CARN Study Guide 2025 – Latest Questions with 100% Correct
Answers
Practice Questions
Question 1. Which of the following is the first step in the nursing process when assessing
a patient with substance use disorder (SUD)?
A. Administer a detoxification protocol
B. Collect a comprehensive health history
C. Develop a care plan
D. Evaluate treatment outcomes
Answer: B. Collect a comprehensive health history
Rationale: The nursing process begins with assessment, which involves col-
lecting a comprehensive health history, including substance use patterns,
medical history, and psychosocial factors. This informs subsequent steps
like planning and intervention, ensuring patient-centered care. Adminis-
tering detoxification, developing a care plan, or evaluating outcomes occur
later.
Question 2. What is the primary purpose of using motivational interviewing in addiction
nursing?
A. Enforce compliance with treatment
B. Enhance patient motivation for change
C. Diagnose substance use disorders
D. Monitor medication adherence
Answer: B. Enhance patient motivation for change
Rationale: Motivational interviewing is a patient-centered counseling ap-
proach that helps individuals resolve ambivalence and enhance intrinsic mo-
tivation to change behaviors, such as substance use. It is not used for en-
forcement, diagnosis, or monitoring adherence but for fostering self-efficacy.
Question 3. Which medication is commonly used to manage opioid withdrawal symp-
toms?
A. Naltrexone
B. Methadone
C. Acamprosate
D. Disulfiram
Answer: B. Methadone
Rationale: Methadone, a long-acting opioid agonist, is used to manage opioid
withdrawal by reducing symptoms and cravings. Naltrexone blocks opioid
1
, receptors, acamprosate is for alcohol dependence, and disulfiram discourages
alcohol use by causing adverse reactions.
Question 4. What ethical principle is most relevant when maintaining patient confiden-
tiality in addiction treatment?
A. Beneficence
B. Autonomy
C. Confidentiality
D. Justice
Answer: C. Confidentiality
Rationale: Confidentiality is a core ethical principle in addiction nursing,
protecting patient privacy and fostering trust. Beneficence focuses on pro-
moting well-being, autonomy respects patient decisions, and justice ensures
fair treatment.
Question 5. A patient with alcohol use disorder is prescribed disulfiram. What is the
primary purpose of this medication?
A. Reduce cravings
B. Prevent withdrawal seizures
C. Cause adverse reactions when alcohol is consumed
D. Stabilize mood
Answer: C. Cause adverse reactions when alcohol is consumed
Rationale: Disulfiram inhibits aldehyde dehydrogenase, causing acetalde-
hyde accumulation if alcohol is consumed, leading to unpleasant reactions
like nausea and flushing. This deters alcohol use. It does not reduce cravings,
prevent seizures, or stabilize mood.
Question 6. Which assessment tool is commonly used to screen for alcohol use disorder?
A. CAGE questionnaire
B. Glasgow Coma Scale
C. Beck Depression Inventory
D. Mini-Mental State Examination
Answer: A. CAGE questionnaire
Rationale: The CAGE questionnaire is a brief, validated tool to screen for
alcohol use disorder by assessing four key areas: Cutting down, Annoyance,
Guilt, and Eye-opener. The other tools assess consciousness, depression, or
cognitive function, not alcohol use.
Question 7. What is a key nursing intervention for a patient experiencing opioid over-
dose?
A. Administer buprenorphine
2
, B. Administer naloxone
C. Initiate methadone therapy
D. Provide IV fluids
Answer: B. Administer naloxone
Rationale: Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that rapidly reverses opioid over-
dose by displacing opioids from receptors, restoring respiration. Buprenor-
phine and methadone are for maintenance therapy, not acute overdose, and
IV fluids are supportive but not primary.
Question 8. Which stage of change in the Transtheoretical Model involves a patient ac-
tively modifying their behavior to overcome addiction?
A. Precontemplation
B. Contemplation
C. Action
D. Maintenance
Answer: C. Action
Rationale: In the Transtheoretical Model, the action stage involves active ef-
forts to change behavior, such as engaging in treatment or quitting substance
use. Precontemplation lacks awareness, contemplation considers change, and
maintenance sustains change.
Question 9. A patient receiving buprenorphine for opioid use disorder reports severe nau-
sea. What should the nurse do first?
A. Discontinue buprenorphine
B. Assess for other causes of nausea
C. Administer an antiemetic
D. Increase the buprenorphine dose
Answer: B. Assess for other causes of nausea
Rationale: Nausea may be a side effect of buprenorphine, but other causes
(e.g., withdrawal, infection, or dehydration) must be ruled out first through
assessment. Discontinuing or increasing the dose is premature, and antiemet-
ics address symptoms, not the cause.
Question 10. Which of the following is a hallmark symptom of alcohol withdrawal?
