RN-BC ANCC SPECIALTY CERTIFICATION PRACTICE
EXAMINATION — STUDY GUIDE | LATEST UPDATE
2026/2027 | ACTUAL EXAM | PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS | EXAM REVIEW | 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS | VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
Course/Program: RN-BC — ANCC Board Certified
Field of Study: Nursing Specialty Certification, Medical-Surgical, Psychiatric-Mental
Health, Gerontological, Leadership, Informatics, Case Management
Level: RN, ANCC Certification Examination Preparation
Edition: 2026–2027
Table of Contents
1. Foundations of Nursing Practice and Professional Role
2. Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning
3. Pharmacology and Medication Management
4. Medical-Surgical Nursing
5. Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing
6. Gerontological and Chronic Care Nursing
7. Leadership, Management, and Informatics
8. Legal, Ethical, and Cultural Practice
9. Quality Improvement, Safety, and Evidence-Based Practice
10.Case Management, Care Coordination, and Health Promotion
1. Foundations of Nursing Practice and Professional Role
,A registered nurse is asked to serve as a preceptor for a newly licensed nurse.
Which action best demonstrates effective preceptorship?
A) Assign the new nurse a full patient load immediately to promote independence
B) Provide gradual orientation, model competent care, and offer constructive
feedback
C) Evaluate the new nurse only at the end of orientation without ongoing
feedback
D) Avoid direct observation to prevent the new nurse from feeling anxious
Correct Answer: B
Effective preceptorship involves gradual orientation, role modeling, and ongoing
constructive feedback to build competence and confidence. Assigning a full load
immediately, evaluating only at the end, or avoiding observation may compromise
safety and learning.
2.
Which statement by a nurse reflects the professional value of accountability?
A) "The medication error occurred because the pharmacy sent the wrong dose."
B) "I should have verified the dose before administering; I will complete an
incident report."
C) "Another nurse told me to give it, so I did."
D) "I do not make errors if I am careful enough."
Correct Answer: B
Accountability involves acknowledging one's actions, reporting errors, and
participating in corrective measures. Blaming others, following without question,
or denying error potential is not accountable professional behavior.
3.
A nurse is asked to float to a unit with an unfamiliar patient population. What is
the appropriate initial action?
A) Refuse the assignment because it is outside the nurse's experience
B) Request orientation and accept assignments within the nurse's competency
,C) Accept all assignments without question to avoid conflict
D) Leave the facility immediately
Correct Answer: B
Floating requires orientation and assignment within the nurse's competency to
ensure safe care. Refusal may be considered abandonment; accepting all
assignments without orientation is unsafe. The nurse should communicate
concerns and seek clarification.
4.
Which of the following best demonstrates the nurse's role as a client advocate?
A) Following all provider orders without question
B) Speaking up when a client's needs are not being met or unsafe practices are
observed
C) Avoiding conflict with other team members
D) Completing tasks quickly to finish the shift on time
Correct Answer: B
Advocacy requires identifying and addressing unmet client needs and speaking up
for safety. Blindly following orders, avoiding conflict, or rushing tasks does not
demonstrate advocacy and may compromise care.
5.
A nurse is using the SBAR technique to communicate a client's status change to a
provider. What does the "A" represent?
A) Action
B) Assessment
C) Analysis
D) Advice
Correct Answer: B
SBAR stands for Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation. The
"A" is the nurse's assessment of the situation, including clinical findings and
judgments.
, 6.
A nurse is caring for a client with a new diagnosis of diabetes. Which action
demonstrates the nursing process step of planning?
A) Measuring the client's blood glucose
B) Identifying the client's knowledge deficit regarding insulin administration
C) Developing a teaching plan with measurable goals
D) Evaluating the client's return demonstration of insulin injection
Correct Answer: C
Planning involves developing individualized goals and interventions, such as a
teaching plan. Measuring glucose is assessment/data collection; identifying a
deficit is diagnosis; evaluating return demonstration is evaluation.
7.
Which of the following is an example of secondary prevention?
A) Administering immunizations
B) Teaching a client with heart failure about a low-sodium diet
C) Performing a mammogram for early detection of breast cancer
D) Providing rehabilitation after a stroke
Correct Answer: C
Secondary prevention focuses on early detection and prompt treatment, such as
mammography. Immunizations are primary prevention; teaching for heart failure
is tertiary? Actually teaching with disease is tertiary or secondary? But
mammogram clearly secondary. Rehabilitation is tertiary.
8.
A client has a living will and a durable power of attorney for health care. What is
the primary purpose of these documents?
