CEN EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2026 VERIFIED.
Which of the following statements made by a patient would lead the nurse to conclude that the
patient understands risk factors for pulmonary embolism?
While on a long flight, I should get up and walk to stretch my legs every hour.
Resuming my birth control pills will lower my risk of cancer and my risk of another clot.
If I drink plenty of water while driving on a long trip, this shouldn't happen again.
Switching from my regular cigarettes to the electronic ones can reduce my risk. - ANS While
on a long flight, I should get up and walk to stretch my legs every hour.
An emergency nurse is providing discharge instructions for a patient with pelvic inflammatory
disease. Which statement made by the patient indicates an understanding of these
instructions?
Getting pregnant shouldn't be a problem once the infection goes away.
I'll take the medicine for nausea when I feel sick to my stomach.
I will be at increased risk for ectopic pregnancy.
I will follow up with my doctor tomorrow. - ANS I will be at increased risk for ectopic
pregnancy.
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?
Small bowel rupture
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 1 OF 40
,Ruptured diaphragm
Flail chest
Hepatic injury - ANS Ruptured diaphragm
A patient presents with chest pain. The nurse performs a 12-lead electrocardiogram that reveals
an abnormal Q wave. What does the nurse suspect?
A current injury
An old infarction
An acute infarction
Ischemia - ANS An old infarction
A patient is brought to the ED by emergency medical services with increased aggression and
making clear homicidal threats. What immediate action will the nurse expect to promote staff
and patient safety?
Administration of antipsychotics
One-to-one observation
Place in a seclusion room
Application of restraints - ANS Place in a seclusion room
A 28-year-old female presents with shortness of breath, dizziness, and diaphoresis. Her vital
signs are BP 118/74 mm Hg, HR 122 beats/min, RR 26 breaths/min, T 37.7 C (99.9 F), SpO2 92%
without supplemental oxygen. Her health history includes fractures of the left tibia and fibula
following an MVC 3 weeks ago. Surgical fixation was required. Her only current medications are
an oral contraceptive and intermittent ibuprofen for pain. Assessment of the casted left leg
reveals that the toes are swollen. With this information, which diagnostic testing will the nurse
expect as the highest priority?
Sputum cultures
Chest radiograph
Computed tomographic pulmonary angiography
Radiograph of the left leg - ANS Computed tomographic pulmonary angiography
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 2 OF 40
,A family of 10 presents to the ED with complaints of fever, muscle pain, and unexplained
bruising ongoing for 7 days. After completing the screening, the nurse notes that the family
recently traveled to Sierra Leone. What is the highest priority intervention the triage nurse
needs to perform?
Notify infection prevention
Leave the family in the waiting room
Evacuate the waiting room
Inform those waiting that Ebola has been detected - ANS Notify infection prevention
A patient presents to the ED with complaints of fatigue and insomnia. Assessment findings
reveal the patient is awake, alert, and oriented, has a round moon face, buffalo hump back,
hirsutism and prominent striae on the trunk. Vital signs are normal. Which of the following
scenarios is most consistent with this patient's presentation?
A high school wrestler who admits to taking his grandfather's furosemide before a meet
A patient with insulin-dependent diabetes who took insulin, without eating breakfast.
A patient with severe chronic asthma who has been on prednisone for several years
A patient who underwent a thyroidectomy several years ago who recently ran out of
medication - ANS A patient with severe chronic asthma who has been on prednisone for
several years
A patient who was brought to the ED by ambulance following a motor vehicle collision, in which
the driver hit a tree, has BP 92/48 mm Hg, HR 128 beats/min, RR 34 breaths/min, SpO2 91%
with supplemental oxygen via a nonrebreather. He has labored breathing, cyanosis, absent
breath sounds on the right, and jugular vein distension. Which of the following conditions
would be suspected?
Aspiration
Flail chest
Cardiac tamponade
Tension pneumothorax - ANS Tension pneumothorax
What is the most common cause of cardiogenic shock?
Sustained cardiac dysrhythmias
Acute valvular dysfunction
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 3 OF 40
, Myocardial infarction
End-stage cardiomyopathy - ANS Myocardial infarction
The disease most commonly associated with the catarrhal, paroxysmal and convalescent stages
is best treated with classification of medications?
Immune globulin
Steroids
Antiretroviral therapy
Macrolide antibiotics - ANS Macrolide antibiotics
A 28-year-old female presents to the ED with complaints of dizziness, fear of dying, and hot
flashes that began 10 minutes prior to arrival. The patient is trembling and tachypneic. Which
anxiety disorder is the patient exhibiting?
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Panic attack
Acute stress disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder - ANS Panic attack
A 30-year-old male presents to the emergency department with excruciating pain on the right
side of his head. It has been coming and going all day. His right eye is reddened and skin is
flushed. What type of headache is this patient experiencing?
Tension
Traumatic
Cluster
Migraine - ANS Cluster
To make certain that chain of custody has been followed appropriately, what is the most
responsible task performed by the emergency nurse?
