CEN Review: Certified Emergency Nurse Exam Study Guide, Practice Questions & High-Yield
Emergency Nursing Topics
Pit vipers, such as water moccasin and cotton mouth, rattlesnake, and copperhead have
elliptical eyes and triangular heads. Their venom is what type of toxin? - correct answer
✔✔Hemotoxin, causes coagulopathies, hypotension, DIC, and rhabdo
Elapidae snakes such as coral snake have what type of toxin - correct answer ✔✔Neuro toxin
that can c abuse respiratory failure and muscle weakness
4 elements of medical negligence - correct answer ✔✔1. Duty to act
2. Breach of duty/contract, meaning care was sub-standard
3. Proximate cause, meaning the breech was the actual cause of injury
4. Result in damage, meaning the injury was caused by the negligence
Which of the following drugs should be avoided with RSI with a septic patient
A. lidocaine
B. succinylcholine
C. Etomidate
D. Ketamine - correct answer ✔✔C. Etomidate due to concern for adrenal suppression
A trauma patient with a massive hemothorax will exhibit
A. Tracheal deviation
B. Distended neck veins
C. Hyper resonance on affected area
D. Hypotension - correct answer ✔✔D. Hypotension
,Remember to differentiate between massive hemothorax Vs tension pneumothorax assess neck
veins and percussion
For shock, what must be present for REBOA - correct answer ✔✔Patient must have a pulse
Typical vital sign changes that occur with uncompensated, or progressive shock include
A. Widening pulse pressure
B. Bradycardia
C. Decreased capillary refill
D. Narrowed pulse pressure - correct answer ✔✔D. Narrowed pulse pressure
Skin changes with early vs late shock - correct answer ✔✔Early shock skin is flushed and warm,
late shock skin is pale, cool, clammy, and mottled
Epinephrine dose for anaphylactic shock vs ACLS - correct answer ✔✔For anaphylactic shock
give epi 1:1000
With 1mg/1mL, inject 0.1-0.5mL IM or SQ
REMEMBER IN SEVERE CASES YOU CAN GIVE EPI 1:10,000 BUT THROUGH IV ONLY
Neurogenic shock is associate with spinal injury at what location - correct answer ✔✔At or
above T6
Neurogenic vs spinal shock location if injury and symptoms - correct answer ✔✔Neurogenic
shock is at or above T6. Symptoms include hypotension and bradycardia, warm, dry, flushed
skin, and poikilothermia
Spinal shock involves loss of all neurogenic function below the level of injury including no DTR's
and paralysis
, How much crystalloid should be given per bolts for a pediatric patient in shock, versus how
much should be given for blood products - correct answer ✔✔20mL/kg for IVF and
10mL/kg for blood products
Lyme disease characteristics - correct answer ✔✔Bulls eye rash, fever, malaise, onset 3 days
Rocky Mountain spotted fever characteristics - correct answer ✔✔Sudden onset fever, petechial
rash to extremities and progresses to pink macular rash on palms, wrists, soles, ankles, onset 14
days
How are rick borne illnesses managed?
