Relias ED RN-A (Emergency Department Registered
Nurse – Adult) EXAM TEST QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 |INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A patient presents to the ED with acute chest pain radiating
to the left arm and jaw. What is the priority nursing
intervention?
A. Administer ibuprofen
B. Obtain a detailed family history
C. Assess vital signs and initiate ECG
D. Apply heat to the chest
Rationale: Immediate assessment and ECG are critical for
suspected myocardial infarction to determine urgency and
guide treatment.
2. Which triage level should be assigned to a patient with
severe shortness of breath and SpO₂ of 85%?
A. Non-urgent
B. Urgent
C. Emergent
D. Routine
Rationale: Severe respiratory distress with low oxygen
saturation is life-threatening and requires immediate
intervention.
,3. A patient with anaphylaxis arrives at the ED. What is the
first-line medication?
A. Diphenhydramine
B. Epinephrine
C. Albuterol
D. Prednisone
Rationale: Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis
as it rapidly reverses airway obstruction and hypotension.
4. Which lab value indicates a patient is at risk for acute
kidney injury?
A. Sodium 138 mmol/L
B. Potassium 4.2 mmol/L
C. Creatinine 2.1 mg/dL
D. Hemoglobin 13 g/dL
Rationale: Elevated creatinine reflects impaired kidney function,
signaling potential acute kidney injury.
5. The nurse should immediately notify the provider if a
patient with a head injury exhibits which symptom?
A. Mild headache
B. Unequal pupils
C. Slight dizziness
D. Nausea
Rationale: Unequal pupils can indicate increased intracranial
pressure or brain herniation, requiring urgent intervention.
6. A patient is experiencing hypoglycemia with a blood
glucose of 48 mg/dL. What is the most appropriate
,intervention?
A. Administer insulin
B. Give 15–20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate
C. Initiate NPO
D. Start IV antibiotics
Rationale: Immediate glucose replacement prevents
neurological compromise from low blood sugar.
7. During triage, which patient should be seen first?
A. Patient with a mild sprained ankle
B. Patient with nausea after eating
C. Patient with altered mental status and hypotension
D. Patient requesting a routine blood pressure check
Rationale: Altered mental status and hypotension indicate a
life-threatening condition requiring immediate attention.
8. A patient presents with suspected sepsis. Which of the
following is the priority nursing action?
A. Administer antipyretics
B. Obtain blood cultures and start IV antibiotics
C. Encourage oral fluids
D. Schedule echocardiogram
Rationale: Early recognition and prompt antibiotic therapy are
critical in managing sepsis to prevent organ failure.
9. Which statement is correct regarding administering IV
potassium?
A. IV potassium can be given as a rapid push
B. IV potassium must be diluted and given slowly
, C. IV potassium is never needed for hypokalemia
D. IV potassium does not require monitoring
Rationale: Rapid IV potassium can cause cardiac arrhythmias; it
must be diluted and administered carefully.
10. A patient with chest trauma has absent breath sounds on
the left side and hypotension. What is the priority
intervention?
A. Administer oxygen
B. Prepare for chest tube insertion
C. Provide analgesics
D. Start IV fluids only
Rationale: Absent breath sounds and hypotension suggest
tension pneumothorax, requiring immediate chest
decompression.
11. Which assessment finding indicates a patient may be
experiencing shock?
A. Warm, dry skin
B. Bradycardia
C. Rapid, weak pulse with hypotension
D. Mild headache
Rationale: Shock presents with tachycardia, hypotension, and
poor perfusion, signaling inadequate tissue oxygenation.
12. For a patient experiencing status epilepticus, the nurse
should first:
A. Document seizure duration
B. Administer benzodiazepine IV
Nurse – Adult) EXAM TEST QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 |INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A patient presents to the ED with acute chest pain radiating
to the left arm and jaw. What is the priority nursing
intervention?
A. Administer ibuprofen
B. Obtain a detailed family history
C. Assess vital signs and initiate ECG
D. Apply heat to the chest
Rationale: Immediate assessment and ECG are critical for
suspected myocardial infarction to determine urgency and
guide treatment.
2. Which triage level should be assigned to a patient with
severe shortness of breath and SpO₂ of 85%?
A. Non-urgent
B. Urgent
C. Emergent
D. Routine
Rationale: Severe respiratory distress with low oxygen
saturation is life-threatening and requires immediate
intervention.
,3. A patient with anaphylaxis arrives at the ED. What is the
first-line medication?
A. Diphenhydramine
B. Epinephrine
C. Albuterol
D. Prednisone
Rationale: Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis
as it rapidly reverses airway obstruction and hypotension.
4. Which lab value indicates a patient is at risk for acute
kidney injury?
A. Sodium 138 mmol/L
B. Potassium 4.2 mmol/L
C. Creatinine 2.1 mg/dL
D. Hemoglobin 13 g/dL
Rationale: Elevated creatinine reflects impaired kidney function,
signaling potential acute kidney injury.
5. The nurse should immediately notify the provider if a
patient with a head injury exhibits which symptom?
A. Mild headache
B. Unequal pupils
C. Slight dizziness
D. Nausea
Rationale: Unequal pupils can indicate increased intracranial
pressure or brain herniation, requiring urgent intervention.
6. A patient is experiencing hypoglycemia with a blood
glucose of 48 mg/dL. What is the most appropriate
,intervention?
A. Administer insulin
B. Give 15–20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate
C. Initiate NPO
D. Start IV antibiotics
Rationale: Immediate glucose replacement prevents
neurological compromise from low blood sugar.
7. During triage, which patient should be seen first?
A. Patient with a mild sprained ankle
B. Patient with nausea after eating
C. Patient with altered mental status and hypotension
D. Patient requesting a routine blood pressure check
Rationale: Altered mental status and hypotension indicate a
life-threatening condition requiring immediate attention.
8. A patient presents with suspected sepsis. Which of the
following is the priority nursing action?
A. Administer antipyretics
B. Obtain blood cultures and start IV antibiotics
C. Encourage oral fluids
D. Schedule echocardiogram
Rationale: Early recognition and prompt antibiotic therapy are
critical in managing sepsis to prevent organ failure.
9. Which statement is correct regarding administering IV
potassium?
A. IV potassium can be given as a rapid push
B. IV potassium must be diluted and given slowly
, C. IV potassium is never needed for hypokalemia
D. IV potassium does not require monitoring
Rationale: Rapid IV potassium can cause cardiac arrhythmias; it
must be diluted and administered carefully.
10. A patient with chest trauma has absent breath sounds on
the left side and hypotension. What is the priority
intervention?
A. Administer oxygen
B. Prepare for chest tube insertion
C. Provide analgesics
D. Start IV fluids only
Rationale: Absent breath sounds and hypotension suggest
tension pneumothorax, requiring immediate chest
decompression.
11. Which assessment finding indicates a patient may be
experiencing shock?
A. Warm, dry skin
B. Bradycardia
C. Rapid, weak pulse with hypotension
D. Mild headache
Rationale: Shock presents with tachycardia, hypotension, and
poor perfusion, signaling inadequate tissue oxygenation.
12. For a patient experiencing status epilepticus, the nurse
should first:
A. Document seizure duration
B. Administer benzodiazepine IV
