AANP FNP LATEST 2026 STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔All of the following are typical changes to the gastrointestinal system that come with
aging EXCEPT:
decreased liver size
decreased muscle tone in bowel
increased absorption of calcium
atrophy of salivary glands - ✔✔Correct answer:
increased absorption of calcium
Decreased absorption of calcium is a common change that comes with aging, not
increased absorption. Other gastrointestinal changes include: less efficient cholesterol
stabilization and absorption, atrophy of taste buds, and slowing in esophageal emptying,
among others.
✔✔A 28-year-old female patient is in the office and is to undergo radioactive iodine
treatment for Graves disease. The ANP is counseling her and understands that the
mechanism of action of this treatment therapy is:
alter the thyroid metabolic rate
relieve distress caused by increased thyroid size
destroy the overactive thyroid tissue
reduce production of TSH - ✔✔Correct answer:
destroy the overactive thyroid tissue
Graves disease is the most common form of thyrotoxicosis. Radioactive iodine is used
for thyroid ablation to destroy the overactive thyroid tissue that causes the thyroid
hormone dysfunction.
✔✔Which of the following statements about falls in the elderly is least accurate?
Black women are at higher risk for hip fractures than white women.
The majority of deaths from falls are among people aged 65 years or older.
Injuries from falls include head injuries, pelvic injuries, lacerations, and more.
About 90% of hip fractures are due to falls. - ✔✔Correct Answer:
Black women are at higher risk for hip fractures than white women.
It is white women, not black women, who are at higher risk for hip fractures. Falls are
one of the most common adverse events that threaten the quality of life of older adults.
Falls among older adults are not a normal consequence of aging.
,✔✔Normal age-related changes of the skin may be confused with which of the following
clinical abnormalities?
dehydration
vitiligo
scabies
shingles - ✔✔Correct Answer:
dehydration
Normal age-related changes of the skin may be confused with dehydration. Sebaceous
gland activity tends to decrease with age, and the skin's natural hydrators decline over
the years. The skin's ability to regenerate lipids compromising the protective lipid barrier
layer of the Stratum Corneum also declines with age, as does blood flow to the skin,
which may cause a drop in sebum production.
✔✔A 29-year old woman who is 6 weeks postpartum reports she is having rectal
bleeding that she believes is related to hemorrhoids. The Adult Nurse Practitioner
knows that this type of rectal bleeding is usually described as:
dark brown to black blood color with normal-appearing stool
significant amounts of bright red blood
large blood clots and mucus mixed with stool
streaks of bright red blood on the stool - ✔✔The Correct answer is:
streaks of bright red blood on the stool
Choice D is the right answer. The color of blood related to hemorrhoids is described as
bright red, eliminating choice A. Amount of blood with hemorrhoids is usually small or
scant, eliminating choices B and C. Internal hemorrhoids can occur during or after
childbirth. With chronically protruding or prolapsing hemorrhoids, the patient often
reports mucous leaking and staining of the undergarments. Other causes are obesity,
constipation, and prolonged sitting.
✔✔You have a patient with AIDS. You recognize that a low CD4 T-cell count puts the
patient at risk for opportunistic infections. You are reviewing his lab reports and see that
his CD4 T-cell count is indeed low. Which of the following is the normal range for CD4
T-cell count?
800 -1400
700 -1400
400 - 1000
600 -1200 - ✔✔Correct answer:
600 -1200
, The normal CD4 T-cell count is 600 - 1200. A low CD4 T-cell count is below 600. The
destruction of the CD4 T-cell causes depletion in the number of CD4 T-cells and
consequently increases the risk of infection. This puts the patient at risk for infection.
✔✔ou have an adult patient with diabetes whose blood pressure is 145/95 mm Hg.
Which stage of hypertension does this indicate?
normal
pre-hypertension
Stage I
Stage II - ✔✔Correct Answer:
Stage I
Stage I hypertension is characterized by a systolic pressure of 140 - 159 mm Hg and a
diastolic pressure of 90 - 99 mm Hg. The treatment recommendation for this stage is
usually a thiazide diuretic and for those with diabetes, either ACE inhibitors or ARBs,
because of their renal protective properties.
✔✔Clinical findings that are characteristic of asthma include all of the following
EXCEPT:
wheezing with and without associated respiratory infections
a congested cough worse during the day
recurrent shortness of breath with exercise
a recurrent spasmodic cough that is worse at night - ✔✔The Correct answer is:
a congested cough worse during the day
Choice B is the right answer. The asthmatic patient complains of a cough that is worse
at night and has little congestion or sputum production. There is a history of wheezing
and chest tightness, shortness of breath with exercise, and symptoms that worsen after
airborne allergen exposure.
✔✔Which of the following is an example of objective data used for diagnosis?
Patient reports being more tired than usual.
Patient reports having difficulty breathing.
Patient reports productive cough.
Patient's cough produces yellow sputum. - ✔✔Correct Answer: Patient's cough
produces yellow sputum Objective data must be measurable and verifiable. It is key to
collect both objective and subjective data to form correct differential diagnoses and then
to determine the correct diagnosis and course of further testing or treatment for a
patient. The ability to synthesize both objective and subjective data is a key skill for
NPs.
