Relias ED RN Application Questions 2025–2026 |
Complete Nursing Study Guide with Verified Test
Bank, Answer Key & Rationales | Exam Prep for
Emergency Nursing, RN, BSN & NCLEX
Question 1
What is the priority nursing action for a patient presenting with chest pain and a history
of coronary artery disease?
A) Administer aspirin
B) Obtain a 12-lead ECG
C) Assess vital signs
D) Provide oxygen
Rationale: Obtaining a 12-lead ECG is crucial for diagnosing the cause of chest pain
and guiding further treatment.
Question 2
What is the most appropriate nursing intervention for a patient experiencing
anaphylaxis after receiving an antibiotic?
A) Administer antihistamines
B) Administer epinephrine immediately
C) Provide intravenous fluids
D) Monitor vital signs every hour
Rationale: Administering epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis to
reverse life-threatening symptoms.
Question 3
What is a key sign of a tension pneumothorax?
A) Bradycardia
B) Tracheal deviation away from the affected side
C) Increased breath sounds
D) Cyanosis of the extremities
Rationale: Tracheal deviation away from the affected side indicates significant
mediastinal shift due to tension pneumothorax, requiring immediate intervention.
Question 4
What should the nurse do first for a patient with a suspected stroke who arrives in the
emergency department?
,A) Obtain a history
B) Perform a rapid neurological assessment
C) Start IV fluids
D) Administer aspirin
Rationale: Performing a rapid neurological assessment is essential to determine the
severity of the stroke and guide treatment decisions.
Question 5
Which medication is commonly used in the emergency department to treat acute
asthma exacerbations?
A) Albuterol
B) Dexamethasone
C) Theophylline
D) Montelukast
Rationale: Albuterol is a bronchodilator used to relieve acute bronchospasm in asthma
exacerbations.
Question 6
What is the priority nursing intervention for a patient who is hypotensive and has altered
mental status after an overdose of opioids?
A) Administer intravenous fluids
B) Administer naloxone
C) Monitor vital signs closely
D) Provide a warm blanket
Rationale: Administering naloxone is critical to reverse the effects of opioid overdose
and restore respiratory function.
Question 7
For a patient presenting with severe abdominal pain and suspected appendicitis, what
is the most important nursing action?
A) Administer pain medication
B) Refrain from giving oral fluids
C) Encourage ambulation
D) Apply heat to the abdomen
Rationale: With suspected appendicitis, avoiding oral fluids is essential to prepare for
potential surgery and reduce the risk of complications.
,Question 8
What assessment finding would indicate that a patient is experiencing a possible
stroke?
A) Chest pain
B) Sudden weakness on one side of the body
C) Fever
D) Nausea
Rationale: Sudden weakness on one side of the body is a classic sign of stroke,
requiring immediate intervention.
Question 9
What is the first-line treatment for a patient in status epilepticus?
A) Administer benzodiazepines
B) Start IV fluids
C) Provide oxygen
D) Perform a head CT scan
Rationale: Benzodiazepines are the first-line treatment for status epilepticus to
terminate the seizure activity quickly.
Question 10
What is the priority nursing assessment for a patient with suspected sepsis?
A) Skin integrity
B) Vital signs and temperature
C) Pain level
D) Nutritional status
Rationale: Monitoring vital signs and temperature is critical for identifying the signs of
sepsis and guiding treatment.
Question 11
What is a common complication associated with prolonged IV catheter use?
A) Hypotension
B) Phlebitis
C) Hyperglycemia
D) Dehydration
Rationale: Phlebitis is a common complication that can occur with prolonged IV
catheter use, requiring monitoring and potential intervention.
, Question 12
In the case of a patient experiencing a myocardial infarction, which lab test is most
indicative of cardiac damage?
A) B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)
B) Troponin
C) Creatinine kinase (CK)
D) Complete blood count (CBC)
Rationale: Troponin is a specific marker for cardiac muscle injury and is the most
sensitive indicator of myocardial infarction.
Question 13
What is the most important nursing action for a patient receiving a blood transfusion?
A) Administer medications as ordered
B) Monitor for signs of transfusion reactions
C) Encourage increased fluid intake
D) Assess vital signs every 4 hours
Rationale: Monitoring for signs of transfusion reactions is critical to ensure patient
safety during blood transfusions.
Question 14
What is the priority nursing intervention for a patient with a suspected stroke?
A) Obtain a detailed health history
B) Perform a quick neurological assessment
C) Start IV fluids
D) Administer aspirin
Rationale: Performing a quick neurological assessment is essential for determining the
severity of the stroke and guiding treatment.
Question 15
What is a common sign of anaphylaxis?
