ANCC Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) Exam
ANCC Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
(AGACNP-BC) 2026 Exam Review
Scope of Practice - Correct Answer- Based on legal allowances in each state, individual state
nurse practice acts providing guidelines for nursing practice
Key elements of the NP role include - Correct Answer- integration of care across the acute illness
continuum with collaboration and coordination of care; research based clinical practices, clinical
leadership, family assessment, and discharge planning
Standards of Advanced Practice are delineated by... - Correct Answer- American Nurses
Association which measure quality of practice, service, or education
State Practice Acts - Correct Answer- Authorize Boards of Nursing in each state to establish
statutory authority for licensure of RNs
State Practice Acts - authority includes: - Correct Answer- use of title, authorization for scope of
practice including prescriptive authority, and disciplinary grounds
States vary in practice requirements, such as - Correct Answer- certification
Prescriptive authority - Correct Answer- Ability and extent of NPs ability to prescribe meds
DEA has ruled that nurses in advanced practice may obtain.. - Correct Answer- registration
numbers, state practice acts dictate level of prescriptive authority allowed
Credentials encompass... - Correct Answer- required education, licensure and certification to
practice as an NP
1
, ANCC Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) Exam
Credentials establish... - Correct Answer- minimal levels of acceptable performance
Credentialing is necessary to: - Correct Answer- ensure that safe healthcare is provided by
qualified individuals; comply with federal and state laws r/t APN
Credentials also... - Correct Answer- acknowledges the scope of practice of NP, mandates
accountability, enforces professional standards for practice
Licensure - Correct Answer- establishes that a person is qualified to perform in a particular
professional role
Licensure is granted as defined by rules and regulations set forth by - Correct Answer- a
governmental regulatory body (ie. state board of nursing)
Certification - Correct Answer- Person has met certain standards that signify mastery of
specialized knowledge
Certification is granted by nongovernmental agencies such as - Correct Answer- ANCC, AANP
Admitting privileges to hospitals (non physican) were granted - Correct Answer- 1983 by JC
Credentialing and privileging - Correct Answer- process which an NP is granted permission to
practice in an inpt setting
Credentialing with hospital privileges is granted by a - Correct Answer- Hospital Credentialing
Committee
Pt Medical Abandoment - Correct Answer- When caregiver-pt relationship is terminated w/o
making reasonable arrangements w an appropriate person so that care can be continued
2
, ANCC Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) Exam
Determination of pt abandonment depends on factors such as: - Correct Answer- Whether NP
accepted pt assignment, whether NP provided reasonable notice before termination, whether
reasonable arrangements could have been made
Following do not constitute pt abandonment - Correct Answer- NP refuses to accept
responsibility for pt assignment when NP has given reasonable notice to proper authority that NP
lacks competence to carry out assignment; NP refuses assignment of a double shift or addtl hrs
beyond posted work schedule when proper notification has been given..latter phrase can be
controversial
Risk Mgmt - Correct Answer- Systematic effort to reduce risk begins w formal written risk mgmt
plan that includes: organizations goals, delineation of program's scope, components, methods;
delegating responsibility for implementation and enforcement; demonstrating commitment by
the board; confidentiality and immunity from retaliation for those who report sensitive info
Most common method of documentation for risk mgmt - Correct Answer- incident reports
Policies regarding incident reports should address: - Correct Answer- ppl authorized to complete
report; ppl responsible for review of a report, immediate actions needed to minimize the effects
of the event; ppl responsible for follow up; plan for monitoring aftermath; security/storage of
completed report
Risk mgmt - Satisfaction surveys - Correct Answer- Important for identifying problems before
they develop into incidents or claims; for pts and employees
Risk mgmt - Complaints: Risk mgmt plan should delineate tracking, analyzing, and managing
complaints by clearly identifying: - Correct Answer- ppl notified after receiving complaint; ppl
responsible for responding; ppl responsible for monitoring follow up
Action taking initiatives: - Correct Answer- Prevention, correction (corrective steps must be
monitored and audited), documentation, education, departmental coordination
3
, ANCC Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) Exam
Medical Futility - Correct Answer- Interventions that are unlikely to produce significant benefit
for pt - "Does the intervention have any reasonable prospect of helping this pt?"
Two kind of medical futility: - Correct Answer- Quantitative futility: likelihood that intervention
will benefit pt is extremely poor
Qualitative futility: quality of benefit an intervention will produce is extremely poor
Informed consent - competence (decisional capability) - Correct Answer- state that pt is able to
make personal decisions about their care
competence implies that ability to: - Correct Answer- understand, reason, differentiate good and
bad, and communicate
informed consent - Correct Answer- pt has received adequate instruction or info regarding
aspects of care to make prudent, personal choice regarding such tx
Informed consent includes: - Correct Answer- discussing benefits and risk
consent is assumed if... - Correct Answer- pt's condition is life threatening
Danforth Amendment 1991 - Correct Answer- pts are informed at time of admission to federally
funded institution (such as hospital, nursing home, hospice, HMO, etc) that they have the right to
refuse care as long as the pt has decisional capability (competence)
Ethics - Correct Answer- study of moral conduct and behavior protecting the rights of an
individual
1st priority is the - Correct Answer- most salvagable pts. Most critically injured cared for last.
