EMERGENCY NURSING LATEST EXAM PREP
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PDF 2026
▶ 17. A patient is experiencing respiratory insufficiency and cannot maintain
spontaneous respirations. The nurse suspects that the physician will perform which of
the following actions? A) Insert an oropharyngeal airway. B) Perform the jaw thrust
maneuver. C) Perform endotracheal intubation. D) Perform a cricothyroidotomy. : C
Feedback: Endotracheal tubes are used in cases when the patient cannot be ventilated
with an oropharyngeal airway, which is used in patients who are breathing
spontaneously. The jaw thrust maneuver does not establish an airway and
cricothyroidotomy would be performed as a last resort.
▶ 18. A patient is brought by friends to the ED after being involved in a motor vehicle
accident. The patient sustained blunt trauma to the abdomen. What nursing action
would be most appropriate for this patient? A) Ambulate the patient to expel flatus. B)
Place the patient in a high Fowlers position. C) Immobilize the patient on a backboard.
D) Place the patient in a left lateral position. : C Feedback: When admitted for blunt
trauma, patients must be immobilized until spinal injury is ruled out. Ambulation, side-
lying, and upright positioning would be contraindicated until spinal injury is ruled out.
▶ 19. A backcountry skier has been airlifted to the ED after becoming lost and
developing hypothermia and frostbite. How should the nurse best manage the patients
frostbite? A) Immerse affected extremities in water slightly above normal body
temperature. - 1357 B) Immerse the patients frostbitten extremities in the warmest water
the patient can tolerate. C) Gently massage the patients frozen extremities in between
water baths. D) Perform passive range-of-motion exercises of the affected extremities to
promote circulation. : A Feedback: Frozen extremities are usually placed in a 37C to
40C (98.6F to 104F) circulating bath for 30- to 40- minute spans. To avoid further
mechanical injury, the body part is not handled. Massage is contraindicated.
▶ 20. A patient with a fractured femur presenting to the ED exhibits cool, moist skin,
increased heart rate, and falling BP. The care team should consider the possibility of
what complication of the patients injuries? A) Myocardial infarction B) Hypoglycemia C)
Hemorrhage D) Peritonitis : C Feedback: The signs and symptoms the patient is
experiencing suggest a volume deficit from an internal bleed. That the symptoms follow
an acute injury suggests hemorrhage rather than myocardial infarction or hypoglycemia.
Peritonitis would be an unlikely result of a femoral fracture.
▶ 21. A patient who has been diagnosed with cholecystitis is being discharged home
from the ED to be scheduled for surgery later. The patient received morphine during the
present ED admission and is visibly drowsy. When providing health education to the
patient, what would be the most appropriate nursing action? A) Give written instructions
, to patient. B) Give verbal instructions to one of the patients family members. C)
Telephone the patient the next day with verbal instructions. - 1358 D) Give verbal and
written instructions to patient and a family member. : D Feedback: Before discharge,
verbal and written instructions for continuing care are given to the patient and the family
or significant others. Discharge teaching is completed prior to the patient leaving the
ED, so phoning the patient the next day in not acceptable.
▶ 22. A patient is admitted to the ED complaining of abdominal pain. Further
assessment of the abdomen reveals signs of peritoneal irritation. What assessment
findings would corroborate this diagnosis? Select all that apply.
A) Ascites
B) Rebound tenderness
C) Changes in bowel sounds
D) Muscular rigidity
E) Copious diarrhea ans: B, C, D Feedback: Signs of peritoneal irritation include
abdominal distention, involuntary guarding, tenderness, pain, muscular rigidity, or
rebound tenderness along with changes in bowel sounds. Diarrhea and ascites are not
signs of peritoneal irritation.
▶ 23. A patient who attempted suicide being treated in the ED is accompanied by his
mother, father, and brother. When planning the nursing care of this family, the nurse
should perform which of the following action?
A) Refer the family to psychiatry in order to provide them with support.
B) Explore the causes of the patients suicide attempt with the family.
C) Encourage the family to participate in the bedside care of the patient.
D) Ensure that the family receives appropriate crisis intervention services. ans: D
Feedback: It is essential that family crisis intervention services are available for families
of ED patients. It would be inappropriate and insensitive to explore causes of the
patients suicide attempt with the family. Family participation in bedside care is often
impractical in the ED setting. Psychiatry is not the normal source of psychosocial
support and crisis intervention.
▶ 24. A patient is admitted to the ED after being involved in a motor vehicle accident.
The patient has multiple injuries. After establishing an airway and adequate ventilation,
the ED team should prioritize what aspect of care? A) Control the patients hemorrhage.
B) Assess for cognitive effects of the injury. C) Splint the patients fractures. D) Assess
the patients neurologic status. : A Feedback: After establishing airway and ventilation,
the team should evaluate and restore cardiac output by controlling hemorrhage. This
must precede neurologic assessments and treatment of skeletal injuries.
