CPEN Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CPEN facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. In CPEN practice, what is the best approach to quality improvement in cardiac emergencies? → Use data-driven methods with measurable outcomes
2. Which assessment finding best differentiates peritonitis from a non-surgical cause of abdominal pain in a pediatric patient? → Abdominal guarding and rebound tenderness
3. In CPEN practice, what is the best approach to quality improvement in environmental emergencies? → Use data-driven methods with measurable outcomes
4. Which medication is the antidote for benzodiazepine overdose in a pediatric patient? → Flumazenil
5. A 4-year-old is found apneic. After 2 rescue breaths fail to produce chest rise, the next step is: → Attempt to ventilate again with head repositioned
6. A 7-year-old presents 4 hours after last seizure with persistent confusion and no return to baseline. The MOST appropriate diagnosis to rule out immediately is: → Nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE)
7. A 7-year-old is brought in after ingesting an unknown number of acetaminophen tablets 2 hours ago. Which antidote should be prepared for administration? → N-acetylcysteine
8. When administering activated charcoal to a pediatric patient, which condition is an ABSOLUTE contraindication? → Unprotected airway or altered mental status
9. Beck's triad (hypotension, muffled heart sounds, distended neck veins) in a trauma patient suggests: → Cardiac tamponade
10. In a pediatric patient with suspected increased intracranial pressure, which pupillary finding indicates uncal herniation? → Unilateral fixed and dilated pupil
11. Which presentation BEST describes 'warm shock' (hyperdynamic septic shock) in a pediatric patient? → Bounding pulses, flash capillary refill, and wide pulse pressure
12. An 8-year-old boy presents with hip pain and a limp for 3 weeks. X-ray shows flattening of the left femoral head. Which condition is most likely? → Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease
13. Which approach best demonstrates mastery of cardiac emergencies in CPEN practice? → Applying principles to novel situations with sound judgment
14. A 6-year-old presents with syncope during exercise and ECG shows a QTc of 520 ms. Which condition does this suggest? → Long QT syndrome
15. A nurse caring for a 4-year-old with suspected child abuse is MOST appropriately guided by which principle? → Document objective findings only and follow mandatory reporting obligations
16. When applying a traction splint to a pediatric femur fracture in the ED, what is the primary goal? → To reduce muscle spasm, decrease pain, and control hemorrhage by restoring femur length
17. Which of the following vital sign parameters is MOST age-appropriate for a healthy 1-year-old? → Heart rate 100–160 bpm, RR 25–35
18. A child presents after a chemical splash to the eye. The parent is unsure of the substance. What is the emergency nurse's first priority intervention? → Immediately irrigate the eye with copious normal saline or water
19. Which approach best demonstrates mastery of respiratory emergencies in CPEN practice? → Applying principles to novel situations with sound judgment
20. What is the most effective approach to medication administration in the CPEN field? → Systematic planning and continuous improvement
21. Which CSF analysis result is MOST consistent with bacterial meningitis? → Turbid fluid, elevated protein, decreased glucose, neutrophilic pleocytosis
22. When assessing respiratory distress in a toddler, nasal flaring PRIMARILY indicates: → Increased respiratory effort to maximize airflow
23. What is the recommended initial energy dose for synchronized cardioversion in a pediatric patient with unstable SVT? → 0.5–1 J/kg
24. A 12-year-old male presents with knee pain and a visible bump just below the knee. He is an avid basketball player. What is the most likely diagnosis? → Osgood-Schlatter disease
25. A 7-year-old with autism spectrum disorder arrives in the ED in behavioral crisis, screaming and hitting staff. The FIRST intervention should be: → Place the child in a quiet, low-stimulation room
26. A 15-year-old presents with thunderclap headache — worst of life, sudden onset. After a negative CT, the NEXT step is: → Lumbar puncture to detect xanthochromia
27. A 5-year-old is prescribed ibuprofen 10 mg/kg PO. The child weighs 20 kg and the suspension is 100 mg/5 mL. How many mL should be given? → 10 mL
28. A 5-year-old is found unresponsive. The nurse confirms no pulse and begins CPR. What is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio for a single rescuer? → 30:2
29. Which antidote is indicated for severe iron poisoning in a pediatric patient? → Deferoxamine
30. A 7-year-old (25 kg) with asthma requires IV methylprednisolone 1 mg/kg. The vial contains 125 mg/2 mL. What volume should be drawn up? → 0.4 mL