4
ANCC Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
(AGACNP-BC) 2026 Exam Review
Scope of Practice - Correct Answer- Based on legal allowances in each state, individual state
nurse practice acts providing guidelines for nursing practice
Key elements of the NP role include - Correct Answer- integration of care across the acute illness
continuum with collaboration and coordination of care; research based clinical practices, clinical
leadership, family assessment, and discharge planning
Standards of Advanced Practice are delineated by... - Correct Answer- American Nurses
Association which measure quality of practice, service, or education
State Practice Acts - Correct Answer- Authorize Boards of Nursing in each state to establish
statutory authority for licensure of RNs
State Practice Acts - authority includes: - Correct Answer- use of title, authorization for scope of
practice including prescriptive authority, and disciplinary grounds
States vary in practice requirements, such as - Correct Answer- certification
Prescriptive authority - Correct Answer- Ability and extent of NPs ability to prescribe meds
DEA has ruled that nurses in advanced practice may obtain.. - Correct Answer- registration
numbers, state practice acts dictate level of prescriptive authority allowed
Credentials encompass... - Correct Answer- required education, licensure and certification to
practice as an NP
1
, ANCC Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) Exam
Credentials establish... - Correct Answer- minimal levels of acceptable performance
Credentialing is necessary to: - Correct Answer- ensure that safe healthcare is provided by
qualified individuals; comply with federal and state laws r/t APN
Credentials also... - Correct Answer- acknowledges the scope of practice of NP, mandates
accountability, enforces professional standards for practice
Licensure - Correct Answer- establishes that a person is qualified to perform in a particular
professional role
Licensure is granted as defined by rules and regulations set forth by - Correct Answer- a
governmental regulatory body (ie. state board of nursing)
Certification - Correct Answer- Person has met certain standards that signify mastery of
specialized knowledge
Certification is granted by nongovernmental agencies such as - Correct Answer- ANCC, AANP
Admitting privileges to hospitals (non physican) were granted - Correct Answer- 1983 by JC
Credentialing and privileging - Correct Answer- process which an NP is granted permission to
practice in an inpt setting
Credentialing with hospital privileges is granted by a - Correct Answer- Hospital Credentialing
Committee
Pt Medical Abandoment - Correct Answer- When caregiver-pt relationship is terminated w/o
making reasonable arrangements w an appropriate person so that care can be continued
2
, ANCC Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) Exam
Determination of pt abandonment depends on factors such as: - Correct Answer- Whether NP
accepted pt assignment, whether NP provided reasonable notice before termination, whether
reasonable arrangements could have been made
Following do not constitute pt abandonment - Correct Answer- NP refuses to accept
responsibility for pt assignment when NP has given reasonable notice to proper authority that NP
lacks competence to carry out assignment; NP refuses assignment of a double shift or addtl hrs
beyond posted work schedule when proper notification has been given..latter phrase can be
controversial
Risk Mgmt - Correct Answer- Systematic effort to reduce risk begins w formal written risk mgmt
plan that includes: organizations goals, delineation of program's scope, components, methods;
delegating responsibility for implementation and enforcement; demonstrating commitment by
the board; confidentiality and immunity from retaliation for those who report sensitive info
Most common method of documentation for risk mgmt - Correct Answer- incident reports
Policies regarding incident reports should address: - Correct Answer- ppl authorized to complete
report; ppl responsible for review of a report, immediate actions needed to minimize the effects
of the event; ppl responsible for follow up; plan for monitoring aftermath; security/storage of
completed report
Risk mgmt - Satisfaction surveys - Correct Answer- Important for identifying problems before
they develop into incidents or claims; for pts and employees
Risk mgmt - Complaints: Risk mgmt plan should delineate tracking, analyzing, and managing
complaints by clearly identifying: - Correct Answer- ppl notified after receiving complaint; ppl
responsible for responding; ppl responsible for monitoring follow up
Action taking initiatives: - Correct Answer- Prevention, correction (corrective steps must be
monitored and audited), documentation, education, departmental coordination
3
, ANCC Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) Exam
Medical Futility - Correct Answer- Interventions that are unlikely to produce significant benefit
for pt - "Does the intervention have any reasonable prospect of helping this pt?"
Two kind of medical futility: - Correct Answer- Quantitative futility: likelihood that intervention
will benefit pt is extremely poor
Qualitative futility: quality of benefit an intervention will produce is extremely poor
Informed consent - competence (decisional capability) - Correct Answer- state that pt is able to
make personal decisions about their care
competence implies that ability to: - Correct Answer- understand, reason, differentiate good and
bad, and communicate
informed consent - Correct Answer- pt has received adequate instruction or info regarding
aspects of care to make prudent, personal choice regarding such tx
Informed consent includes: - Correct Answer- discussing benefits and risk
consent is assumed if... - Correct Answer- pt's condition is life threatening
Danforth Amendment 1991 - Correct Answer- pts are informed at time of admission to federally
funded institution (such as hospital, nursing home, hospice, HMO, etc) that they have the right to
refuse care as long as the pt has decisional capability (competence)
Ethics - Correct Answer- study of moral conduct and behavior protecting the rights of an
individual
1st priority is the - Correct Answer- most salvagable pts. Most critically injured cared for last.
4