Keep the evidence at their work station until released to law enforcement
Sign and date the tamper resistant tape in front of law enforcement
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 4 OF 40
2026 VERIFIED.
Which of the following statements made by a patient would lead the nurse to conclude that the
patient understands risk factors for pulmonary embolism?
While on a long flight, I should get up and walk to stretch my legs every hour.
Resuming my birth control pills will lower my risk of cancer and my risk of another clot.
If I drink plenty of water while driving on a long trip, this shouldn't happen again.
Switching from my regular cigarettes to the electronic ones can reduce my risk. - ANS While
on a long flight, I should get up and walk to stretch my legs every hour.
An emergency nurse is providing discharge instructions for a patient with pelvic inflammatory
disease. Which statement made by the patient indicates an understanding of these
instructions?
Getting pregnant shouldn't be a problem once the infection goes away.
I'll take the medicine for nausea when I feel sick to my stomach.
I will be at increased risk for ectopic pregnancy.
I will follow up with my doctor tomorrow. - ANS I will be at increased risk for ectopic
pregnancy.
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?
Small bowel rupture
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 1 OF 40
,Ruptured diaphragm
Flail chest
Hepatic injury - ANS Ruptured diaphragm
A patient presents with chest pain. The nurse performs a 12-lead electrocardiogram that reveals
an abnormal Q wave. What does the nurse suspect?
A current injury
An old infarction
An acute infarction
Ischemia - ANS An old infarction
A patient is brought to the ED by emergency medical services with increased aggression and
making clear homicidal threats. What immediate action will the nurse expect to promote staff
and patient safety?
Administration of antipsychotics
One-to-one observation
Place in a seclusion room
Application of restraints - ANS Place in a seclusion room
A 28-year-old female presents with shortness of breath, dizziness, and diaphoresis. Her vital
signs are BP 118/74 mm Hg, HR 122 beats/min, RR 26 breaths/min, T 37.7 C (99.9 F), SpO2 92%
without supplemental oxygen. Her health history includes fractures of the left tibia and fibula
following an MVC 3 weeks ago. Surgical fixation was required. Her only current medications are
an oral contraceptive and intermittent ibuprofen for pain. Assessment of the casted left leg
reveals that the toes are swollen. With this information, which diagnostic testing will the nurse
expect as the highest priority?
Sputum cultures
Chest radiograph
Computed tomographic pulmonary angiography
Radiograph of the left leg - ANS Computed tomographic pulmonary angiography
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 2 OF 40
,A family of 10 presents to the ED with complaints of fever, muscle pain, and unexplained
bruising ongoing for 7 days. After completing the screening, the nurse notes that the family
recently traveled to Sierra Leone. What is the highest priority intervention the triage nurse
needs to perform?
Notify infection prevention
Leave the family in the waiting room
Evacuate the waiting room
Inform those waiting that Ebola has been detected - ANS Notify infection prevention
A patient presents to the ED with complaints of fatigue and insomnia. Assessment findings
reveal the patient is awake, alert, and oriented, has a round moon face, buffalo hump back,
hirsutism and prominent striae on the trunk. Vital signs are normal. Which of the following
scenarios is most consistent with this patient's presentation?
A high school wrestler who admits to taking his grandfather's furosemide before a meet
A patient with insulin-dependent diabetes who took insulin, without eating breakfast.
A patient with severe chronic asthma who has been on prednisone for several years
A patient who underwent a thyroidectomy several years ago who recently ran out of
medication - ANS A patient with severe chronic asthma who has been on prednisone for
several years
A patient who was brought to the ED by ambulance following a motor vehicle collision, in which
the driver hit a tree, has BP 92/48 mm Hg, HR 128 beats/min, RR 34 breaths/min, SpO2 91%
with supplemental oxygen via a nonrebreather. He has labored breathing, cyanosis, absent
breath sounds on the right, and jugular vein distension. Which of the following conditions
would be suspected?
Aspiration
Flail chest
Cardiac tamponade
Tension pneumothorax - ANS Tension pneumothorax
What is the most common cause of cardiogenic shock?
Sustained cardiac dysrhythmias
Acute valvular dysfunction
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 3 OF 40
, Myocardial infarction
End-stage cardiomyopathy - ANS Myocardial infarction
The disease most commonly associated with the catarrhal, paroxysmal and convalescent stages
is best treated with classification of medications?
Immune globulin
Steroids
Antiretroviral therapy
Macrolide antibiotics - ANS Macrolide antibiotics
A 28-year-old female presents to the ED with complaints of dizziness, fear of dying, and hot
flashes that began 10 minutes prior to arrival. The patient is trembling and tachypneic. Which
anxiety disorder is the patient exhibiting?
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Panic attack
Acute stress disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder - ANS Panic attack
A 30-year-old male presents to the emergency department with excruciating pain on the right
side of his head. It has been coming and going all day. His right eye is reddened and skin is
flushed. What type of headache is this patient experiencing?
Tension
Traumatic
Cluster
Migraine - ANS Cluster
To make certain that chain of custody has been followed appropriately, what is the most
responsible task performed by the emergency nurse?
Keep the evidence at their work station until released to law enforcement
Sign and date the tamper resistant tape in front of law enforcement
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 4 OF 40
