Practice Test Geeks(CARN) Certified Addictions Registered Nurse Practice Test
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Assessment and Diagnosis Flashcards

7 cards from real CARN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Assessment and Diagnosis flashcards as text

  1. A patient scoring 15 on the CIWA-Ar (Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol) should be managed with which intervention?

    Answer: Pharmacological treatment with benzodiazepines

    A CIWA-Ar score of 15 or higher indicates severe alcohol withdrawal requiring pharmacological intervention, typically with benzodiazepines.

  2. When assessing a patient for opioid use disorder, which physical finding is most consistent with chronic opioid use?

    Answer: Track marks and venous sclerosis at injection sites

    Track marks and venous sclerosis are classic physical signs of repeated intravenous opioid use.

  3. The DSM-5 diagnoses substance use disorder on a severity continuum. Which combination of criteria count correctly defines 'severe' SUD?

    Answer: 6 or more criteria

    DSM-5 classifies SUD as mild (2-3 criteria), moderate (4-5 criteria), and severe (6 or more criteria).

  4. A patient in opioid withdrawal reports severe muscle cramping, diarrhea, and yawning. Using the COWS scale, which domain captures the yawning symptom?

    Answer: Autonomic signs

    Yawning is scored under autonomic signs on the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS).

  5. Which screening tool is specifically validated for identifying unhealthy alcohol use in primary care settings?

    Answer: AUDIT-C

    The AUDIT-C is a validated 3-item screen derived from the full AUDIT, specifically designed for rapid detection of unhealthy alcohol use in primary care.

  6. A nurse is assessing a patient who uses methamphetamine daily. Which psychiatric symptom is most commonly associated with stimulant use disorder?

    Answer: Paranoid psychosis

    Paranoid psychosis, including hallucinations and delusions, is a common psychiatric complication of chronic methamphetamine use.

  7. During a comprehensive addiction assessment, which domain is assessed by asking about a patient's employment, legal history, and living situation?

    Answer: Biopsychosocial functioning

    Employment, legal history, and living situation are components of the biopsychosocial assessment that evaluates functioning across multiple life domains.

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Sources & references

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  1. cnetnurse.com — Renewal, score validity, test delivery, exam format, passing score, retake policy, score release, time limit, test dates, exam information · verified Oct 2026