CFRN Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the CFRN exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 CFRN Exam Format at a Glance
📚 CFRN Topics to Study (21)
✍️ Sample CFRN Questions & Answers
1. Serum lactate levels are used in shock assessment primarily because elevated lactate indicates:
Elevated lactate reflects anaerobic metabolism occurring when tissues are underperfused, making it a key marker of shock severity and resuscitation adequacy.
2. What is the correct management for a patient with status asthmaticus who is not responding to bronchodilators during transport?
IV magnesium sulfate causes bronchial smooth muscle relaxation and is a key adjunct in refractory asthma; intubation preparation is critical if ventilatory failure is imminent.
3. A flight nurse administers adenosine 6 mg IV push for SVT. The patient does not convert. What is the correct next dose?
If the initial 6 mg dose of adenosine does not convert SVT, the recommended second dose is 12 mg IV push.
4. A flight nurse is transporting a 2-day-old neonate who becomes jittery and lethargic. A point-of-care blood glucose is 28 mg/dL (1.6 mmol/L). What is the most appropriate immediate intervention?
Symptomatic hypoglycemia in a neonate is a medical emergency requiring immediate correction with intravenous dextrose. The appropriate concentration for a neonate is D10W to avoid the hyperosmolarity and potential for venous damage associated with higher concentrations like D25W or D50W. The standard bolus dose is 2 mL/kg of D10W. While feeding is important, it is not rapid enough for a symptomatic infant. Glucagon is a second-line option if IV access cannot be obtained.
5. Which medication is used to rapidly reduce intracranial pressure during air transport of a TBI patient?
Hypertonic saline or mannitol creates an osmotic gradient that draws water out of brain tissue, acutely reducing intracranial pressure.
6. The base deficit on an arterial blood gas in a trauma patient is -10 mEq/L. This finding correlates with:
A base deficit more negative than -6 mEq/L indicates severe metabolic acidosis from lactate accumulation due to profound tissue hypoperfusion in shock.