FLORIDA BOARD OF NURSING
AMBULATORY CARE NURSING
CERTIFICATION EXAM WITH ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS,
PLUS EXPLAINED RATIONALES/EXPERT
VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED 100% PASS
2026/LATEST UPDATE/INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A 67-year-old patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus presents to an
ambulatory care clinic for routine follow-up. The patient reports
increasing thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, and blurred vision.
The point-of-care glucose is 386 mg/dL. The patient is alert, blood
pressure is 138/82 mmHg, pulse is 96/min, and respirations are
20/min. Which action should the ambulatory care nurse take first?
A. Schedule the patient for routine diabetes education next week
B. Encourage the patient to drink a sugar-containing beverage
C. Assess the patient for symptoms and signs of hyperglycemic crisis
and notify the provider promptly
D. Administer the patient's scheduled oral hypoglycemic medication and
discharge the patient
Answer: C. Assess the patient for symptoms and signs of
hyperglycemic crisis and notify the provider promptly.
Rationale: A glucose of 386 mg/dL accompanied by polyuria,
polydipsia, fatigue, and blurred vision requires prompt assessment for
severe hyperglycemia and possible diabetic ketoacidosis or
hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state. The nurse should assess mental
status, hydration, vital signs, medication adherence, ketones when
1
,indicated, and other clinical findings while promptly communicating
significant abnormalities to the provider. Routine education or simply
administering the scheduled medication does not adequately address
the immediate safety concern.
2. A patient taking warfarin for atrial fibrillation presents to an
ambulatory clinic with spontaneous bruising and bleeding gums.
The patient states that the warfarin dose has not changed. Which
laboratory result is most important for the nurse to review?
A. Serum sodium
B. International normalized ratio
C. Hemoglobin A1c
D. Serum creatinine kinase
Answer: B. International normalized ratio.
Rationale: Warfarin therapy is monitored primarily using the
prothrombin time expressed as the international normalized ratio
(INR). Unexpected bruising and bleeding may indicate excessive
anticoagulation. The nurse should review the INR and communicate a
significantly elevated result promptly. Hemoglobin may also be
relevant when bleeding is suspected, but INR directly evaluates the
therapeutic effect of warfarin.
3. During a clinic visit, an adult patient reports crushing substernal
chest pressure radiating to the left arm with diaphoresis and nausea.
The patient appears pale and anxious. What is the nurse's priority
action?
A. Ask the patient to complete the clinic's routine registration forms
B. Place the patient in a private examination room and reassess in 30
minutes
2
,C. Activate the emergency response process and obtain immediate
medical evaluation
D. Encourage the patient to walk slowly to the diagnostic testing
department
Answer: C. Activate the emergency response process and obtain
immediate medical evaluation.
Rationale: Crushing chest pressure with radiation, diaphoresis, and
nausea is highly concerning for acute coronary syndrome. Ambulatory
care nurses must recognize potentially life-threatening conditions and
initiate emergency protocols without delay. The patient should not be
left to complete paperwork, ambulate independently, or wait for
routine reassessment.
4. A patient with asthma presents for follow-up and states, "I use
my rescue inhaler almost every day." Which finding most strongly
indicates inadequate asthma control?
A. The patient uses a spacer with the inhaler
B. The patient experiences frequent symptoms requiring short-acting
bronchodilator use
C. The patient avoids known environmental triggers
D. The patient receives an annual influenza vaccination
Answer: B. The patient experiences frequent symptoms requiring
short-acting bronchodilator use.
Rationale: Frequent reliance on a short-acting rescue bronchodilator
suggests inadequate asthma control and warrants reassessment of
symptom frequency, inhaler technique, adherence, triggers, and the
controller regimen. Proper spacer use, trigger avoidance, and
vaccination are appropriate preventive strategies rather than evidence
of poor control.
3
, 5. An ambulatory care nurse is teaching a patient how to use a
metered-dose inhaler. Which instruction is most appropriate?
A. Inhale rapidly immediately after pressing the canister
B. Exhale fully before placing the mouthpiece in the mouth, then inhale
slowly while activating the inhaler
C. Hold the breath for one second after inhalation
D. Spray the medication into the mouth before beginning to inhale
Answer: B. Exhale fully before placing the mouthpiece in the mouth,
then inhale slowly while activating the inhaler.
Rationale: Proper metered-dose inhaler technique involves exhaling
first, positioning the mouthpiece correctly, activating the device while
beginning a slow deep inhalation, and then holding the breath for
approximately 10 seconds if tolerated. A spacer can improve
medication delivery for many patients. Rapid inhalation and spraying
medication into the mouth without coordinated inhalation reduce
effectiveness.
6. A 72-year-old patient taking several medications reports dizziness
when standing. Which assessment should the nurse prioritize?
A. Orthostatic blood pressure and pulse measurements
B. Visual acuity only
C. Dietary preference assessment
D. Skin turgor of the forearm only
Answer: A. Orthostatic blood pressure and pulse measurements.
Rationale: Dizziness associated with standing raises concern for
orthostatic hypotension, which may result from medications,
dehydration, autonomic dysfunction, or other conditions. Orthostatic
vital signs can help identify a clinically significant postural change.
