CEN Practice Test | Exam Actual Questions And Answers Latest
Updated 2026/2027 (Graded A+)
Preload refers to:
• Question
a. The volume of blood entering the left side of the heart
b. The volume of blood entering the right side of the heart
c. The pressure in the venous system that the heart must overcome to pump the blood
d. The pressure in the arterial system that the heart must overcome to pump the blood
Correct Answer: b. The volume of blood entering the right side of the heart
Preload is the volume of blood that enters the right side of the heart. This volume
stretches the fibers in the heart prior to contraction. Preload is commonly measured as
atrial pressure.
The patient is brought to the ED with an anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction
(STEMI). You are assessing him for possible administration of fibrinolytics. An absolute
contraindication for this treatment is:
• Question
a. The patient's pain is not relieved by medications.
b. Symptoms began 36 hours before arrival.
c. The patient has received aspirin in the last 2 hours.
d. The patient had a previous MI 6 years ago.
Correct Answer: b. Symptoms began 36 hours before arrival.
Fibrinolytic therapy is generally NOT recommended for patients whose symptoms began
more than 12 hours before arrival. Fibrinolytics should not be given if the onset of
symptoms was more than 24 hours before arrival UNLESS a posterior MI is diagnosed. In
this case, the MI was anterior.
The team is performing CPR on a patient. The rhythm that will respond to an electrical
shock is:
• Question
a. Asystole
b. PEA
c. Ventricular fibrillation
d. SVT
Correct Answer: c. Ventricular fibrillation
,Ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia are the two rhythms that
are considered to be "shockable" cardiac arrest rhythms. Although asystole and PEA are
cardiac arrest rhythms, they will not respond to electrical shock.
When suctioning during a cardiac arrest, suctioning should be limited to which of the
following?
• Question
a. Less than 5 seconds
b. Less than 10 seconds
c. Less than 20 seconds
d. Less than 30 seconds
Correct Answer: b. Less than 10 seconds
According to the 2010 BLS and ACLS guidelines, suctioning for longer than 10 seconds
may result in pulling too much oxygen out of the airways resulting in hypoxemia.
Possible causes of cardiac arrest include all of the following EXCEPT:
• Question
a. Hypervolemia
b. Hypoxia
c. Hypokalemia
d. Tension Pneumothorax
Correct Answer: a. Hypervolemia
Common causes of cardiac arrest are known as the H's and T's and include:
hypovolemia (NOT hypervolemia), hypoxia, hydrogen ion excess (acidosis), hypo or
hyperkalemia, hypothermia, tension pneumothorax, tamponade, toxins, and thrombosis
(pulmonary or coronary). Correction of these causes can often reverse a cardiac arrest.
You are providing ventilations using a Bag-mask device. Suddenly, you do not see the
patient's chest rise with the ventilation. You reposition the patient to ensure an open
airway. When you attempt to ventilate, you do not see his chest rise. The most likely
cause of this is:
• Question
a. The bag-mask device is faulty
b. Airway obstruction
c. The patient has suffered an MI
d. Cardiac tamponade
Correct Answer: b. Airway obstruction
The most likely cause of the failure of the chest to rise during ventilations is an airway
obstruction. Although a faulty bag-mask device is a possibility, it is unlikely that it would
, fail in the middle of providing ventilations.
According to American Heart Association ACLS guidelines, cricoid pressure during
intubation:
• Question
a. Should be done in all cases.
b. Is no longer recommended.
c. Should only be done on children.
d. None of the above.
Correct Answer: b. Is no longer recommended.
According to the most current AHA guidelines, cricoid pressure may delay or prevent
placement of an advanced airway so is no longer recommended.
You are providing positive pressure ventilation through an ET tube to a patient in
respiratory distress. Indications that you are ventilating too fast include all of the
following EXCEPT:
• Question
a. Increasing waveform capnography readings
b. Stomach insufflation
c. Tension pneumothorax
d. Aspiration
Correct Answer: a. Increasing waveform capnography readings
Latrogenic effects of hyperventilation through an ET tube include aspiration, stomach
insufflation, and tension pneumothorax. Increasing waveform capnography readings are
an indication of efficient CPR.
According to American Heart Association ACLS guidelines, when available, the best way
to confirm and maintain tracheal tube position is by:
• Question
a. Clinical examination only.
b. Quantitative waveform capnography.
c. Clinical examination and Pulse oximetry.
d. Clinical examination and quantitative waveform capnography.
Correct Answer: d. Clinical examination and quantitative waveform capnography.
The AHA recommends continuous waveform capnography and clinical examination to
confirm and maintain ET tube position.
