EMERGENCY NURSING FINAL EXAM WITH ACTUAL 40
PREP QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
1. Which patient should the nurse prioritize as needing emergent
treatment, assuming no other injuries are present except the ones
outlined below?
A) A patient with a blunt chest trauma with some difficulty breathing
B) A patient with a sore neck who was immobilized in the field on a
backboard with a cervical collar
C) A patient with a possible fractured tibia with adequate pedal pulses
D) A patient with an acute onset of confusion - correct answer- Ans:
A
Feedback: The patient with blunt chest trauma possibly has a
compromised airway. Establishment and maintenance of a patent airway
and adequate ventilation is prioritized over other health problems,
including skeletal injuries and changes in cognition.;2. The nurse
observes that the family members of a patient who was injured in an
accident are blaming each other for the circumstances leading up to the
accident. The nurse appropriately lets the family members express their
feelings of responsibility, while explaining that there was probably little
they could do to prevent the injury. In what stage of crisis is this family?
A) Anxiety and denial B) Remorse and guilt C) Anger D) Grief - correct
answer- : B Feedback: Remorse and guilt are natural processes of the
stages of a crisis and should be facilitated for the family members to
process the crisis. The familys sense of blame and responsibility are
more suggestive of guilt than anger, grief, or anxiety.;3. A patient is
brought to the ED by ambulance with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
,The nurse knows that the most common hollow organ injured in this
type of injury is what?
A) Liver
B) Small bowel
C) Stomach
D) Large bowel - correct answer- ans: B Feedback: Penetrating
abdominal wounds have a high incidence of injury to hollow organs,
especially the small bowel. The liver is also injured frequently, but it is a
solid organ.;4. A patient has been brought to the ED with multiple
trauma after a motor vehicle accident. After immediate threats to life
have been addressed, the nurse and trauma team should take what
action?
A) Perform a rapid physical assessment.
B) Initiate health education.
C) Perform diagnostic imaging.
D) Establish the circumstances of the accident. - correct answer- ans:
A Feedback: Once immediate threats to life have been corrected, a rapid
physical examination is done to identify injuries and priorities of
treatment. Health education is initiated later in the care process and
diagnostic imaging would take place after a rapid physical assessment. It
is not the care teams responsibility to determine the circumstances of
the accident.;5. The nursing educator is reviewing the signs and
symptoms of heat stroke with a group of nurses who provide care in a
desert region. The educator should describe what sign or symptom? A)
Hypertension with a wide pulse pressure B) Anhidrosis C) Copious
diuresis - 1351 D) Cheyne-Stokes respirations - correct answer- : B
Feedback: Heat stroke is manifested by anhidrosis confusion, bizarre
behavior, coma, elevated body temperature, hot dry skin, tachypnea,
, hypotension, and tachycardia. This health problem is not associated with
anhidrosis or Cheyne-Stokes respirations.;6. A patient is brought to the
ED by ambulance after swallowing highly acidic toilet bowl cleaner 2
hours earlier. The patient is alert and oriented. What is the care teams
most appropriate treatment?
A) Administering syrup of ipecac
B) Performing a gastric lavage
C) Giving milk to drink
D) Referring to psychiatry - correct answer- ans: C Feedback: A
patient who has swallowed an acidic substance, such as toilet bowl
cleaner, may be given milk or water to drink for dilution. Gastric lavage
must be performed within 1 hour of ingestion. A psychiatric consult may
be considered once the patient is physically stable and it is deemed
appropriate by the physician. Syrup of ipecac is no longer used in clinical
settings.;7. A patient is admitted to the ED with suspected alcohol
intoxication. The ED nurse is aware of the need to assess for conditions
that can mimic acute alcohol intoxication. In light of this need, the nurse
should perform what action?
A) Check the patients blood glucose level.
B) Assess for a documented history of major depression.
C) Determine whether the patient has ingested a corrosive substance.
D) Arrange for assessment of serum potassium levels. - correct answer-
ans: A Feedback: Hypoglycemia can mimic alcohol intoxication and
should be assessed in a patient suspected of alcohol intoxication.
Potassium imbalances, depression, and poison ingestion are not noted
to mimic the characteristic signs and symptoms of alcohol
intoxication.;8. The paramedics bring a patient who has suffered a sexual
assault to the ED. What is important for the sexual assault nurse
PREP QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
1. Which patient should the nurse prioritize as needing emergent
treatment, assuming no other injuries are present except the ones
outlined below?
