CEA EMERGENCY NURSING EXAM with Questions and Answers/Plus a
Rationale Updated 2026 A+
Fill in the blank: The classic triad of acute aortic dissection includes chest pain, pulse deficit, and
________. - (ANSWER)Widened mediastinum
Definition: Inflammation of the inner lining of the heart, usually involving the valves. -
(ANSWER)Endocarditis
Terminology: ST-segment elevation on ECG indicates ________. - (ANSWER)Myocardial infarction (STEMI)
Scenario: A patient presents with jugular vein distention, muffled heart sounds, and hypotension. What
is the likely diagnosis? - (ANSWER)Pericardial tamponade (Beck's triad)
Fill in the blank: The term "afterload" refers to the resistance the ________ must overcome to eject
blood. - (ANSWER)Left ventricle
Definition: Sudden cessation of cardiac mechanical activity confirmed by absence of pulse,
unresponsiveness, and apnea. - (ANSWER)Cardiopulmonary arrest
Scenario: A patient with chest pain radiating to the jaw and diaphoresis likely has ________. -
(ANSWER)Acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
Terminology: A life-threatening ventricular rhythm with no effective cardiac output. -
(ANSWER)Ventricular fibrillation
Fill in the blank: Aneurysm refers to a localized ________ of an artery. - (ANSWER)Dilation or ballooning
Definition: Inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart. - (ANSWER)Pericarditis
,CEA EMERGENCY NURSING EXAM with Questions and Answers/Plus a
Rationale Updated 2026 A+
Scenario: A trauma patient presents with distended neck veins, absent breath sounds on one side, and
hypotension — this indicates ________. - (ANSWER)Tension pneumothorax causing obstructive shock
Terminology: Condition in which the heart cannot pump sufficient blood to meet the body's needs. -
(ANSWER)Heart failure
Fill in the blank: The most common site for a deep vein thrombosis is the ________ vein. -
(ANSWER)Popliteal or femoral
Definition: Sudden blockage of a pulmonary artery by a thrombus. - (ANSWER)Pulmonary embolism
Scenario: A patient with tearing chest pain radiating to the back and a different BP in each arm may have
________. - (ANSWER)Aortic dissection
Terminology: Refers to elevated arterial pressure persistently above normal range. -
(ANSWER)Hypertension
Fill in the blank: The medication used to dissolve clots in acute STEMI is called a ________. -
(ANSWER)Thrombolytic (fibrinolytic)
Definition: Shock resulting from failure of the heart to pump effectively. - (ANSWER)Cardiogenic shock
Scenario: A patient presents with cold, pale extremity, pain, paresthesia, and pulselessness — think
________. - (ANSWER)Acute arterial occlusion (Peripheral vascular disease)
Terminology: Abnormally slow heart rhythm (<60 bpm). - (ANSWER)Bradycardia
,CEA EMERGENCY NURSING EXAM with Questions and Answers/Plus a
Rationale Updated 2026 A+
Fill in the blank: "Preload" refers to the volume of blood returning to the ________. - (ANSWER)Heart
(ventricles)
Definition: Irregular, chaotic atrial rhythm without distinct P waves. - (ANSWER)Atrial fibrillation
Scenario: Patient with endocarditis develops sudden flank pain — suspect ________. - (ANSWER)Renal
emboli (systemic embolization)
Terminology: A life-threatening elevation in blood pressure with end-organ damage. -
(ANSWER)Hypertensive emergency
Fill in the blank: The definitive treatment for cardiac tamponade is ________. -
(ANSWER)Pericardiocentesis
Definition: Failure of blood flow due to mechanical obstruction to cardiac filling. - (ANSWER)Obstructive
shock
Scenario: Patient develops chest pain post-MI, friction rub heard — indicates ________. -
(ANSWER)Pericarditis
Terminology: Temporary loss of consciousness due to decreased cerebral perfusion. - (ANSWER)Syncope
Fill in the blank: The mnemonic "MONA" (Morphine, Oxygen, Nitroglycerin, Aspirin) applies to initial
treatment of ________. - (ANSWER)Acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
Definition: Inflammation and infection of a vein with thrombus formation. - (ANSWER)Thrombophlebitis
Definition: Entry of foreign material into the tracheobronchial tree. - (ANSWER)Aspiration
, CEA EMERGENCY NURSING EXAM with Questions and Answers/Plus a
Rationale Updated 2026 A+
Fill in the blank: A chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by reversible airway obstruction is
called ________. - (ANSWER)Asthma
Terminology: A progressive, irreversible airflow limitation commonly caused by chronic bronchitis or
emphysema. - (ANSWER)Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Scenario: A patient presents with fever, productive cough, and crackles in the right lower lobe.
