AACN Exam Reviewed Questions and
Answers Latest 2025/2026 GRADED A+
3 D's of pellagra (niacin, vit B3, deficiency) - CORRECT ANSWER-Diarrhea, dementia,
dermatitis
4 types of shock - CORRECT ANSWER-Hypovolemic, cardiogenic, distributive,
obstructive
5 P's of compartment syndrome - CORRECT ANSWER-Pain, pallor, pulselessness,
paresthesia, paralysis
A patient is admitted for the management of hypertensive emergency with acute aortic
dissection. Preferred pharmacotherapy includes: - CORRECT ANSWER-Nitroprusside
sodium and labetalol.
ABCDEF Bundle - CORRECT ANSWER-Evidence-based guide to help reduce delirium,
improve pain management and reduce long-term consequences for adult intensive
care unit (ICU) patients. It includes:
- Assess, Prevent, and Manage Pain
- Both Spontaneous Awakening Trials (SAT) and Spontaneous Breathing Trials (SBT)
- Choice of analgesia and sedation
- Delirium: Assess, Prevent, and Manage
- Early mobility and Exercise
- Family engagement and empowerment
Absolute contraindications to fibrinolysis - CORRECT ANSWER-History of any
cerebrovascular event (ICH, intracranial neoplasm, aneurysm, AVM)
Non-hemorrhagic stroke (4.5hrs-3months prior)
Suspected aortic dissection
Active bleeding (except menstruation)
BP >180/110 (severe hypertension)
Streptokinase 6 months prior
ACE Inhibitors - CORRECT ANSWER-"PRIL" Captopril, Enalapril, Afosiopril
Antihypertensive. Blocks ACE in lungs from converting angiotensin I to angiotensin II
(powerful vasoconstrictor). Decreases BP, Decreased Aldosterone secretions, Sodium
and fluid loss.
,Check BP before giving (hypotension)
*Orthostatic Hypotension
Acidosis vs Alkalosis - CORRECT ANSWER-ROME:
Respiratory - Opposite
Acidosis: pH is down, pCO2 is up
Alkalosis: pH is up, pCO2 is down
Metabolic - Equal
Acidosis: pH is down, pCO2 is down
Alkalosis: pH is up, pCO2 is up
Acupuncture for post-op pain? - CORRECT ANSWER-Several clinical trials have
demonstrated the utility of acupuncture for post-operative pain management.
Addison's disease - CORRECT ANSWER-A condition that occurs when the adrenal
glands do not produce enough cortisol or aldosterone
Symptoms: hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, hypotension, postural hypotension,
hyperkalemia, lethargy, weakness, GI disturbances, weight loss,
hyperpigmentation/bronze skin, hypercalcemia, dehydration
Diagnosed with ACTH stimulation test
Afterload - CORRECT ANSWER-The amount of resistance to ejection of blood from the
ventricle. The pressure that the left ventricle must generate to overcome the high
pressure in the aorta to get blood out of the heart. Afterload is squeeze.
Albumin - CORRECT ANSWER-3.5-5 g/dL
Alkaline phosphatase (part of LFTs) - CORRECT ANSWER-30-120 IU/L
All of the following are requirements of informed consent except:
-The patient has knowledge of the diagnosis.
-The patient understands the nature and purpose of the procedure.
-The patient understands reasonable alternatives.
-The patient is declared competent to consent. - CORRECT ANSWER--The patient is
declared competent to consent.
ALT (alanine transaminase) (part of LFTs) - CORRECT ANSWER-1-45 IU/L
American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association has stages of
heart failure that describe: - CORRECT ANSWER-How bad a patient's heart
disease/failure is. You can only progress in these stages, you can't go backwards:
, ✤Stage A: Patients at high risk for developing HF in the future but no functional or
structural heart disorder.
✤Stage B: a structural heart disease but no symptoms at any stage.
✤Stage C: structural heart disease with prior or current symptoms of heart failure
✤Stage D: advanced, refractory heart failure requiring hospital-based treatments
AMO therapy - CORRECT ANSWER-Albumin, midodrine and octreotide, often referred
to as AMO therapy, are used for hepatorenal syndrome. They synergistically act to
increase circulating volume and improve renal perfusion by reversing sustained renal
vasoconstriction
Amylase range - CORRECT ANSWER-25-125 IU/L
anaphylactic shock treatment - CORRECT ANSWER-Volume replacement
Epinephrine
Glucocorticoids (IV and/or PO)
Antihistamine
Antidote for tricyclic antidepressant overdose - CORRECT ANSWER-Sodium
bicarbonate
aPTT (activated partial thromboplastin time) - CORRECT ANSWER-25-35 seconds
ARBs - CORRECT ANSWER-"SARTAN"
Angiotensin II receptor blockers
They decrease blood pressure, increase CO
-Examples: Valsartan (Diovan), Losartan (Cozaar), and Irbesartan (Avapro)
-Uses: hypertension and heart failure
-Nursing Considerations: watch for hyperkalemia, hypotension, and renal dysfunction
AST (aspartate transaminase) (part of LFTs) - CORRECT ANSWER-1-45 IU/L
AST:ALT ratio in alcoholic liver disease - CORRECT ANSWER->2:1
Azotemia - CORRECT ANSWER-(excessive) urea and nitrogenous substances in the
blood
Basophils role and normal range - CORRECT ANSWER-Undetermined but they play a
role in anaphylaxis and autoimmune, 1%
Beck's triad - CORRECT ANSWER-JVD, muffled heart sounds, decreased BP (indicate
cardiac tamponade)
Answers Latest 2025/2026 GRADED A+
3 D's of pellagra (niacin, vit B3, deficiency) - CORRECT ANSWER-Diarrhea, dementia,
dermatitis
4 types of shock - CORRECT ANSWER-Hypovolemic, cardiogenic, distributive,
obstructive
5 P's of compartment syndrome - CORRECT ANSWER-Pain, pallor, pulselessness,
paresthesia, paralysis
A patient is admitted for the management of hypertensive emergency with acute aortic
dissection. Preferred pharmacotherapy includes: - CORRECT ANSWER-Nitroprusside
sodium and labetalol.