A. Antibiotic treatment with amoxicillin for 5 days
B. Antibiotic treatment with erythromycin for 7-10 days
C. There is no treatment for the disease
D. Antibiotic treatment with doxycycline or amoxicilllin for 2-3 weeks - correct answer ✔✔D.
Antibiotic treatment with doxycycline or amoxicilllin for 2-3 weeks
A boy arrives to the ED stating he was bitten on the foot while playing outside. He is screaming
with pain at the bite mark, nauseated and weak. He describes severe abdominal pain and
spasms in his leg. You suspect he has been bitten by a
A. Tick
B. Black widow spider
C. Wasp
D. Brown recluse spider - correct answer ✔✔B. Black widow spiders inject a neurotoxin and
cause immediate pain
After load is low in what type of shock - correct answer ✔✔Distributive, for example massive
PE, cardiac tamponade, abdominal compartment syndrome
Emergency Nursing Topics
Pit vipers, such as water moccasin and cotton mouth, rattlesnake, and copperhead have
elliptical eyes and triangular heads. Their venom is what type of toxin? - correct answer
✔✔Hemotoxin, causes coagulopathies, hypotension, DIC, and rhabdo
Elapidae snakes such as coral snake have what type of toxin - correct answer ✔✔Neuro toxin
that can c abuse respiratory failure and muscle weakness
4 elements of medical negligence - correct answer ✔✔1. Duty to act
2. Breach of duty/contract, meaning care was sub-standard
3. Proximate cause, meaning the breech was the actual cause of injury
4. Result in damage, meaning the injury was caused by the negligence
Which of the following drugs should be avoided with RSI with a septic patient
A. lidocaine
B. succinylcholine
C. Etomidate
D. Ketamine - correct answer ✔✔C. Etomidate due to concern for adrenal suppression
A trauma patient with a massive hemothorax will exhibit
A. Tracheal deviation
B. Distended neck veins
C. Hyper resonance on affected area
D. Hypotension - correct answer ✔✔D. Hypotension
,Remember to differentiate between massive hemothorax Vs tension pneumothorax assess neck
veins and percussion
For shock, what must be present for REBOA - correct answer ✔✔Patient must have a pulse
Typical vital sign changes that occur with uncompensated, or progressive shock include
A. Widening pulse pressure
B. Bradycardia
C. Decreased capillary refill
D. Narrowed pulse pressure - correct answer ✔✔D. Narrowed pulse pressure
Skin changes with early vs late shock - correct answer ✔✔Early shock skin is flushed and warm,
late shock skin is pale, cool, clammy, and mottled
Epinephrine dose for anaphylactic shock vs ACLS - correct answer ✔✔For anaphylactic shock
give epi 1:1000
With 1mg/1mL, inject 0.1-0.5mL IM or SQ
REMEMBER IN SEVERE CASES YOU CAN GIVE EPI 1:10,000 BUT THROUGH IV ONLY
Neurogenic shock is associate with spinal injury at what location - correct answer ✔✔At or
above T6
Neurogenic vs spinal shock location if injury and symptoms - correct answer ✔✔Neurogenic
shock is at or above T6. Symptoms include hypotension and bradycardia, warm, dry, flushed
skin, and poikilothermia
Spinal shock involves loss of all neurogenic function below the level of injury including no DTR's
and paralysis
, How much crystalloid should be given per bolts for a pediatric patient in shock, versus how
much should be given for blood products - correct answer ✔✔20mL/kg for IVF and
10mL/kg for blood products
Lyme disease characteristics - correct answer ✔✔Bulls eye rash, fever, malaise, onset 3 days
Rocky Mountain spotted fever characteristics - correct answer ✔✔Sudden onset fever, petechial
rash to extremities and progresses to pink macular rash on palms, wrists, soles, ankles, onset 14
days
How are rick borne illnesses managed?
A. Antibiotic treatment with amoxicillin for 5 days
B. Antibiotic treatment with erythromycin for 7-10 days
C. There is no treatment for the disease
D. Antibiotic treatment with doxycycline or amoxicilllin for 2-3 weeks - correct answer ✔✔D.
Antibiotic treatment with doxycycline or amoxicilllin for 2-3 weeks
A boy arrives to the ED stating he was bitten on the foot while playing outside. He is screaming
with pain at the bite mark, nauseated and weak. He describes severe abdominal pain and
spasms in his leg. You suspect he has been bitten by a
A. Tick
B. Black widow spider
C. Wasp
D. Brown recluse spider - correct answer ✔✔B. Black widow spiders inject a neurotoxin and
cause immediate pain
After load is low in what type of shock - correct answer ✔✔Distributive, for example massive
PE, cardiac tamponade, abdominal compartment syndrome
