1
ANCC NPD-BC Practice Exam Version 2 – 260
Questions with Rationales | Nursing Professional
Development Certification | Updated 2026
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Domain 1: Educational Process Standards Questions 1 to 55
Domain 2: Leadership Questions 56 to 110
Domain 3: Ethical, Legal, and Regulatory Standards Questions 111 to 140
Domain 4: Evidence-based Practice and Research Questions 141 to 155
Domain 5: Technology Questions 156 to 185
Domain 6: Program/Project Management and Process Improvement
Questions 186 to 215
Domain 7: Mixed Review and High-Yield Scenarios Questions 216 to 260
DOMAIN 1: EDUCATIONAL PROCESS STANDARDS QUESTIONS
1 TO 55
Question 1
A nursing professional development practitioner is designing an educational
program for newly hired nurses. The educator wants to ensure that learners
understand why the information is important before delving into content.
Which teaching strategy is being applied?
, 2
A. Context strategy
B. Bridging strategy
C. Hugging strategy
D. Imagery strategy
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Context strategies involve providing learners with the rationale
for learning before delving deeply into content. Bridging strategies help
learners see connections between prior and new knowledge. Hugging
strategies match learning conditions to anticipated application conditions.
Imagery strategies ask participants to create mental images.
Question 2
A nursing professional development educator is using a competitive oral
quiz game where the most correct answers receive a prize. Which learning
theory is being applied?
A. Behaviorism
B. Cognitivism
C. Cognitive constructivism
D. Social constructivism
Correct Answer: A
, 3
Rationale: Behaviorism is characterized by passive knowledge absorption
reinforced by extrinsic methods such as repetition, testing, and rewards. A
competitive quiz with prizes uses extrinsic reinforcement. Cognitivism
focuses on how learners interpret knowledge in relation to prior knowledge.
Cognitive constructivism involves active building of knowledge reinforced
by intrinsic motivation. Social constructivism emphasizes learning through
community interaction.
Question 3
An nursing professional development practitioner is planning an orientation
program for new graduate nurses. Which of the following is the first
component of the educational design process?
A. Assessment
B. Planning
C. Implementation
D. Evaluation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Assessment is the first component of the educational design
process. It involves identifying learning needs and gaps in knowledge or
skills. Planning follows assessment and involves developing objectives and
content. Implementation is the delivery of the educational program.
Evaluation is the final component that measures the effectiveness of the
program.
, 4
Question 4
A nursing professional development educator is designing a simulation-
based learning activity where participants can experience the consequences
of their decisions in a safe environment. Which teaching strategy is being
applied?
A. Consequential learning
B. Chunking
C. Primacy
D. Elaborate rehearsal
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Consequential learning allows participants to learn from their
mistakes in a safe environment. It adds a certain level of concern and
heightened awareness. Role-playing and simulation can be designed
specifically for this purpose. Chunking involves grouping similar content
together. Primacy refers to learners remembering the first content provided.
Elaborate rehearsal involves paraphrasing, predicting, questioning, and
summarizing.
Question 5
A nursing professional development practitioner is applying adult learning
principles to a new orientation program. According to Knowles' adult
learning theory, which of the following is a characteristic of adult learners?
ANCC NPD-BC Practice Exam Version 2 – 260
Questions with Rationales | Nursing Professional
Development Certification | Updated 2026
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Domain 1: Educational Process Standards Questions 1 to 55
Domain 2: Leadership Questions 56 to 110
Domain 3: Ethical, Legal, and Regulatory Standards Questions 111 to 140
Domain 4: Evidence-based Practice and Research Questions 141 to 155
Domain 5: Technology Questions 156 to 185
Domain 6: Program/Project Management and Process Improvement
Questions 186 to 215
Domain 7: Mixed Review and High-Yield Scenarios Questions 216 to 260
DOMAIN 1: EDUCATIONAL PROCESS STANDARDS QUESTIONS
1 TO 55
Question 1
A nursing professional development practitioner is designing an educational
program for newly hired nurses. The educator wants to ensure that learners
understand why the information is important before delving into content.
Which teaching strategy is being applied?
, 2
A. Context strategy
B. Bridging strategy
C. Hugging strategy
D. Imagery strategy
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Context strategies involve providing learners with the rationale
for learning before delving deeply into content. Bridging strategies help
learners see connections between prior and new knowledge. Hugging
strategies match learning conditions to anticipated application conditions.
Imagery strategies ask participants to create mental images.
Question 2
A nursing professional development educator is using a competitive oral
quiz game where the most correct answers receive a prize. Which learning
theory is being applied?
A. Behaviorism
B. Cognitivism
C. Cognitive constructivism
D. Social constructivism
Correct Answer: A
, 3
Rationale: Behaviorism is characterized by passive knowledge absorption
reinforced by extrinsic methods such as repetition, testing, and rewards. A
competitive quiz with prizes uses extrinsic reinforcement. Cognitivism
focuses on how learners interpret knowledge in relation to prior knowledge.
Cognitive constructivism involves active building of knowledge reinforced
by intrinsic motivation. Social constructivism emphasizes learning through
community interaction.
Question 3
An nursing professional development practitioner is planning an orientation
program for new graduate nurses. Which of the following is the first
component of the educational design process?
A. Assessment
B. Planning
C. Implementation
D. Evaluation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Assessment is the first component of the educational design
process. It involves identifying learning needs and gaps in knowledge or
skills. Planning follows assessment and involves developing objectives and
content. Implementation is the delivery of the educational program.
Evaluation is the final component that measures the effectiveness of the
program.
, 4
Question 4
A nursing professional development educator is designing a simulation-
based learning activity where participants can experience the consequences
of their decisions in a safe environment. Which teaching strategy is being
applied?
A. Consequential learning
B. Chunking
C. Primacy
D. Elaborate rehearsal
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Consequential learning allows participants to learn from their
mistakes in a safe environment. It adds a certain level of concern and
heightened awareness. Role-playing and simulation can be designed
specifically for this purpose. Chunking involves grouping similar content
together. Primacy refers to learners remembering the first content provided.
Elaborate rehearsal involves paraphrasing, predicting, questioning, and
summarizing.
Question 5
A nursing professional development practitioner is applying adult learning
principles to a new orientation program. According to Knowles' adult
learning theory, which of the following is a characteristic of adult learners?