A) Bradycardia
B) Swelling of the face and throat
C) Fever
D) Nausea
Complete Nursing Study Guide with Verified Test
Bank, Answer Key & Rationales | Exam Prep for
Emergency Nursing, RN, BSN & NCLEX
Question 1
What is the priority nursing action for a patient presenting with chest pain and a history
of coronary artery disease?
A) Administer aspirin
B) Obtain a 12-lead ECG
C) Assess vital signs
D) Provide oxygen
Rationale: Obtaining a 12-lead ECG is crucial for diagnosing the cause of chest pain
and guiding further treatment.
Question 2
What is the most appropriate nursing intervention for a patient experiencing
anaphylaxis after receiving an antibiotic?
A) Administer antihistamines
B) Administer epinephrine immediately
C) Provide intravenous fluids
D) Monitor vital signs every hour
Rationale: Administering epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis to
reverse life-threatening symptoms.
Question 3
What is a key sign of a tension pneumothorax?
A) Bradycardia
B) Tracheal deviation away from the affected side
C) Increased breath sounds
D) Cyanosis of the extremities
Rationale: Tracheal deviation away from the affected side indicates significant
mediastinal shift due to tension pneumothorax, requiring immediate intervention.
Question 4
What should the nurse do first for a patient with a suspected stroke who arrives in the
emergency department?
,A) Obtain a history
B) Perform a rapid neurological assessment
C) Start IV fluids
D) Administer aspirin
Rationale: Performing a rapid neurological assessment is essential to determine the
severity of the stroke and guide treatment decisions.
Question 5
Which medication is commonly used in the emergency department to treat acute
asthma exacerbations?
A) Albuterol
B) Dexamethasone
C) Theophylline
D) Montelukast
Rationale: Albuterol is a bronchodilator used to relieve acute bronchospasm in asthma
exacerbations.
Question 6
What is the priority nursing intervention for a patient who is hypotensive and has altered
mental status after an overdose of opioids?
A) Administer intravenous fluids
B) Administer naloxone
C) Monitor vital signs closely
D) Provide a warm blanket
Rationale: Administering naloxone is critical to reverse the effects of opioid overdose
and restore respiratory function.
Question 7
For a patient presenting with severe abdominal pain and suspected appendicitis, what
is the most important nursing action?
A) Administer pain medication
B) Refrain from giving oral fluids
C) Encourage ambulation
D) Apply heat to the abdomen
Rationale: With suspected appendicitis, avoiding oral fluids is essential to prepare for
potential surgery and reduce the risk of complications.
,Question 8
What assessment finding would indicate that a patient is experiencing a possible
stroke?
A) Chest pain
B) Sudden weakness on one side of the body
C) Fever
D) Nausea
Rationale: Sudden weakness on one side of the body is a classic sign of stroke,
requiring immediate intervention.
Question 9
What is the first-line treatment for a patient in status epilepticus?
A) Administer benzodiazepines
B) Start IV fluids
C) Provide oxygen
D) Perform a head CT scan
Rationale: Benzodiazepines are the first-line treatment for status epilepticus to
terminate the seizure activity quickly.
Question 10
What is the priority nursing assessment for a patient with suspected sepsis?
A) Skin integrity
B) Vital signs and temperature
C) Pain level
D) Nutritional status
Rationale: Monitoring vital signs and temperature is critical for identifying the signs of
sepsis and guiding treatment.
Question 11
What is a common complication associated with prolonged IV catheter use?
A) Hypotension
B) Phlebitis
C) Hyperglycemia
D) Dehydration
Rationale: Phlebitis is a common complication that can occur with prolonged IV
catheter use, requiring monitoring and potential intervention.
, Question 12
In the case of a patient experiencing a myocardial infarction, which lab test is most
indicative of cardiac damage?
A) B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)
B) Troponin
C) Creatinine kinase (CK)
D) Complete blood count (CBC)
Rationale: Troponin is a specific marker for cardiac muscle injury and is the most
sensitive indicator of myocardial infarction.
Question 13
What is the most important nursing action for a patient receiving a blood transfusion?
A) Administer medications as ordered
B) Monitor for signs of transfusion reactions
C) Encourage increased fluid intake
D) Assess vital signs every 4 hours
Rationale: Monitoring for signs of transfusion reactions is critical to ensure patient
safety during blood transfusions.
Question 14
What is the priority nursing intervention for a patient with a suspected stroke?
A) Obtain a detailed health history
B) Perform a quick neurological assessment
C) Start IV fluids
D) Administer aspirin
Rationale: Performing a quick neurological assessment is essential for determining the
severity of the stroke and guiding treatment.
Question 15
What is a common sign of anaphylaxis?
A) Bradycardia
B) Swelling of the face and throat
C) Fever
D) Nausea
