CERTIFIED EMERGENCY NURSE®
(CEN®) EXAM 500+ QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 VERIFIED.
Fill in the blank: The classic triad of acute aortic dissection includes chest pain, pulse deficit, and
________. - ANS Widened mediastinum
Definition: Inflammation of the inner lining of the heart, usually involving the valves. -
ANS Endocarditis
Terminology: ST-segment elevation on ECG indicates ________. - ANS Myocardial infarction
(STEMI)
Scenario: A patient presents with jugular vein distention, muffled heart sounds, and
hypotension. What is the likely diagnosis? - ANS Pericardial tamponade (Beck's triad)
Fill in the blank: The term "afterload" refers to the resistance the ________ must overcome to
eject blood. - ANS Left ventricle
Definition: Sudden cessation of cardiac mechanical activity confirmed by absence of pulse,
unresponsiveness, and apnea. - ANS Cardiopulmonary arrest
Scenario: A patient with chest pain radiating to the jaw and diaphoresis likely has ________. -
ANS Acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 1 OF 44
,Terminology: A life-threatening ventricular rhythm with no effective cardiac output. -
ANS Ventricular fibrillation
Fill in the blank: Aneurysm refers to a localized ________ of an artery. - ANS Dilation or
ballooning
Definition: Inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart. - ANS Pericarditis
Scenario: A trauma patient presents with distended neck veins, absent breath sounds on one
side, and hypotension — this indicates ________. - ANS Tension pneumothorax causing
obstructive shock
Terminology: Condition in which the heart cannot pump sufficient blood to meet the body's
needs. - ANS Heart failure
Fill in the blank: The most common site for a deep vein thrombosis is the ________ vein. -
ANS Popliteal or femoral
Definition: Sudden blockage of a pulmonary artery by a thrombus. - ANS Pulmonary
embolism
Scenario: A patient with tearing chest pain radiating to the back and a different BP in each arm
may have ________. - ANS Aortic dissection
Terminology: Refers to elevated arterial pressure persistently above normal range. -
ANS Hypertension
Fill in the blank: The medication used to dissolve clots in acute STEMI is called a ________. -
ANS Thrombolytic (fibrinolytic)
Definition: Shock resulting from failure of the heart to pump effectively. - ANS Cardiogenic
shock
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 2 OF 44
,Scenario: A patient presents with cold, pale extremity, pain, paresthesia, and pulselessness —
think ________. - ANS Acute arterial occlusion (Peripheral vascular disease)
Terminology: Abnormally slow heart rhythm (<60 bpm). - ANS Bradycardia
Fill in the blank: "Preload" refers to the volume of blood returning to the ________. -
ANS Heart (ventricles)
Definition: Irregular, chaotic atrial rhythm without distinct P waves. - ANS Atrial fibrillation
Scenario: Patient with endocarditis develops sudden flank pain — suspect ________. -
ANS Renal emboli (systemic embolization)
Terminology: A life-threatening elevation in blood pressure with end-organ damage. -
ANS Hypertensive emergency
Fill in the blank: The definitive treatment for cardiac tamponade is ________. -
ANS Pericardiocentesis
Definition: Failure of blood flow due to mechanical obstruction to cardiac filling. -
ANS Obstructive shock
Scenario: Patient develops chest pain post-MI, friction rub heard — indicates ________. -
ANS Pericarditis
Terminology: Temporary loss of consciousness due to decreased cerebral perfusion. -
ANS Syncope
Fill in the blank: The mnemonic "MONA" (Morphine, Oxygen, Nitroglycerin, Aspirin) applies to
initial treatment of ________. - ANS Acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 3 OF 44
, Definition: Inflammation and infection of a vein with thrombus formation. -
ANS Thrombophlebitis
Definition: Entry of foreign material into the tracheobronchial tree. - ANS Aspiration
Fill in the blank: A chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by reversible airway
obstruction is called ________. - ANS Asthma
Terminology: A progressive, irreversible airflow limitation commonly caused by chronic
bronchitis or emphysema. - ANS Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Scenario: A patient presents with fever, productive cough, and crackles in the right lower lobe.
Diagnosis? - ANS Pneumonia (respiratory infection)
Definition: Lung injury caused by inhalation of toxic gases, smoke, or chemicals. -
ANS Inhalation injury
Fill in the blank: The accumulation of fluid in the pleural space is known as ________. -
ANS Pleural effusion
Scenario: Sudden dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain with absent breath sounds on one side
indicates ________. - ANS Pneumothorax
Terminology: Noncardiac cause of pulmonary edema often due to increased capillary
permeability. - ANS Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
Definition: Sudden blockage of pulmonary arteries, usually from a thrombus. -
ANS Pulmonary embolus
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 4 OF 44
(CEN®) EXAM 500+ QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 VERIFIED.