Diagnosis? - (ANSWER)Pneumonia (respiratory infection)
Definition: Lung injury caused by inhalation of toxic gases, smoke, or chemicals. - (ANSWER)Inhalation
injury
Fill in the blank: The accumulation of fluid in the pleural space is known as ________. - (ANSWER)Pleural
effusion
Scenario: Sudden dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain with absent breath sounds on one side indicates
________. - (ANSWER)Pneumothorax
Terminology: Noncardiac cause of pulmonary edema often due to increased capillary permeability. -
(ANSWER)Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
Definition: Sudden blockage of pulmonary arteries, usually from a thrombus. - (ANSWER)Pulmonary
embolus
Fill in the blank: The presence of air in the pleural space causing lung collapse is called ________. -
(ANSWER)Pneumothorax
Rationale Updated 2026 A+
Fill in the blank: The classic triad of acute aortic dissection includes chest pain, pulse deficit, and
________. - (ANSWER)Widened mediastinum
Definition: Inflammation of the inner lining of the heart, usually involving the valves. -
(ANSWER)Endocarditis
Terminology: ST-segment elevation on ECG indicates ________. - (ANSWER)Myocardial infarction (STEMI)
Scenario: A patient presents with jugular vein distention, muffled heart sounds, and hypotension. What
is the likely diagnosis? - (ANSWER)Pericardial tamponade (Beck's triad)
Fill in the blank: The term "afterload" refers to the resistance the ________ must overcome to eject
blood. - (ANSWER)Left ventricle
Definition: Sudden cessation of cardiac mechanical activity confirmed by absence of pulse,
unresponsiveness, and apnea. - (ANSWER)Cardiopulmonary arrest
Scenario: A patient with chest pain radiating to the jaw and diaphoresis likely has ________. -
(ANSWER)Acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
Terminology: A life-threatening ventricular rhythm with no effective cardiac output. -
(ANSWER)Ventricular fibrillation
Fill in the blank: Aneurysm refers to a localized ________ of an artery. - (ANSWER)Dilation or ballooning
Definition: Inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart. - (ANSWER)Pericarditis
,CEA EMERGENCY NURSING EXAM with Questions and Answers/Plus a
Rationale Updated 2026 A+
Scenario: A trauma patient presents with distended neck veins, absent breath sounds on one side, and
hypotension — this indicates ________. - (ANSWER)Tension pneumothorax causing obstructive shock
Terminology: Condition in which the heart cannot pump sufficient blood to meet the body's needs. -
(ANSWER)Heart failure
Fill in the blank: The most common site for a deep vein thrombosis is the ________ vein. -
(ANSWER)Popliteal or femoral
Definition: Sudden blockage of a pulmonary artery by a thrombus. - (ANSWER)Pulmonary embolism
Scenario: A patient with tearing chest pain radiating to the back and a different BP in each arm may have
________. - (ANSWER)Aortic dissection
Terminology: Refers to elevated arterial pressure persistently above normal range. -
(ANSWER)Hypertension
Fill in the blank: The medication used to dissolve clots in acute STEMI is called a ________. -
(ANSWER)Thrombolytic (fibrinolytic)
Definition: Shock resulting from failure of the heart to pump effectively. - (ANSWER)Cardiogenic shock
Scenario: A patient presents with cold, pale extremity, pain, paresthesia, and pulselessness — think
________. - (ANSWER)Acute arterial occlusion (Peripheral vascular disease)
Terminology: Abnormally slow heart rhythm (<60 bpm). - (ANSWER)Bradycardia
,CEA EMERGENCY NURSING EXAM with Questions and Answers/Plus a
Rationale Updated 2026 A+
Fill in the blank: "Preload" refers to the volume of blood returning to the ________. - (ANSWER)Heart
(ventricles)
Definition: Irregular, chaotic atrial rhythm without distinct P waves. - (ANSWER)Atrial fibrillation
Scenario: Patient with endocarditis develops sudden flank pain — suspect ________. - (ANSWER)Renal
emboli (systemic embolization)
Terminology: A life-threatening elevation in blood pressure with end-organ damage. -
(ANSWER)Hypertensive emergency
Fill in the blank: The definitive treatment for cardiac tamponade is ________. -
(ANSWER)Pericardiocentesis
Definition: Failure of blood flow due to mechanical obstruction to cardiac filling. - (ANSWER)Obstructive
shock
Scenario: Patient develops chest pain post-MI, friction rub heard — indicates ________. -
(ANSWER)Pericarditis
Terminology: Temporary loss of consciousness due to decreased cerebral perfusion. - (ANSWER)Syncope
Fill in the blank: The mnemonic "MONA" (Morphine, Oxygen, Nitroglycerin, Aspirin) applies to initial
treatment of ________. - (ANSWER)Acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
Definition: Inflammation and infection of a vein with thrombus formation. - (ANSWER)Thrombophlebitis
Definition: Entry of foreign material into the tracheobronchial tree. - (ANSWER)Aspiration
, CEA EMERGENCY NURSING EXAM with Questions and Answers/Plus a
Rationale Updated 2026 A+
Fill in the blank: A chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by reversible airway obstruction is
called ________. - (ANSWER)Asthma
Terminology: A progressive, irreversible airflow limitation commonly caused by chronic bronchitis or
emphysema. - (ANSWER)Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Scenario: A patient presents with fever, productive cough, and crackles in the right lower lobe.
Diagnosis? - (ANSWER)Pneumonia (respiratory infection)
Definition: Lung injury caused by inhalation of toxic gases, smoke, or chemicals. - (ANSWER)Inhalation
injury
Fill in the blank: The accumulation of fluid in the pleural space is known as ________. - (ANSWER)Pleural
effusion
Scenario: Sudden dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain with absent breath sounds on one side indicates
________. - (ANSWER)Pneumothorax
Terminology: Noncardiac cause of pulmonary edema often due to increased capillary permeability. -
(ANSWER)Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
Definition: Sudden blockage of pulmonary arteries, usually from a thrombus. - (ANSWER)Pulmonary
embolus
Fill in the blank: The presence of air in the pleural space causing lung collapse is called ________. -
(ANSWER)Pneumothorax
