CEN Exam Questions AND Correct Answers
79. A patient presents with vaginal bleeding and cramping.
She tells the emergency nurse, "I passed clots at home. I think
I lost my baby." Pelvic examination reveals that the cervical os
is open. Which type of spontaneous abortion most likely
occurred?
A. Missed abortion
B. Septic abortion
C. Inevitable abortion
D. Threatened abortion - ✔✔C. Inevitable abortion
A 12-year-old male is brought to the emergency department
by his mother with complaints of difficulty breathing, swollen
eyes and lips, and hives. The mother states that the child had
just finished eating a peanut butter cookie. Epinephrine was
administered. What is the next class of medications to be
administered to the patient?
A. Inhaled beta 2 agonist
B. Corticosteroid
C. Antihistamine
,D. Anticholinergic - ✔✔A. Inhaled beta 2 agonist
A 13-year-old presents to the emergency department. His
parents state that he passed out at home and had been
vomiting and had diarrhea for the last few days. He answers
questions appropriately, although he complains of dizziness.
His vital signs on arrival: BP 70/40 mm Hg, HR 132 beats/min,
RR 24 breaths/min, T 36.9 C (98.4 F), and SpO2 97% without
supplemental oxygen. A new graduate nurse inserted an
intravenous line and is about to begin a fluid bolus of D5W.
What does the preceptor explain to the new graduate nurse
regarding fluid resuscitation?
A. Because of the electrolyte disturbances from vomiting and
diarrhea, use D5.45% sodium chloride.
B. Because the patient is likely in septic shock, the fluid
resuscitation is done slowly.
C. The appropriate fluid for hypotension is isotonic crystalloid,
not D5W
D. As a pediatric patient, D5W fluid is given at a bolus rate of
20 mL/kg. - ✔✔C. The appropriate fluid for hypotension is
isotonic crystalloid, not D5W
,A 15-year-old female presents to the emergency department
with crampy left lower quadrant abdominal pain that lasted
for 4 hours prior to arrival. She also is having frequent, severe,
bloody diarrhea. What gastrointestinal disorder is she most
likely experiencing?
A. Ulcerative colitis
B. Diverticulitis
C. Crohn's disease
D. Appendicitis - ✔✔A. Ulcerative colitis
A 16-year-old male is brought to the ED by his coach. The
patient was playing football in moderately cold weather one
hour prior to arrival and felt severe pain in the left groin area.
This is suggestive of which genitourinary emergency?
A. Paraphimosis
B. Testicular torsion
C. Priapism
D. Acute epididymitis - ✔✔B. Testicular torsion
, A 16-year-old presents with severe left upper quadrant
abdominal pain after an over-the-handlebars bicycle collision.
Vital signs are BP 100/60 mm Hg, HR 100 beats/min, RR 30
breaths/min, T 37.0 C (98.6 F), SpO2 89% without
supplemental oxygen. There is bruising over the left upper
quadrant of the abdomen. Auscultation reveals diminished
breath sounds on the left accompanied by gurgling. Based on
this history and assessment, the nurse suspects which injury?
A. Small bowel rupture
B. Ruptured diaphragm
C. Flail chest
D. Hepatic injury - ✔✔B. Ruptured diaphragm
A 20-year-old male presents with a sudden onset of pleuritic
chest pain, mild dyspnea, and a cough. Assessment reveals a
tall, thin patient with tachycardia and diminished breath
sounds on the right side. What thoracic condition is the most
likely cause?
A. Spontaneous pneumothorax
B. Open pneumothorax
C. Tension pneumothorax
79. A patient presents with vaginal bleeding and cramping.
She tells the emergency nurse, "I passed clots at home. I think
I lost my baby." Pelvic examination reveals that the cervical os
is open. Which type of spontaneous abortion most likely
occurred?
A. Missed abortion
B. Septic abortion
C. Inevitable abortion
D. Threatened abortion - ✔✔C. Inevitable abortion
A 12-year-old male is brought to the emergency department
by his mother with complaints of difficulty breathing, swollen
eyes and lips, and hives. The mother states that the child had
just finished eating a peanut butter cookie. Epinephrine was
administered. What is the next class of medications to be
administered to the patient?
A. Inhaled beta 2 agonist
B. Corticosteroid
C. Antihistamine
,D. Anticholinergic - ✔✔A. Inhaled beta 2 agonist
A 13-year-old presents to the emergency department. His
parents state that he passed out at home and had been
vomiting and had diarrhea for the last few days. He answers
questions appropriately, although he complains of dizziness.
His vital signs on arrival: BP 70/40 mm Hg, HR 132 beats/min,
RR 24 breaths/min, T 36.9 C (98.4 F), and SpO2 97% without
supplemental oxygen. A new graduate nurse inserted an
intravenous line and is about to begin a fluid bolus of D5W.
What does the preceptor explain to the new graduate nurse
regarding fluid resuscitation?
A. Because of the electrolyte disturbances from vomiting and
diarrhea, use D5.45% sodium chloride.
B. Because the patient is likely in septic shock, the fluid
resuscitation is done slowly.
C. The appropriate fluid for hypotension is isotonic crystalloid,
not D5W
D. As a pediatric patient, D5W fluid is given at a bolus rate of
20 mL/kg. - ✔✔C. The appropriate fluid for hypotension is
isotonic crystalloid, not D5W
,A 15-year-old female presents to the emergency department
with crampy left lower quadrant abdominal pain that lasted
for 4 hours prior to arrival. She also is having frequent, severe,
bloody diarrhea. What gastrointestinal disorder is she most
likely experiencing?
A. Ulcerative colitis
B. Diverticulitis
C. Crohn's disease
D. Appendicitis - ✔✔A. Ulcerative colitis
A 16-year-old male is brought to the ED by his coach. The
patient was playing football in moderately cold weather one
hour prior to arrival and felt severe pain in the left groin area.
This is suggestive of which genitourinary emergency?
A. Paraphimosis
B. Testicular torsion
C. Priapism
D. Acute epididymitis - ✔✔B. Testicular torsion
, A 16-year-old presents with severe left upper quadrant
abdominal pain after an over-the-handlebars bicycle collision.
Vital signs are BP 100/60 mm Hg, HR 100 beats/min, RR 30
breaths/min, T 37.0 C (98.6 F), SpO2 89% without
supplemental oxygen. There is bruising over the left upper
quadrant of the abdomen. Auscultation reveals diminished
breath sounds on the left accompanied by gurgling. Based on
this history and assessment, the nurse suspects which injury?
A. Small bowel rupture
B. Ruptured diaphragm
C. Flail chest
D. Hepatic injury - ✔✔B. Ruptured diaphragm
A 20-year-old male presents with a sudden onset of pleuritic
chest pain, mild dyspnea, and a cough. Assessment reveals a
tall, thin patient with tachycardia and diminished breath
sounds on the right side. What thoracic condition is the most
likely cause?
A. Spontaneous pneumothorax
B. Open pneumothorax
C. Tension pneumothorax
