Certified Emergency Nurse Flashcards
7 cards from real CEN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Certified Emergency Nurse flashcards as text
A 28-year-old female presents with right lower quadrant pain, vaginal spotting, and a positive pregnancy test. Her BP is 80/50 and HR is 128. What is the priority intervention?
Answer: Establish large-bore IV access and prepare for emergency surgery
This presentation is consistent with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy causing hemorrhagic shock; immediate IV access, fluid resuscitation, and surgical preparation are priorities.
Which Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score indicates the need for definitive airway management?
Answer: GCS 8 or less
A GCS of 8 or less indicates severe brain injury with inability to protect the airway, requiring endotracheal intubation.
A patient with sickle cell disease presents with fever of 38.9°C, chest pain, and a new pulmonary infiltrate on CXR. This presentation is most consistent with:
Answer: Acute chest syndrome
Acute chest syndrome is defined by a new pulmonary infiltrate with fever, chest pain, or respiratory symptoms in a sickle cell patient.
A nurse is caring for a patient receiving tPA for acute ischemic stroke. The patient suddenly develops severe headache and BP rises to 185/105. What is the priority action?
Answer: Stop the tPA infusion and notify the physician immediately
Sudden severe headache and hypertension during tPA therapy are signs of hemorrhagic transformation; the infusion must be stopped immediately.
Which finding in a pediatric patient is the EARLIEST indicator of decompensated shock?
Answer: Tachycardia
Children compensate effectively for shock; tachycardia is the earliest sign, while hypotension is a late and ominous finding.
A patient is ordered IV potassium chloride 40 mEq to be given peripherally. What is the maximum infusion rate for peripheral IV potassium administration?
Answer: 10 mEq/hr
Peripheral potassium infusion should not exceed 10 mEq/hr to prevent phlebitis, pain, and cardiac dysrhythmias.
A patient presents with muscle weakness, peaked T-waves on ECG, and a serum potassium of 6.8 mEq/L. Which intervention is the FIRST priority to protect the heart?
Answer: Administer IV calcium gluconate
Calcium gluconate is given first to stabilize the cardiac membrane and protect against fatal dysrhythmias before potassium-lowering measures.