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔All of the following are typical changes to the gastrointestinal system that come with
aging EXCEPT:
decreased liver size
decreased muscle tone in bowel
increased absorption of calcium
atrophy of salivary glands - ✔✔Correct answer:
increased absorption of calcium
Decreased absorption of calcium is a common change that comes with aging, not
increased absorption. Other gastrointestinal changes include: less efficient cholesterol
stabilization and absorption, atrophy of taste buds, and slowing in esophageal emptying,
among others.
✔✔A 28-year-old female patient is in the office and is to undergo radioactive iodine
treatment for Graves disease. The ANP is counseling her and understands that the
mechanism of action of this treatment therapy is:
alter the thyroid metabolic rate
relieve distress caused by increased thyroid size
destroy the overactive thyroid tissue
reduce production of TSH - ✔✔Correct answer:
destroy the overactive thyroid tissue
Graves disease is the most common form of thyrotoxicosis. Radioactive iodine is used
for thyroid ablation to destroy the overactive thyroid tissue that causes the thyroid
hormone dysfunction.
✔✔Which of the following statements about falls in the elderly is least accurate?
Black women are at higher risk for hip fractures than white women.
The majority of deaths from falls are among people aged 65 years or older.
Injuries from falls include head injuries, pelvic injuries, lacerations, and more.
About 90% of hip fractures are due to falls. - ✔✔Correct Answer:
Black women are at higher risk for hip fractures than white women.
It is white women, not black women, who are at higher risk for hip fractures. Falls are
one of the most common adverse events that threaten the quality of life of older adults.
Falls among older adults are not a normal consequence of aging.
,✔✔Normal age-related changes of the skin may be confused with which of the following
clinical abnormalities?
dehydration
vitiligo
scabies
shingles - ✔✔Correct Answer:
dehydration
Normal age-related changes of the skin may be confused with dehydration. Sebaceous
gland activity tends to decrease with age, and the skin's natural hydrators decline over
the years. The skin's ability to regenerate lipids compromising the protective lipid barrier
layer of the Stratum Corneum also declines with age, as does blood flow to the skin,
which may cause a drop in sebum production.
✔✔A 29-year old woman who is 6 weeks postpartum reports she is having rectal
bleeding that she believes is related to hemorrhoids. The Adult Nurse Practitioner
knows that this type of rectal bleeding is usually described as:
dark brown to black blood color with normal-appearing stool
significant amounts of bright red blood
large blood clots and mucus mixed with stool
streaks of bright red blood on the stool - ✔✔The Correct answer is:
streaks of bright red blood on the stool
Choice D is the right answer. The color of blood related to hemorrhoids is described as
bright red, eliminating choice A. Amount of blood with hemorrhoids is usually small or
scant, eliminating choices B and C. Internal hemorrhoids can occur during or after
childbirth. With chronically protruding or prolapsing hemorrhoids, the patient often
reports mucous leaking and staining of the undergarments. Other causes are obesity,
constipation, and prolonged sitting.
✔✔You have a patient with AIDS. You recognize that a low CD4 T-cell count puts the
patient at risk for opportunistic infections. You are reviewing his lab reports and see that
his CD4 T-cell count is indeed low. Which of the following is the normal range for CD4
T-cell count?
800 -1400
700 -1400
400 - 1000
600 -1200 - ✔✔Correct answer:
600 -1200
, The normal CD4 T-cell count is 600 - 1200. A low CD4 T-cell count is below 600. The
destruction of the CD4 T-cell causes depletion in the number of CD4 T-cells and
consequently increases the risk of infection. This puts the patient at risk for infection.
✔✔ou have an adult patient with diabetes whose blood pressure is 145/95 mm Hg.
Which stage of hypertension does this indicate?
normal
pre-hypertension
Stage I
Stage II - ✔✔Correct Answer:
Stage I
Stage I hypertension is characterized by a systolic pressure of 140 - 159 mm Hg and a
diastolic pressure of 90 - 99 mm Hg. The treatment recommendation for this stage is
usually a thiazide diuretic and for those with diabetes, either ACE inhibitors or ARBs,
because of their renal protective properties.
✔✔Clinical findings that are characteristic of asthma include all of the following
EXCEPT:
wheezing with and without associated respiratory infections
a congested cough worse during the day
recurrent shortness of breath with exercise
a recurrent spasmodic cough that is worse at night - ✔✔The Correct answer is:
a congested cough worse during the day
Choice B is the right answer. The asthmatic patient complains of a cough that is worse
at night and has little congestion or sputum production. There is a history of wheezing
and chest tightness, shortness of breath with exercise, and symptoms that worsen after
airborne allergen exposure.
✔✔Which of the following is an example of objective data used for diagnosis?
Patient reports being more tired than usual.
Patient reports having difficulty breathing.
Patient reports productive cough.
Patient's cough produces yellow sputum. - ✔✔Correct Answer: Patient's cough
produces yellow sputum Objective data must be measurable and verifiable. It is key to
collect both objective and subjective data to form correct differential diagnoses and then
to determine the correct diagnosis and course of further testing or treatment for a
patient. The ability to synthesize both objective and subjective data is a key skill for
NPs.