A) A patient with a blunt chest trauma with some difficulty breathing
B) A patient with a sore neck who was immobilized in the field on a
backboard with a cervical collar
C) A patient with a possible fractured tibia with adequate pedal pulses
D) A patient with an acute onset of confusion - correct answer- Ans:
A
Feedback: The patient with blunt chest trauma possibly has a
compromised airway. Establishment and maintenance of a patent airway
and adequate ventilation is prioritized over other health problems,
including skeletal injuries and changes in cognition.;2. The nurse
observes that the family members of a patient who was injured in an
accident are blaming each other for the circumstances leading up to the
accident. The nurse appropriately lets the family members express their
feelings of responsibility, while explaining that there was probably little
they could do to prevent the injury. In what stage of crisis is this family?
A) Anxiety and denial B) Remorse and guilt C) Anger D) Grief - correct
answer- : B Feedback: Remorse and guilt are natural processes of the
stages of a crisis and should be facilitated for the family members to
process the crisis. The familys sense of blame and responsibility are
more suggestive of guilt than anger, grief, or anxiety.;3. A patient is
brought to the ED by ambulance with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
,The nurse knows that the most common hollow organ injured in this
type of injury is what?
A) Liver
B) Small bowel
C) Stomach
D) Large bowel - correct answer- ans: B Feedback: Penetrating
abdominal wounds have a high incidence of injury to hollow organs,
especially the small bowel. The liver is also injured frequently, but it is a
solid organ.;4. A patient has been brought to the ED with multiple
trauma after a motor vehicle accident. After immediate threats to life
have been addressed, the nurse and trauma team should take what
action?
A) Perform a rapid physical assessment.
B) Initiate health education.
C) Perform diagnostic imaging.
D) Establish the circumstances of the accident. - correct answer- ans:
A Feedback: Once immediate threats to life have been corrected, a rapid
physical examination is done to identify injuries and priorities of
treatment. Health education is initiated later in the care process and
diagnostic imaging would take place after a rapid physical assessment. It
is not the care teams responsibility to determine the circumstances of
the accident.;5. The nursing educator is reviewing the signs and
symptoms of heat stroke with a group of nurses who provide care in a
desert region. The educator should describe what sign or symptom? A)
Hypertension with a wide pulse pressure B) Anhidrosis C) Copious
diuresis - 1351 D) Cheyne-Stokes respirations - correct answer- : B
Feedback: Heat stroke is manifested by anhidrosis confusion, bizarre
behavior, coma, elevated body temperature, hot dry skin, tachypnea,
, hypotension, and tachycardia. This health problem is not associated with
anhidrosis or Cheyne-Stokes respirations.;6. A patient is brought to the
ED by ambulance after swallowing highly acidic toilet bowl cleaner 2
hours earlier. The patient is alert and oriented. What is the care teams
most appropriate treatment?
A) Administering syrup of ipecac
B) Performing a gastric lavage
C) Giving milk to drink
D) Referring to psychiatry - correct answer- ans: C Feedback: A
patient who has swallowed an acidic substance, such as toilet bowl
cleaner, may be given milk or water to drink for dilution. Gastric lavage
must be performed within 1 hour of ingestion. A psychiatric consult may
be considered once the patient is physically stable and it is deemed
appropriate by the physician. Syrup of ipecac is no longer used in clinical
settings.;7. A patient is admitted to the ED with suspected alcohol
intoxication. The ED nurse is aware of the need to assess for conditions
that can mimic acute alcohol intoxication. In light of this need, the nurse
should perform what action?
A) Check the patients blood glucose level.
B) Assess for a documented history of major depression.
C) Determine whether the patient has ingested a corrosive substance.
D) Arrange for assessment of serum potassium levels. - correct answer-
ans: A Feedback: Hypoglycemia can mimic alcohol intoxication and
should be assessed in a patient suspected of alcohol intoxication.
Potassium imbalances, depression, and poison ingestion are not noted
to mimic the characteristic signs and symptoms of alcohol
intoxication.;8. The paramedics bring a patient who has suffered a sexual
assault to the ED. What is important for the sexual assault nurse