ABCDEF Bundle - CORRECT ANSWER-Evidence-based guide to help reduce delirium,
improve pain management and reduce long-term consequences for adult intensive
care unit (ICU) patients. It includes:
- Assess, Prevent, and Manage Pain
- Both Spontaneous Awakening Trials (SAT) and Spontaneous Breathing Trials (SBT)
- Choice of analgesia and sedation
- Delirium: Assess, Prevent, and Manage
- Early mobility and Exercise
- Family engagement and empowerment
Absolute contraindications to fibrinolysis - CORRECT ANSWER-History of any
cerebrovascular event (ICH, intracranial neoplasm, aneurysm, AVM)
Non-hemorrhagic stroke (4.5hrs-3months prior)
Suspected aortic dissection
Active bleeding (except menstruation)
BP >180/110 (severe hypertension)
Streptokinase 6 months prior
ACE Inhibitors - CORRECT ANSWER-"PRIL" Captopril, Enalapril, Afosiopril
Antihypertensive. Blocks ACE in lungs from converting angiotensin I to angiotensin II
(powerful vasoconstrictor). Decreases BP, Decreased Aldosterone secretions, Sodium
and fluid loss.
,Check BP before giving (hypotension)
*Orthostatic Hypotension
Acidosis vs Alkalosis - CORRECT ANSWER-ROME:
Respiratory - Opposite
Acidosis: pH is down, pCO2 is up
Alkalosis: pH is up, pCO2 is down
Metabolic - Equal
Acidosis: pH is down, pCO2 is down
Alkalosis: pH is up, pCO2 is up
Acupuncture for post-op pain? - CORRECT ANSWER-Several clinical trials have
demonstrated the utility of acupuncture for post-operative pain management.
Addison's disease - CORRECT ANSWER-A condition that occurs when the adrenal
glands do not produce enough cortisol or aldosterone
Symptoms: hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, hypotension, postural hypotension,
hyperkalemia, lethargy, weakness, GI disturbances, weight loss,
hyperpigmentation/bronze skin, hypercalcemia, dehydration
Diagnosed with ACTH stimulation test
Afterload - CORRECT ANSWER-The amount of resistance to ejection of blood from the
ventricle. The pressure that the left ventricle must generate to overcome the high
pressure in the aorta to get blood out of the heart. Afterload is squeeze.
Albumin - CORRECT ANSWER-3.5-5 g/dL
Alkaline phosphatase (part of LFTs) - CORRECT ANSWER-30-120 IU/L
All of the following are requirements of informed consent except:
-The patient has knowledge of the diagnosis.
-The patient understands the nature and purpose of the procedure.
-The patient understands reasonable alternatives.
-The patient is declared competent to consent. - CORRECT ANSWER--The patient is
declared competent to consent.
ALT (alanine transaminase) (part of LFTs) - CORRECT ANSWER-1-45 IU/L
American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association has stages of
heart failure that describe: - CORRECT ANSWER-How bad a patient's heart
disease/failure is. You can only progress in these stages, you can't go backwards:
, ✤Stage A: Patients at high risk for developing HF in the future but no functional or
structural heart disorder.
✤Stage B: a structural heart disease but no symptoms at any stage.
✤Stage C: structural heart disease with prior or current symptoms of heart failure
✤Stage D: advanced, refractory heart failure requiring hospital-based treatments
AMO therapy - CORRECT ANSWER-Albumin, midodrine and octreotide, often referred
to as AMO therapy, are used for hepatorenal syndrome. They synergistically act to
increase circulating volume and improve renal perfusion by reversing sustained renal
vasoconstriction
Amylase range - CORRECT ANSWER-25-125 IU/L
anaphylactic shock treatment - CORRECT ANSWER-Volume replacement
Epinephrine
Glucocorticoids (IV and/or PO)
Antihistamine
Antidote for tricyclic antidepressant overdose - CORRECT ANSWER-Sodium
bicarbonate
aPTT (activated partial thromboplastin time) - CORRECT ANSWER-25-35 seconds
ARBs - CORRECT ANSWER-"SARTAN"
Angiotensin II receptor blockers
They decrease blood pressure, increase CO
-Examples: Valsartan (Diovan), Losartan (Cozaar), and Irbesartan (Avapro)
-Uses: hypertension and heart failure
-Nursing Considerations: watch for hyperkalemia, hypotension, and renal dysfunction
AST (aspartate transaminase) (part of LFTs) - CORRECT ANSWER-1-45 IU/L
AST:ALT ratio in alcoholic liver disease - CORRECT ANSWER->2:1
Azotemia - CORRECT ANSWER-(excessive) urea and nitrogenous substances in the
blood
Basophils role and normal range - CORRECT ANSWER-Undetermined but they play a
role in anaphylaxis and autoimmune, 1%
Beck's triad - CORRECT ANSWER-JVD, muffled heart sounds, decreased BP (indicate
cardiac tamponade)