4
AMBULATORY CARE NURSING
CERTIFICATION EXAM WITH ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS,
PLUS EXPLAINED RATIONALES/EXPERT
VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED 100% PASS
2026/LATEST UPDATE/INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A 67-year-old patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus presents to an
ambulatory care clinic for routine follow-up. The patient reports
increasing thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, and blurred vision.
The point-of-care glucose is 386 mg/dL. The patient is alert, blood
pressure is 138/82 mmHg, pulse is 96/min, and respirations are
20/min. Which action should the ambulatory care nurse take first?
A. Schedule the patient for routine diabetes education next week
B. Encourage the patient to drink a sugar-containing beverage
C. Assess the patient for symptoms and signs of hyperglycemic crisis
and notify the provider promptly
D. Administer the patient's scheduled oral hypoglycemic medication and
discharge the patient
Answer: C. Assess the patient for symptoms and signs of
hyperglycemic crisis and notify the provider promptly.
Rationale: A glucose of 386 mg/dL accompanied by polyuria,
polydipsia, fatigue, and blurred vision requires prompt assessment for
severe hyperglycemia and possible diabetic ketoacidosis or
hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state. The nurse should assess mental
status, hydration, vital signs, medication adherence, ketones when
1
,indicated, and other clinical findings while promptly communicating
significant abnormalities to the provider. Routine education or simply
administering the scheduled medication does not adequately address
the immediate safety concern.
2. A patient taking warfarin for atrial fibrillation presents to an
ambulatory clinic with spontaneous bruising and bleeding gums.
The patient states that the warfarin dose has not changed. Which
laboratory result is most important for the nurse to review?
A. Serum sodium
B. International normalized ratio
C. Hemoglobin A1c
D. Serum creatinine kinase
Answer: B. International normalized ratio.
Rationale: Warfarin therapy is monitored primarily using the
prothrombin time expressed as the international normalized ratio
(INR). Unexpected bruising and bleeding may indicate excessive
anticoagulation. The nurse should review the INR and communicate a
significantly elevated result promptly. Hemoglobin may also be
relevant when bleeding is suspected, but INR directly evaluates the
therapeutic effect of warfarin.
3. During a clinic visit, an adult patient reports crushing substernal
chest pressure radiating to the left arm with diaphoresis and nausea.
The patient appears pale and anxious. What is the nurse's priority
action?
A. Ask the patient to complete the clinic's routine registration forms
B. Place the patient in a private examination room and reassess in 30
minutes
2
,C. Activate the emergency response process and obtain immediate
medical evaluation
D. Encourage the patient to walk slowly to the diagnostic testing
department
Answer: C. Activate the emergency response process and obtain
immediate medical evaluation.
Rationale: Crushing chest pressure with radiation, diaphoresis, and
nausea is highly concerning for acute coronary syndrome. Ambulatory
care nurses must recognize potentially life-threatening conditions and
initiate emergency protocols without delay. The patient should not be
left to complete paperwork, ambulate independently, or wait for
routine reassessment.
4. A patient with asthma presents for follow-up and states, "I use
my rescue inhaler almost every day." Which finding most strongly
indicates inadequate asthma control?
A. The patient uses a spacer with the inhaler
B. The patient experiences frequent symptoms requiring short-acting
bronchodilator use
C. The patient avoids known environmental triggers
D. The patient receives an annual influenza vaccination
Answer: B. The patient experiences frequent symptoms requiring
short-acting bronchodilator use.
Rationale: Frequent reliance on a short-acting rescue bronchodilator
suggests inadequate asthma control and warrants reassessment of
symptom frequency, inhaler technique, adherence, triggers, and the
controller regimen. Proper spacer use, trigger avoidance, and
vaccination are appropriate preventive strategies rather than evidence
of poor control.
3
, 5. An ambulatory care nurse is teaching a patient how to use a
metered-dose inhaler. Which instruction is most appropriate?
A. Inhale rapidly immediately after pressing the canister
B. Exhale fully before placing the mouthpiece in the mouth, then inhale
slowly while activating the inhaler
C. Hold the breath for one second after inhalation
D. Spray the medication into the mouth before beginning to inhale
Answer: B. Exhale fully before placing the mouthpiece in the mouth,
then inhale slowly while activating the inhaler.
Rationale: Proper metered-dose inhaler technique involves exhaling
first, positioning the mouthpiece correctly, activating the device while
beginning a slow deep inhalation, and then holding the breath for
approximately 10 seconds if tolerated. A spacer can improve
medication delivery for many patients. Rapid inhalation and spraying
medication into the mouth without coordinated inhalation reduce
effectiveness.
6. A 72-year-old patient taking several medications reports dizziness
when standing. Which assessment should the nurse prioritize?
A. Orthostatic blood pressure and pulse measurements
B. Visual acuity only
C. Dietary preference assessment
D. Skin turgor of the forearm only
Answer: A. Orthostatic blood pressure and pulse measurements.
Rationale: Dizziness associated with standing raises concern for
orthostatic hypotension, which may result from medications,
dehydration, autonomic dysfunction, or other conditions. Orthostatic
vital signs can help identify a clinically significant postural change.
4
