10 free, exam-style Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) practice questions with answers and explanations. No signup required. Work through them below, then take the full free CEN practice test to study every exam domain.
The CEN exam has 175 questions and runs 3 hours.
These 10 free CEN questions are organized by exam domain, so you can see how each part of the Certified Emergency Nurse blueprint is tested. Reveal the answer and explanation under each question.
A patient with an inferior wall STEMI develops hypotension, jugular venous distension, and clear lung sounds. The nurse suspects right ventricular infarction. Which medication should be AVOIDED?
Correct answer: C - Nitroglycerin sublingual or IV drip
A trauma patient has absent breath sounds on the left, JVD, tracheal deviation to the right, and hypotension. The PRIORITY intervention is:
Correct answer: B - Needle decompression of the left chest
A patient receiving tPA for ischemic stroke suddenly develops severe headache, vomiting, and worsening neurological deficits. The nurse should FIRST:
Correct answer: B - Stop the tPA infusion and obtain a STAT CT head
A pregnant patient at 35 weeks presents with sudden severe abdominal pain, dark red vaginal bleeding, and a rigid board-like uterus. The nurse suspects:
Correct answer: B - Abruptio placentae with concealed bleeding
A patient presents to the ED stating, "I don't want to live anymore." The nurse's FIRST response should be:
Correct answer: B - Ask directly about suicidal thoughts and a plan
A patient's ECG shows peaked T waves, widened QRS complexes, and a potassium level of 7.2 mEq/L. The FIRST medication to administer is:
Correct answer: B - Calcium gluconate 10% to stabilize the myocardium
The EARLIEST and MOST reliable sign of compartment syndrome is:
Correct answer: C - Pain out of proportion to injury, worsened by passive stretch
A patient presents after a splash of industrial alkaline cleaning solution into both eyes. The FIRST action the nurse should take is:
Correct answer: C - Begin immediate copious irrigation with normal saline
Using the Parkland formula, an 80 kg patient with 30% TBSA burns requires how much lactated Ringer's in the first 24 hours?
Correct answer: C - 9,600 mL
An elderly patient presents with vague complaints of fatigue and 'not feeling well.' Vital signs show HR 110, BP 88/60, RR 22, and SpO2 91%. The nurse should recognize:
Correct answer: B - Abnormal vitals are danger signs warranting ESI level 2
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