▶ 25. A patient with multiple trauma is brought to the ED by ambulance after a fall while
rock climbing. What is a responsibility of the ED nurse in this patients care? A)
Intubating the patient B) Notifying family members C) Ensuring IV access D) Delivering
specimens to the laboratory : C Feedback: ED nursing responsibilities include ensuring
airway and IV access. Nurses are not normally responsible for notifying family
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PDF 2026
▶ 17. A patient is experiencing respiratory insufficiency and cannot maintain
spontaneous respirations. The nurse suspects that the physician will perform which of
the following actions? A) Insert an oropharyngeal airway. B) Perform the jaw thrust
maneuver. C) Perform endotracheal intubation. D) Perform a cricothyroidotomy. : C
Feedback: Endotracheal tubes are used in cases when the patient cannot be ventilated
with an oropharyngeal airway, which is used in patients who are breathing
spontaneously. The jaw thrust maneuver does not establish an airway and
cricothyroidotomy would be performed as a last resort.
▶ 18. A patient is brought by friends to the ED after being involved in a motor vehicle
accident. The patient sustained blunt trauma to the abdomen. What nursing action
would be most appropriate for this patient? A) Ambulate the patient to expel flatus. B)
Place the patient in a high Fowlers position. C) Immobilize the patient on a backboard.
D) Place the patient in a left lateral position. : C Feedback: When admitted for blunt
trauma, patients must be immobilized until spinal injury is ruled out. Ambulation, side-
lying, and upright positioning would be contraindicated until spinal injury is ruled out.
▶ 19. A backcountry skier has been airlifted to the ED after becoming lost and
developing hypothermia and frostbite. How should the nurse best manage the patients
frostbite? A) Immerse affected extremities in water slightly above normal body
temperature. - 1357 B) Immerse the patients frostbitten extremities in the warmest water
the patient can tolerate. C) Gently massage the patients frozen extremities in between
water baths. D) Perform passive range-of-motion exercises of the affected extremities to
promote circulation. : A Feedback: Frozen extremities are usually placed in a 37C to
40C (98.6F to 104F) circulating bath for 30- to 40- minute spans. To avoid further
mechanical injury, the body part is not handled. Massage is contraindicated.
▶ 20. A patient with a fractured femur presenting to the ED exhibits cool, moist skin,
increased heart rate, and falling BP. The care team should consider the possibility of
what complication of the patients injuries? A) Myocardial infarction B) Hypoglycemia C)
Hemorrhage D) Peritonitis : C Feedback: The signs and symptoms the patient is
experiencing suggest a volume deficit from an internal bleed. That the symptoms follow
an acute injury suggests hemorrhage rather than myocardial infarction or hypoglycemia.
Peritonitis would be an unlikely result of a femoral fracture.
▶ 21. A patient who has been diagnosed with cholecystitis is being discharged home
from the ED to be scheduled for surgery later. The patient received morphine during the
present ED admission and is visibly drowsy. When providing health education to the
patient, what would be the most appropriate nursing action? A) Give written instructions
, to patient. B) Give verbal instructions to one of the patients family members. C)
Telephone the patient the next day with verbal instructions. - 1358 D) Give verbal and
written instructions to patient and a family member. : D Feedback: Before discharge,
verbal and written instructions for continuing care are given to the patient and the family
or significant others. Discharge teaching is completed prior to the patient leaving the
ED, so phoning the patient the next day in not acceptable.
▶ 22. A patient is admitted to the ED complaining of abdominal pain. Further
assessment of the abdomen reveals signs of peritoneal irritation. What assessment
findings would corroborate this diagnosis? Select all that apply.
A) Ascites
B) Rebound tenderness
C) Changes in bowel sounds
D) Muscular rigidity
E) Copious diarrhea ans: B, C, D Feedback: Signs of peritoneal irritation include
abdominal distention, involuntary guarding, tenderness, pain, muscular rigidity, or
rebound tenderness along with changes in bowel sounds. Diarrhea and ascites are not
signs of peritoneal irritation.
▶ 23. A patient who attempted suicide being treated in the ED is accompanied by his
mother, father, and brother. When planning the nursing care of this family, the nurse
should perform which of the following action?
A) Refer the family to psychiatry in order to provide them with support.
B) Explore the causes of the patients suicide attempt with the family.
C) Encourage the family to participate in the bedside care of the patient.
D) Ensure that the family receives appropriate crisis intervention services. ans: D
Feedback: It is essential that family crisis intervention services are available for families
of ED patients. It would be inappropriate and insensitive to explore causes of the
patients suicide attempt with the family. Family participation in bedside care is often
impractical in the ED setting. Psychiatry is not the normal source of psychosocial
support and crisis intervention.
▶ 24. A patient is admitted to the ED after being involved in a motor vehicle accident.
The patient has multiple injuries. After establishing an airway and adequate ventilation,
the ED team should prioritize what aspect of care? A) Control the patients hemorrhage.
B) Assess for cognitive effects of the injury. C) Splint the patients fractures. D) Assess
the patients neurologic status. : A Feedback: After establishing airway and ventilation,
the team should evaluate and restore cardiac output by controlling hemorrhage. This
must precede neurologic assessments and treatment of skeletal injuries.
▶ 25. A patient with multiple trauma is brought to the ED by ambulance after a fall while
rock climbing. What is a responsibility of the ED nurse in this patients care? A)
Intubating the patient B) Notifying family members C) Ensuring IV access D) Delivering
specimens to the laboratory : C Feedback: ED nursing responsibilities include ensuring
airway and IV access. Nurses are not normally responsible for notifying family