A. Bradycardia
B. Tremors
C. Hypothermia
D. Hypotension
Answer: B. Tremors
Rationale: Tremors are a hallmark symptom of alcohol withdrawal, often
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Answers
Practice Questions
Question 1. Which of the following is the first step in the nursing process when assessing
a patient with substance use disorder (SUD)?
A. Administer a detoxification protocol
B. Collect a comprehensive health history
C. Develop a care plan
D. Evaluate treatment outcomes
Answer: B. Collect a comprehensive health history
Rationale: The nursing process begins with assessment, which involves col-
lecting a comprehensive health history, including substance use patterns,
medical history, and psychosocial factors. This informs subsequent steps
like planning and intervention, ensuring patient-centered care. Adminis-
tering detoxification, developing a care plan, or evaluating outcomes occur
later.
Question 2. What is the primary purpose of using motivational interviewing in addiction
nursing?
A. Enforce compliance with treatment
B. Enhance patient motivation for change
C. Diagnose substance use disorders
D. Monitor medication adherence
Answer: B. Enhance patient motivation for change
Rationale: Motivational interviewing is a patient-centered counseling ap-
proach that helps individuals resolve ambivalence and enhance intrinsic mo-
tivation to change behaviors, such as substance use. It is not used for en-
forcement, diagnosis, or monitoring adherence but for fostering self-efficacy.
Question 3. Which medication is commonly used to manage opioid withdrawal symp-
toms?
A. Naltrexone
B. Methadone
C. Acamprosate
D. Disulfiram
Answer: B. Methadone
Rationale: Methadone, a long-acting opioid agonist, is used to manage opioid
withdrawal by reducing symptoms and cravings. Naltrexone blocks opioid
1
, receptors, acamprosate is for alcohol dependence, and disulfiram discourages
alcohol use by causing adverse reactions.
Question 4. What ethical principle is most relevant when maintaining patient confiden-
tiality in addiction treatment?
A. Beneficence
B. Autonomy
C. Confidentiality
D. Justice
Answer: C. Confidentiality
Rationale: Confidentiality is a core ethical principle in addiction nursing,
protecting patient privacy and fostering trust. Beneficence focuses on pro-
moting well-being, autonomy respects patient decisions, and justice ensures
fair treatment.
Question 5. A patient with alcohol use disorder is prescribed disulfiram. What is the
primary purpose of this medication?
A. Reduce cravings
B. Prevent withdrawal seizures
C. Cause adverse reactions when alcohol is consumed
D. Stabilize mood
Answer: C. Cause adverse reactions when alcohol is consumed
Rationale: Disulfiram inhibits aldehyde dehydrogenase, causing acetalde-
hyde accumulation if alcohol is consumed, leading to unpleasant reactions
like nausea and flushing. This deters alcohol use. It does not reduce cravings,
prevent seizures, or stabilize mood.
Question 6. Which assessment tool is commonly used to screen for alcohol use disorder?
A. CAGE questionnaire
B. Glasgow Coma Scale
C. Beck Depression Inventory
D. Mini-Mental State Examination
Answer: A. CAGE questionnaire
Rationale: The CAGE questionnaire is a brief, validated tool to screen for
alcohol use disorder by assessing four key areas: Cutting down, Annoyance,
Guilt, and Eye-opener. The other tools assess consciousness, depression, or
cognitive function, not alcohol use.
Question 7. What is a key nursing intervention for a patient experiencing opioid over-
dose?
A. Administer buprenorphine
2
, B. Administer naloxone
C. Initiate methadone therapy
D. Provide IV fluids
Answer: B. Administer naloxone
Rationale: Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that rapidly reverses opioid over-
dose by displacing opioids from receptors, restoring respiration. Buprenor-
phine and methadone are for maintenance therapy, not acute overdose, and
IV fluids are supportive but not primary.
Question 8. Which stage of change in the Transtheoretical Model involves a patient ac-
tively modifying their behavior to overcome addiction?
A. Precontemplation
B. Contemplation
C. Action
D. Maintenance
Answer: C. Action
Rationale: In the Transtheoretical Model, the action stage involves active ef-
forts to change behavior, such as engaging in treatment or quitting substance
use. Precontemplation lacks awareness, contemplation considers change, and
maintenance sustains change.
Question 9. A patient receiving buprenorphine for opioid use disorder reports severe nau-
sea. What should the nurse do first?
A. Discontinue buprenorphine
B. Assess for other causes of nausea
C. Administer an antiemetic
D. Increase the buprenorphine dose
Answer: B. Assess for other causes of nausea
Rationale: Nausea may be a side effect of buprenorphine, but other causes
(e.g., withdrawal, infection, or dehydration) must be ruled out first through
assessment. Discontinuing or increasing the dose is premature, and antiemet-
ics address symptoms, not the cause.
Question 10. Which of the following is a hallmark symptom of alcohol withdrawal?
A. Bradycardia
B. Tremors
C. Hypothermia
D. Hypotension
Answer: B. Tremors
Rationale: Tremors are a hallmark symptom of alcohol withdrawal, often
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