EMERGENCY NURSING PRACTICE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
2026
▶ 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
comfortable pace for the patient. Never leave the patient alone, because suicide is
usually committed in solitude. - 1353
▶ 10. A triage nurse is talking to a patient when the patient begins choking on his lunch.
The patient is coughing forcefully. What should the nurse do?
A) Stand him up and perform the abdominal thrust maneuver from behind.
B) Lay him down, straddle him, and perform the abdominal thrust maneuver.
C) Leave him to get assistance.
D) Stay with him and encourage him, but not intervene at this time. ans: D Feedback: If
the patient is coughing, he should be able to dislodge the object or cause a complete
obstruction. If complete obstruction occurs, the nurse should perform the abdominal
thrust maneuver with the patient standing. If the patient is unconscious, the nurse
should lay the patient down. A nurse should never leave a choking patient alone.
▶ 11. You are a floor nurse caring for a patient with alcohol withdrawal syndrome. What
would be an appropriate nursing action to minimize the potential for hallucinations? A)
Engage the patient in a process of health education. B) Administer opioid analgesics as
ordered. C) Place the patient in a private, well-lit room. D) Provide television or a radio
as therapeutic distraction : C Feedback: The patient should be placed in a quiet single
room with lights on and in a calm nonstressful environment. TV and radio stimulation
should be avoided. Analgesics are not normally necessary, and would potentially
contribute to hallucinations. Health education would be inappropriate while the patient is
experiencing acute withdrawal.
▶ 12. An obtunded patient is admitted to the ED after ingesting bleach. The nurse
should prepare to assist with what intervention?
A) Prompt administration of an antidote
B) Gastric lavage
C) Administration of activated charcoal
D) Helping the patient drink large amounts of water ans: D Feedback: The patient who
has ingested a corrosive poison, such as bleach, is given water or milk to drink for
dilution. Gastric lavage is not used to treat ingestion of corrosives and activated
charcoal is ineffective. There is no antidote for a corrosive substance such as bleach.
▶ 13. A 6-year-old is admitted to the ED after being rescued from a pond after falling
through the ice while ice skating. What action should the nurse perform while rewarming
the patient? A) Assessing the patients oral temperature frequently B) Ensuring
continuous ECG monitoring C) Massaging the patients skin surfaces to promote
circulation D) Administering bronchodilators by nebulizer : B Feedback: A hypothermic
patient requires continuous ECG monitoring and assessment of core temperatures with
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
2026
▶ 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
comfortable pace for the patient. Never leave the patient alone, because suicide is
usually committed in solitude. - 1353
▶ 10. A triage nurse is talking to a patient when the patient begins choking on his lunch.
The patient is coughing forcefully. What should the nurse do?
A) Stand him up and perform the abdominal thrust maneuver from behind.
B) Lay him down, straddle him, and perform the abdominal thrust maneuver.
C) Leave him to get assistance.
D) Stay with him and encourage him, but not intervene at this time. ans: D Feedback: If
the patient is coughing, he should be able to dislodge the object or cause a complete
obstruction. If complete obstruction occurs, the nurse should perform the abdominal
thrust maneuver with the patient standing. If the patient is unconscious, the nurse
should lay the patient down. A nurse should never leave a choking patient alone.
▶ 11. You are a floor nurse caring for a patient with alcohol withdrawal syndrome. What
would be an appropriate nursing action to minimize the potential for hallucinations? A)
Engage the patient in a process of health education. B) Administer opioid analgesics as
ordered. C) Place the patient in a private, well-lit room. D) Provide television or a radio
as therapeutic distraction : C Feedback: The patient should be placed in a quiet single
room with lights on and in a calm nonstressful environment. TV and radio stimulation
should be avoided. Analgesics are not normally necessary, and would potentially
contribute to hallucinations. Health education would be inappropriate while the patient is
experiencing acute withdrawal.
▶ 12. An obtunded patient is admitted to the ED after ingesting bleach. The nurse
should prepare to assist with what intervention?
A) Prompt administration of an antidote
B) Gastric lavage
C) Administration of activated charcoal
D) Helping the patient drink large amounts of water ans: D Feedback: The patient who
has ingested a corrosive poison, such as bleach, is given water or milk to drink for
dilution. Gastric lavage is not used to treat ingestion of corrosives and activated
charcoal is ineffective. There is no antidote for a corrosive substance such as bleach.
▶ 13. A 6-year-old is admitted to the ED after being rescued from a pond after falling
through the ice while ice skating. What action should the nurse perform while rewarming
the patient? A) Assessing the patients oral temperature frequently B) Ensuring
continuous ECG monitoring C) Massaging the patients skin surfaces to promote
circulation D) Administering bronchodilators by nebulizer : B Feedback: A hypothermic
patient requires continuous ECG monitoring and assessment of core temperatures with