Updated 2026/2027 (Graded A+)
Preload refers to:
• Question
a. The volume of blood entering the left side of the heart
b. The volume of blood entering the right side of the heart
c. The pressure in the venous system that the heart must overcome to pump the blood
d. The pressure in the arterial system that the heart must overcome to pump the blood
Correct Answer: b. The volume of blood entering the right side of the heart
Preload is the volume of blood that enters the right side of the heart. This volume
stretches the fibers in the heart prior to contraction. Preload is commonly measured as
atrial pressure.
The patient is brought to the ED with an anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction
(STEMI). You are assessing him for possible administration of fibrinolytics. An absolute
contraindication for this treatment is:
• Question
a. The patient's pain is not relieved by medications.
b. Symptoms began 36 hours before arrival.
c. The patient has received aspirin in the last 2 hours.
d. The patient had a previous MI 6 years ago.
Correct Answer: b. Symptoms began 36 hours before arrival.
Fibrinolytic therapy is generally NOT recommended for patients whose symptoms began
more than 12 hours before arrival. Fibrinolytics should not be given if the onset of
symptoms was more than 24 hours before arrival UNLESS a posterior MI is diagnosed. In
this case, the MI was anterior.
The team is performing CPR on a patient. The rhythm that will respond to an electrical
shock is:
• Question
a. Asystole
b. PEA
c. Ventricular fibrillation
d. SVT
Correct Answer: c. Ventricular fibrillation
,Ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia are the two rhythms that
are considered to be "shockable" cardiac arrest rhythms. Although asystole and PEA are
cardiac arrest rhythms, they will not respond to electrical shock.
When suctioning during a cardiac arrest, suctioning should be limited to which of the
following?
• Question
a. Less than 5 seconds
b. Less than 10 seconds
c. Less than 20 seconds
d. Less than 30 seconds
Correct Answer: b. Less than 10 seconds
According to the 2010 BLS and ACLS guidelines, suctioning for longer than 10 seconds
may result in pulling too much oxygen out of the airways resulting in hypoxemia.
Possible causes of cardiac arrest include all of the following EXCEPT:
• Question
a. Hypervolemia
b. Hypoxia
c. Hypokalemia
d. Tension Pneumothorax
Correct Answer: a. Hypervolemia
Common causes of cardiac arrest are known as the H's and T's and include:
hypovolemia (NOT hypervolemia), hypoxia, hydrogen ion excess (acidosis), hypo or
hyperkalemia, hypothermia, tension pneumothorax, tamponade, toxins, and thrombosis
(pulmonary or coronary). Correction of these causes can often reverse a cardiac arrest.
You are providing ventilations using a Bag-mask device. Suddenly, you do not see the
patient's chest rise with the ventilation. You reposition the patient to ensure an open
airway. When you attempt to ventilate, you do not see his chest rise. The most likely
cause of this is:
• Question
a. The bag-mask device is faulty
b. Airway obstruction
c. The patient has suffered an MI
d. Cardiac tamponade
Correct Answer: b. Airway obstruction
The most likely cause of the failure of the chest to rise during ventilations is an airway
obstruction. Although a faulty bag-mask device is a possibility, it is unlikely that it would
, fail in the middle of providing ventilations.
According to American Heart Association ACLS guidelines, cricoid pressure during
intubation:
• Question
a. Should be done in all cases.
b. Is no longer recommended.
c. Should only be done on children.
d. None of the above.
Correct Answer: b. Is no longer recommended.
According to the most current AHA guidelines, cricoid pressure may delay or prevent
placement of an advanced airway so is no longer recommended.
You are providing positive pressure ventilation through an ET tube to a patient in
respiratory distress. Indications that you are ventilating too fast include all of the
following EXCEPT:
• Question
a. Increasing waveform capnography readings
b. Stomach insufflation
c. Tension pneumothorax
d. Aspiration
Correct Answer: a. Increasing waveform capnography readings
Latrogenic effects of hyperventilation through an ET tube include aspiration, stomach
insufflation, and tension pneumothorax. Increasing waveform capnography readings are
an indication of efficient CPR.
According to American Heart Association ACLS guidelines, when available, the best way
to confirm and maintain tracheal tube position is by:
• Question
a. Clinical examination only.
b. Quantitative waveform capnography.
c. Clinical examination and Pulse oximetry.
d. Clinical examination and quantitative waveform capnography.
Correct Answer: d. Clinical examination and quantitative waveform capnography.
The AHA recommends continuous waveform capnography and clinical examination to
confirm and maintain ET tube position.