A) To ensure the client receives all possible treatments
B) To guide care decisions and designate a decision-maker if the client loses
capacity
C) To replace the need for nursing documentation
D) To determine insurance coverage
EXAMINATION — STUDY GUIDE | LATEST UPDATE
2026/2027 | ACTUAL EXAM | PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS | EXAM REVIEW | 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS | VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
Course/Program: RN-BC — ANCC Board Certified
Field of Study: Nursing Specialty Certification, Medical-Surgical, Psychiatric-Mental
Health, Gerontological, Leadership, Informatics, Case Management
Level: RN, ANCC Certification Examination Preparation
Edition: 2026–2027
Table of Contents
1. Foundations of Nursing Practice and Professional Role
2. Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning
3. Pharmacology and Medication Management
4. Medical-Surgical Nursing
5. Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing
6. Gerontological and Chronic Care Nursing
7. Leadership, Management, and Informatics
8. Legal, Ethical, and Cultural Practice
9. Quality Improvement, Safety, and Evidence-Based Practice
10.Case Management, Care Coordination, and Health Promotion
1. Foundations of Nursing Practice and Professional Role
,A registered nurse is asked to serve as a preceptor for a newly licensed nurse.
Which action best demonstrates effective preceptorship?
A) Assign the new nurse a full patient load immediately to promote independence
B) Provide gradual orientation, model competent care, and offer constructive
feedback
C) Evaluate the new nurse only at the end of orientation without ongoing
feedback
D) Avoid direct observation to prevent the new nurse from feeling anxious
Correct Answer: B
Effective preceptorship involves gradual orientation, role modeling, and ongoing
constructive feedback to build competence and confidence. Assigning a full load
immediately, evaluating only at the end, or avoiding observation may compromise
safety and learning.
2.
Which statement by a nurse reflects the professional value of accountability?
A) "The medication error occurred because the pharmacy sent the wrong dose."
B) "I should have verified the dose before administering; I will complete an
incident report."
C) "Another nurse told me to give it, so I did."
D) "I do not make errors if I am careful enough."
Correct Answer: B
Accountability involves acknowledging one's actions, reporting errors, and
participating in corrective measures. Blaming others, following without question,
or denying error potential is not accountable professional behavior.
3.
A nurse is asked to float to a unit with an unfamiliar patient population. What is
the appropriate initial action?
A) Refuse the assignment because it is outside the nurse's experience
B) Request orientation and accept assignments within the nurse's competency
,C) Accept all assignments without question to avoid conflict
D) Leave the facility immediately
Correct Answer: B
Floating requires orientation and assignment within the nurse's competency to
ensure safe care. Refusal may be considered abandonment; accepting all
assignments without orientation is unsafe. The nurse should communicate
concerns and seek clarification.
4.
Which of the following best demonstrates the nurse's role as a client advocate?
A) Following all provider orders without question
B) Speaking up when a client's needs are not being met or unsafe practices are
observed
C) Avoiding conflict with other team members
D) Completing tasks quickly to finish the shift on time
Correct Answer: B
Advocacy requires identifying and addressing unmet client needs and speaking up
for safety. Blindly following orders, avoiding conflict, or rushing tasks does not
demonstrate advocacy and may compromise care.
5.
A nurse is using the SBAR technique to communicate a client's status change to a
provider. What does the "A" represent?
A) Action
B) Assessment
C) Analysis
D) Advice
Correct Answer: B
SBAR stands for Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation. The
"A" is the nurse's assessment of the situation, including clinical findings and
judgments.
, 6.
A nurse is caring for a client with a new diagnosis of diabetes. Which action
demonstrates the nursing process step of planning?
A) Measuring the client's blood glucose
B) Identifying the client's knowledge deficit regarding insulin administration
C) Developing a teaching plan with measurable goals
D) Evaluating the client's return demonstration of insulin injection
Correct Answer: C
Planning involves developing individualized goals and interventions, such as a
teaching plan. Measuring glucose is assessment/data collection; identifying a
deficit is diagnosis; evaluating return demonstration is evaluation.
7.
Which of the following is an example of secondary prevention?
A) Administering immunizations
B) Teaching a client with heart failure about a low-sodium diet
C) Performing a mammogram for early detection of breast cancer
D) Providing rehabilitation after a stroke
Correct Answer: C
Secondary prevention focuses on early detection and prompt treatment, such as
mammography. Immunizations are primary prevention; teaching for heart failure
is tertiary? Actually teaching with disease is tertiary or secondary? But
mammogram clearly secondary. Rehabilitation is tertiary.
8.
A client has a living will and a durable power of attorney for health care. What is
the primary purpose of these documents?
A) To ensure the client receives all possible treatments
B) To guide care decisions and designate a decision-maker if the client loses
capacity
C) To replace the need for nursing documentation
D) To determine insurance coverage
