CEN STUDY GUIDE 2026 FULL CONTENT
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS COMPLETE
SET
◉ A 37-year-old female walks into the ED holding her abdomen. She
is writhing in pain. Her history includes vaginal bleeding for the past
6 days. She soaked 5 sanitary pads in 2 hours. What is the most
likely cause of the heavy bleeding?
Uterine fibroids
Mittelschmerz
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Bartholin cyst
Answer: Uterine fibroids
◉ Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is characterized by which clinical
manifestations?
Ataxia, mental confusion, and ophthalmoplegia
Delirium tremens, hyperthermia, and disorientation
Tachycardia, tremors, and tachypnea
Hypothermia, muscle rigidity, and bradycardia
Answer: Ataxia, mental confusion, and ophthalmoplegia
,◉ A 35-year-old man presents with complaints of stomach pain that
comes and goes for the past two weeks. The nurse asks additional
questions about the nature of this pain and finds that it is relieved
with antacids and he feels better after eating. The patient mentions
that he had some similar pain about two years ago, but it stopped
after about a month and he never sought care for it. This is most
likely which type of gastrointestinal disorder?
Cholecystitis
Pancreatitis
Duodenal ulcer
Stress ulcer
Answer: Duodenal ulcer
◉ Which immunoglobulin is responsible for Type 1 allergic
responses?
IgA
IgE
IgG
IgM
Answer: IgE
◉ A middle-aged male patient presents to the ED with complaint of
fever. He is awake, alert, and in no acute distress. On arrival, vital
signs are BP 118/58 mm Hg, HR 112 beats/min, RR 20 breaths/min,
,SpO2 95%, T 38.8 C (101.9 F). His medical history includes human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and he is taking antiviral
medications. Using a 5-level triage system, this patient would be
triaged as which acuity level?
Acuity Level 4 (non-urgent)
Acuity Level 2 (emergent)
Acuity Level 1 (life-threatening situation)
Acuity Level 3 (urgent)
Answer: Acuity Level 2 (emergent)
◉ An 84-year-old male with a decreased level of consciousness
presents to the emergency department from a nursing home. The
patient has a history of hypertension, gout, and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease. He is allergic to penicillin. Current medications
include docusate, albuterol inhaler, colchicine, and metoprolol. Vital
signs on arrival are BP 78/48 mm Hg, HR 60 beats/min, RR 28
breaths/min, T 35.3 C (95.6 F), and SpO2 92% without
supplemental oxygen. Which type of shock do these clinical
manifestations represent?
Obstructive
Septic
Anaphylactic
Hypovolemic
Answer: Septic
, ◉ A 56-year-old female presents to the emergency department with
complaints of abdominal pain for 5 days. The patient was involved in
a motor vehicle crash, but did not feel that she needed to come to the
emergency department. Upon examination, the patient has no active
bowel sounds and the abdomen is rigid. The patient has which
gastrointestinal emergency?
Peritonitis
Diverticulitis
Intestinal obstruction
Esophageal obstruction
Answer: Peritonitis
◉ A patient, who was successfully defibrillated, now has an irregular
rhythm at 86 beats/min. The patient remains unresponsive, with
absent central pulses. These findings are associated with which
condition?
Ruptured aortic aneurysm
Pulseless electrical activity
Pericardial tamponade
Coarse ventricular fibrillation
Answer: Pulseless electrical activity
◉ An adolescent playing basketball felt a pop in her heel after a
jump shot, and a sharp pain in her heel as she landed. She is unable
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS COMPLETE
SET
◉ A 37-year-old female walks into the ED holding her abdomen. She
is writhing in pain. Her history includes vaginal bleeding for the past
6 days. She soaked 5 sanitary pads in 2 hours. What is the most
likely cause of the heavy bleeding?
Uterine fibroids
Mittelschmerz
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Bartholin cyst
Answer: Uterine fibroids
◉ Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is characterized by which clinical
manifestations?
Ataxia, mental confusion, and ophthalmoplegia
Delirium tremens, hyperthermia, and disorientation
Tachycardia, tremors, and tachypnea
Hypothermia, muscle rigidity, and bradycardia
Answer: Ataxia, mental confusion, and ophthalmoplegia
,◉ A 35-year-old man presents with complaints of stomach pain that
comes and goes for the past two weeks. The nurse asks additional
questions about the nature of this pain and finds that it is relieved
with antacids and he feels better after eating. The patient mentions
that he had some similar pain about two years ago, but it stopped
after about a month and he never sought care for it. This is most
likely which type of gastrointestinal disorder?
Cholecystitis
Pancreatitis
Duodenal ulcer
Stress ulcer
Answer: Duodenal ulcer
◉ Which immunoglobulin is responsible for Type 1 allergic
responses?
IgA
IgE
IgG
IgM
Answer: IgE
◉ A middle-aged male patient presents to the ED with complaint of
fever. He is awake, alert, and in no acute distress. On arrival, vital
signs are BP 118/58 mm Hg, HR 112 beats/min, RR 20 breaths/min,
,SpO2 95%, T 38.8 C (101.9 F). His medical history includes human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and he is taking antiviral
medications. Using a 5-level triage system, this patient would be
triaged as which acuity level?
Acuity Level 4 (non-urgent)
Acuity Level 2 (emergent)
Acuity Level 1 (life-threatening situation)
Acuity Level 3 (urgent)
Answer: Acuity Level 2 (emergent)
◉ An 84-year-old male with a decreased level of consciousness
presents to the emergency department from a nursing home. The
patient has a history of hypertension, gout, and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease. He is allergic to penicillin. Current medications
include docusate, albuterol inhaler, colchicine, and metoprolol. Vital
signs on arrival are BP 78/48 mm Hg, HR 60 beats/min, RR 28
breaths/min, T 35.3 C (95.6 F), and SpO2 92% without
supplemental oxygen. Which type of shock do these clinical
manifestations represent?
Obstructive
Septic
Anaphylactic
Hypovolemic
Answer: Septic
, ◉ A 56-year-old female presents to the emergency department with
complaints of abdominal pain for 5 days. The patient was involved in
a motor vehicle crash, but did not feel that she needed to come to the
emergency department. Upon examination, the patient has no active
bowel sounds and the abdomen is rigid. The patient has which
gastrointestinal emergency?
Peritonitis
Diverticulitis
Intestinal obstruction
Esophageal obstruction
Answer: Peritonitis
◉ A patient, who was successfully defibrillated, now has an irregular
rhythm at 86 beats/min. The patient remains unresponsive, with
absent central pulses. These findings are associated with which
condition?
Ruptured aortic aneurysm
Pulseless electrical activity
Pericardial tamponade
Coarse ventricular fibrillation
Answer: Pulseless electrical activity
◉ An adolescent playing basketball felt a pop in her heel after a
jump shot, and a sharp pain in her heel as she landed. She is unable
