatry ans: C Feedback: A patient who has swallowed an acidic
substance, such as toilet bowl cleaner, may be given milk or water to drink for dilution.
Gastric lavage must be performed within 1 hour of ingestion. A psychiatric consult may
be considered once the patient is physically stable and it is deemed appropriate by the
physician. Syrup of ipecac is no longer used in clinical settings.
▶ 7. A patient is admitted to the ED with suspected alcohol intoxication. The ED nurse
is aware of the need to assess for conditions that can mimic acute alcohol intoxication.
In light of this need, the nurse should perform what action?
A) Check the patients blood glucose level.
B) Assess for a documented history of major depression.
C) Determine whether the patient has ingested a corrosive substance.
D) Arrange for assessment of serum potassium levels. ans: A Feedback: Hypoglycemia
can mimic alcohol intoxication and should be assessed in a patient suspected of alcohol
intoxication. Potassium imbalances, depression, and poison ingestion are not noted to
mimic the characteristic signs and symptoms of alcohol intoxication.
▶ 8. The paramedics bring a patient who has suffered a sexual assault to the ED. What
is important for the sexual assault nurse examiner to do when assessing a sexual
assault victim? A) Respect the patients privacy during assessment. B) Shave all pubic
hair for laboratory analysis. C) Place items for evidence in plastic bags. D) Bathe the
patient before the examination. : A Feedback: The patients privacy and sensitivity must
be respected, because the patient will be experiencing a stress response to the assault.
Pubic hair is combed or trimmed for sampling. Paper bags are used for evidence
collection because plastic bags retain moisture, which promotes mold and mildew that
can destroy evidence. Bathing the patient before the examination would destroy or
remove key evidence.
▶ 9. A patient with a history of major depression is brought to the ED by her parents.
Which of the following nursing actions is most appropriate? A) Noting that symptoms of
physical illness are not relevant to the current diagnosis B) Asking the patient if she has
ever thought about taking her own life C) Conducting interviews in a brief and direct
manner D) Arranging for the patient to spend time alone to consider her feelings : B
Feedback: Establishing if the patient has suicidal thoughts or intents helps identify the
level of depression and intervention. Physical symptoms are relevant and should be
explored. Allow the patient to express feelings, and conduct the interview at a
EXAM QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
2026
▶ 2. The nurse observes that the family members of a patient who was injured in an
accident are blaming each other for the circumstances leading up to the accident. The
nurse appropriately lets the family members express their feelings of responsibility,
while explaining that there was probably little they could do to prevent the injury. In what
stage of crisis is this family? A) Anxiety and denial B) Remorse and guilt C) Anger D)
Grief : B Feedback: Remorse and guilt are natural processes of the stages of a crisis
and should be facilitated for the family members to process the crisis. The familys sense
of blame and responsibility are more suggestive of guilt than anger, grief, or anxiety.
▶ 3. A patient is brought to the ED by ambulance with a gunshot wound to the
abdomen. The nurse knows that the most common hollow organ injured in this type of
injury is what?
A) Liver
B) Small bowel
C) Stomach
D) Large bowel ans: B Feedback: Penetrating abdominal wounds have a high
incidence of injury to hollow organs, especially the small bowel. The liver is also injured
frequently, but it is a solid organ.
▶ 4. A patient has been brought to the ED with multiple trauma after a motor vehicle
accident. After immediate threats to life have been addressed, the nurse and trauma
team should take what action?
A) Perform a rapid physical assessment.
B) Initiate health education.
C) Perform diagnostic imaging.
D) Establish the circumstances of the accident. ans: A Feedback: Once immediate
threats to life have been corrected, a rapid physical examination is done to identify
injuries and priorities of treatment. Health education is initiated later in the care process
and diagnostic imaging would take place after a rapid physical assessment. It is not the
care teams responsibility to determine the circumstances of the accident.
▶ 5. The nursing educator is reviewing the signs and symptoms of heat stroke with a
group of nurses who provide care in a desert region. The educator should describe what
sign or symptom? A) Hypertension with a wide pulse pressure B) Anhidrosis C) Copious
diuresis - 1351 D) Cheyne-Stokes respirations : B Feedback: Heat stroke is manifested
by anhidrosis confusion, bizarre behavior, coma, elevated body temperature, hot dry
, skin, tachypnea, hypotension, and tachycardia. This health problem is not associated
with anhidrosis or Cheyne-Stokes respirations.
▶ 6. A patient is brought to the ED by ambulance after swallowing highly acidic toilet
bowl cleaner 2 hours earlier. The patient is alert and oriented. What is the care teams
most appropriate treatment?
A) Administering syrup of ipecac
B) Performing a gastric lavage
C) Giving milk to drink
D) Referring to psychiatry ans: C Feedback: A patient who has swallowed an acidic
substance, such as toilet bowl cleaner, may be given milk or water to drink for dilution.
Gastric lavage must be performed within 1 hour of ingestion. A psychiatric consult may
be considered once the patient is physically stable and it is deemed appropriate by the
physician. Syrup of ipecac is no longer used in clinical settings.
▶ 7. A patient is admitted to the ED with suspected alcohol intoxication. The ED nurse
is aware of the need to assess for conditions that can mimic acute alcohol intoxication.
In light of this need, the nurse should perform what action?
A) Check the patients blood glucose level.
B) Assess for a documented history of major depression.
C) Determine whether the patient has ingested a corrosive substance.
D) Arrange for assessment of serum potassium levels. ans: A Feedback: Hypoglycemia
can mimic alcohol intoxication and should be assessed in a patient suspected of alcohol
intoxication. Potassium imbalances, depression, and poison ingestion are not noted to
mimic the characteristic signs and symptoms of alcohol intoxication.
▶ 8. The paramedics bring a patient who has suffered a sexual assault to the ED. What
is important for the sexual assault nurse examiner to do when assessing a sexual
assault victim? A) Respect the patients privacy during assessment. B) Shave all pubic
hair for laboratory analysis. C) Place items for evidence in plastic bags. D) Bathe the
patient before the examination. : A Feedback: The patients privacy and sensitivity must
be respected, because the patient will be experiencing a stress response to the assault.
Pubic hair is combed or trimmed for sampling. Paper bags are used for evidence
collection because plastic bags retain moisture, which promotes mold and mildew that
can destroy evidence. Bathing the patient before the examination would destroy or
remove key evidence.
▶ 9. A patient with a history of major depression is brought to the ED by her parents.
Which of the following nursing actions is most appropriate? A) Noting that symptoms of
physical illness are not relevant to the current diagnosis B) Asking the patient if she has
ever thought about taking her own life C) Conducting interviews in a brief and direct
manner D) Arranging for the patient to spend time alone to consider her feelings : B
Feedback: Establishing if the patient has suicidal thoughts or intents helps identify the
level of depression and intervention. Physical symptoms are relevant and should be
explored. Allow the patient to express feelings, and conduct the interview at a
