CEN Practice Quiz: Can You Triage Like An ER Pro?

1. A patient arrives with a penetrating chest wound and difficulty breathing. What triage level should be assigned?

ESI Level 1 (Emergent)

ESI Level 2 (Urgent)

ESI Level 3 (Semiurgent)

ESI Level 4 (Nonurgent)

2. Which vital sign combination indicates possible septic shock in an adult?

BP 140/90, HR 60, RR 14

BP 85/50, HR 110, RR 22, temp 38.5°C

BP 120/80, HR 72, RR 16

BP 150/95, HR 85, RR 18

3. A patient with altered mental status and pinpoint pupils arrives via ambulance. What is the priority intervention?

Obtain IV access and administer naloxone

Perform a full neurological exam

Order stat CT head

Administer glucose immediately

4. Which patient presentation requires immediate triage to resuscitation (ESI Level 1)?

Conscious patient with severe anxiety

Unresponsive patient with no palpable pulse

Alert patient with stable vital signs and chest pain

Patient with minor laceration and normal vitals

5. A patient reports sudden-onset severe headache, neck stiffness, and fever. What condition should be suspected?

Tension headache

Migraine

Meningitis

Sinus infection

6. What is the normal Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score?

8

10

15

20

7. A patient presents with crushing substernal chest pain radiating to the left arm and diaphoresis. What is the priority action?

Obtain 12-lead ECG and establish IV access

Send patient to waiting room and reassess later

Administer aspirin only

Discharge with cardiology referral

8. Which finding indicates a tension pneumothorax requiring immediate intervention?

Mild dyspnea and clear lung sounds

Hypotension, JVD, tracheal deviation, and absent breath sounds

Normal vital signs and bilateral breath sounds

Productive cough with fever

9. A patient with a history of diabetes is confused, sweating, and trembling. Blood glucose is 45 mg/dL. What is the immediate treatment?

Observe and recheck glucose in 30 minutes

Administer IV dextrose or oral glucose

Administer insulin

Discharge with dietary counseling

10. What is the primary goal of the ESI triage algorithm?

Reduce hospital admission rates

Assign patients to appropriate care levels based on acuity and resource needs

Minimize ED wait times only

Decrease nursing workload

11. A patient arrives with severe facial trauma and potential airway compromise. What is the initial nursing action?

Clean the wound

Assess airway patency and prepare for possible intubation

Apply a cervical collar

Obtain facial X-rays

12. Which vital sign threshold typically indicates a patient requires ESI Level 2 triage?

Systolic BP < 90 mmHg or RR > 24

Heart rate 88 bpm, RR 16

Temperature 37.5°C, all others normal

Oxygen saturation 99% on room air

13. A patient with severe burns covering 25% body surface area arrives at the ED. What is the priority action?

Clean burns with soap and water

Establish two large-bore IVs and initiate fluid resuscitation

Apply topical antibiotics

Refer to outpatient burn clinic

14. Which assessment finding suggests a patient is in hypovolemic shock?

Bounding pulses, warm skin, normal BP

Weak pulses, cool extremities, low BP, tachycardia

Bradycardia with hypertension

Regular rhythm with flushed appearance

15. A patient reports sudden vision loss in one eye with eye pain. What emergency condition should be ruled out?

Presbyopia

Acute angle-closure glaucoma

Refractive error

Astigmatism

CEN Practice Quiz: Can You Triage Like an ER Pro?