Fill in the blank: The classic triad of acute aortic dissection includes chest pain, pulse deficit, and
________. - ANS Widened mediastinum
Definition: Inflammation of the inner lining of the heart, usually involving the valves. -
ANS Endocarditis
Terminology: ST-segment elevation on ECG indicates ________. - ANS Myocardial infarction
(STEMI)
Scenario: A patient presents with jugular vein distention, muffled heart sounds, and
hypotension. What is the likely diagnosis? - ANS Pericardial tamponade (Beck's triad)
Fill in the blank: The term "afterload" refers to the resistance the ________ must overcome to
eject blood. - ANS Left ventricle
Definition: Sudden cessation of cardiac mechanical activity confirmed by absence of pulse,
unresponsiveness, and apnea. - ANS Cardiopulmonary arrest
Scenario: A patient with chest pain radiating to the jaw and diaphoresis likely has ________. -
ANS Acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 1 OF 44
,Terminology: A life-threatening ventricular rhythm with no effective cardiac output. -
ANS Ventricular fibrillation
Fill in the blank: Aneurysm refers to a localized ________ of an artery. - ANS Dilation or
ballooning
Definition: Inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart. - ANS Pericarditis
Scenario: A trauma patient presents with distended neck veins, absent breath sounds on one
side, and hypotension — this indicates ________. - ANS Tension pneumothorax causing
obstructive shock
Terminology: Condition in which the heart cannot pump sufficient blood to meet the body's
needs. - ANS Heart failure
Fill in the blank: The most common site for a deep vein thrombosis is the ________ vein. -
ANS Popliteal or femoral
Definition: Sudden blockage of a pulmonary artery by a thrombus. - ANS Pulmonary
embolism
Scenario: A patient with tearing chest pain radiating to the back and a different BP in each arm
may have ________. - ANS Aortic dissection
Terminology: Refers to elevated arterial pressure persistently above normal range. -
ANS Hypertension
Fill in the blank: The medication used to dissolve clots in acute STEMI is called a ________. -
ANS Thrombolytic (fibrinolytic)
Definition: Shock resulting from failure of the heart to pump effectively. - ANS Cardiogenic
shock
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 2 OF 44
,Scenario: A patient presents with cold, pale extremity, pain, paresthesia, and pulselessness —
think ________. - ANS Acute arterial occlusion (Peripheral vascular disease)
Terminology: Abnormally slow heart rhythm (<60 bpm). - ANS Bradycardia
Fill in the blank: "Preload" refers to the volume of blood returning to the ________. -
ANS Heart (ventricles)
Definition: Irregular, chaotic atrial rhythm without distinct P waves. - ANS Atrial fibrillation
Scenario: Patient with endocarditis develops sudden flank pain — suspect ________. -
ANS Renal emboli (systemic embolization)
Terminology: A life-threatening elevation in blood pressure with end-organ damage. -
ANS Hypertensive emergency
Fill in the blank: The definitive treatment for cardiac tamponade is ________. -
ANS Pericardiocentesis
Definition: Failure of blood flow due to mechanical obstruction to cardiac filling. -
ANS Obstructive shock
Scenario: Patient develops chest pain post-MI, friction rub heard — indicates ________. -
ANS Pericarditis
Terminology: Temporary loss of consciousness due to decreased cerebral perfusion. -
ANS Syncope
Fill in the blank: The mnemonic "MONA" (Morphine, Oxygen, Nitroglycerin, Aspirin) applies to
initial treatment of ________. - ANS Acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 3 OF 44
, Definition: Inflammation and infection of a vein with thrombus formation. -
ANS Thrombophlebitis
Definition: Entry of foreign material into the tracheobronchial tree. - ANS Aspiration
Fill in the blank: A chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by reversible airway
obstruction is called ________. - ANS Asthma
Terminology: A progressive, irreversible airflow limitation commonly caused by chronic
bronchitis or emphysema. - ANS Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Scenario: A patient presents with fever, productive cough, and crackles in the right lower lobe.
Diagnosis? - ANS Pneumonia (respiratory infection)
Definition: Lung injury caused by inhalation of toxic gases, smoke, or chemicals. -
ANS Inhalation injury
Fill in the blank: The accumulation of fluid in the pleural space is known as ________. -
ANS Pleural effusion
Scenario: Sudden dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain with absent breath sounds on one side
indicates ________. - ANS Pneumothorax
Terminology: Noncardiac cause of pulmonary edema often due to increased capillary
permeability. - ANS Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
Definition: Sudden blockage of pulmonary arteries, usually from a thrombus. -
ANS Pulmonary embolus
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 4 OF 44
