NURSE PRACTITIONER CERTIFICATION
EXAM PREP
7TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)MARGARET FITZGERALD
TEST BANK
Q1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Prepping for Nurse Practitioner Boards —
Study Plan Prioritization
Stem: A 32-year-old FNP student has 8 weeks before the ANCC
exam. Her practice test scores show 75% in pharmacology, 62%
in differential diagnosis, and 48% in clinical decision-making.
She studies 20 hours/week. Which plan most efficiently raises
her overall pass likelihood?
A. Spend equal time on all subjects for 8 weeks.
B. Allocate 60% study time to clinical decision-making, 25% to
differential diagnosis, 15% to pharmacology.
C. Focus entirely on pharmacology because it’s highest yield.
D. Decrease total study hours and use remaining time for light
,review.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct: Prioritizing weakest high-impact domains
improves overall pass probability. Clinical decision-making is
high-discrimination and aligns with board emphasis.
Reallocating hours is an evidence-based remediation strategy
recommended in Ch.1.
Rationale — Incorrect A: Equal time ignores differential
weakness and is inefficient.
Rationale — Incorrect C: Focusing only on an already strong
area yields diminishing returns.
Rationale — Incorrect D: Reducing hours worsens remediation
and exam readiness.
Teaching Point: Target weakest high-impact domains first.
Citation: Fitzgerald, M. (2025). Nurse Practitioner Certification
Exam Prep (7th ed.). Ch. 1.
Q2
Reference: Ch. 1 — Prepping for Nurse Practitioner Boards —
Practice Test Interpretation
Stem: A candidate’s practice test shows consistent error
patterns on items requiring ECG interpretation despite correct
cardiology knowledge on recall quizzes. What is the best next-
step intervention?
A. Relearn ECG facts from a textbook.
B. Do timed ECG vignette practice with pattern recognition
,drills.
C. Skip ECGs and focus on pharmacology.
D. Memorize common ECG lead placements.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct: Errors on application tasks reflect skill
(pattern recognition) deficits rather than knowledge gaps.
Timed vignette practice improves synthesis and reduces time
pressure errors, matching Ch.1 recommendations.
Rationale — Incorrect A: Relearning facts won’t fix applied
interpretation deficits.
Rationale — Incorrect C: Avoiding a weak area risks exam
failure.
Rationale — Incorrect D: Memorization of placements ignores
interpretation skills.
Teaching Point: Practice applied vignettes to fix interpretation
errors.
Citation: Fitzgerald, M. (2025). Nurse Practitioner Certification
Exam Prep (7th ed.). Ch. 1.
Q3
Reference: Ch. 1 — Prepping for Nurse Practitioner Boards —
Time Management on Exam Day
Stem: During the exam a candidate spends 7 minutes on a
single difficult vignette and falls behind. What is the best in-test
strategy to maximize score?
A. Continue until the item is solved; partial credit may apply.
, B. Mark the item, move on, and return if time allows.
C. Guess and eliminate one choice, then skip next five
questions.
D. Email exam support for clarification.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct: Time allocation is crucial; marking and
moving maintains momentum and maximizes number of
attempted items. Ch.1 endorses strategic skipping and return
when feasible.
Rationale — Incorrect A: Spending excessive time on one item
reduces total attempts and is inefficient.
Rationale — Incorrect C: Guessing without systematic
elimination and skipping multiple items risks lower accuracy.
Rationale — Incorrect D: Contacting support is impractical and
prohibited during testing.
Teaching Point: Mark hard items quickly and return later.
Citation: Fitzgerald, M. (2025). Nurse Practitioner Certification
Exam Prep (7th ed.). Ch. 1.
Q4
Reference: Ch. 1 — Prepping for Nurse Practitioner Boards —
Wrong-Answer Analysis
Stem: A student reviews missed practice items by re-reading
the rationales but continues to repeat similar mistakes.
According to Ch.1, which method best reduces repeat errors?
A. Re-read rationales twice weekly.
EXAM PREP
7TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)MARGARET FITZGERALD
TEST BANK
Q1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Prepping for Nurse Practitioner Boards —
Study Plan Prioritization
Stem: A 32-year-old FNP student has 8 weeks before the ANCC
exam. Her practice test scores show 75% in pharmacology, 62%
in differential diagnosis, and 48% in clinical decision-making.
She studies 20 hours/week. Which plan most efficiently raises
her overall pass likelihood?
A. Spend equal time on all subjects for 8 weeks.
B. Allocate 60% study time to clinical decision-making, 25% to
differential diagnosis, 15% to pharmacology.
C. Focus entirely on pharmacology because it’s highest yield.
D. Decrease total study hours and use remaining time for light
,review.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct: Prioritizing weakest high-impact domains
improves overall pass probability. Clinical decision-making is
high-discrimination and aligns with board emphasis.
Reallocating hours is an evidence-based remediation strategy
recommended in Ch.1.
Rationale — Incorrect A: Equal time ignores differential
weakness and is inefficient.
Rationale — Incorrect C: Focusing only on an already strong
area yields diminishing returns.
Rationale — Incorrect D: Reducing hours worsens remediation
and exam readiness.
Teaching Point: Target weakest high-impact domains first.
Citation: Fitzgerald, M. (2025). Nurse Practitioner Certification
Exam Prep (7th ed.). Ch. 1.
Q2
Reference: Ch. 1 — Prepping for Nurse Practitioner Boards —
Practice Test Interpretation
Stem: A candidate’s practice test shows consistent error
patterns on items requiring ECG interpretation despite correct
cardiology knowledge on recall quizzes. What is the best next-
step intervention?
A. Relearn ECG facts from a textbook.
B. Do timed ECG vignette practice with pattern recognition
,drills.
C. Skip ECGs and focus on pharmacology.
D. Memorize common ECG lead placements.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct: Errors on application tasks reflect skill
(pattern recognition) deficits rather than knowledge gaps.
Timed vignette practice improves synthesis and reduces time
pressure errors, matching Ch.1 recommendations.
Rationale — Incorrect A: Relearning facts won’t fix applied
interpretation deficits.
Rationale — Incorrect C: Avoiding a weak area risks exam
failure.
Rationale — Incorrect D: Memorization of placements ignores
interpretation skills.
Teaching Point: Practice applied vignettes to fix interpretation
errors.
Citation: Fitzgerald, M. (2025). Nurse Practitioner Certification
Exam Prep (7th ed.). Ch. 1.
Q3
Reference: Ch. 1 — Prepping for Nurse Practitioner Boards —
Time Management on Exam Day
Stem: During the exam a candidate spends 7 minutes on a
single difficult vignette and falls behind. What is the best in-test
strategy to maximize score?
A. Continue until the item is solved; partial credit may apply.
, B. Mark the item, move on, and return if time allows.
C. Guess and eliminate one choice, then skip next five
questions.
D. Email exam support for clarification.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct: Time allocation is crucial; marking and
moving maintains momentum and maximizes number of
attempted items. Ch.1 endorses strategic skipping and return
when feasible.
Rationale — Incorrect A: Spending excessive time on one item
reduces total attempts and is inefficient.
Rationale — Incorrect C: Guessing without systematic
elimination and skipping multiple items risks lower accuracy.
Rationale — Incorrect D: Contacting support is impractical and
prohibited during testing.
Teaching Point: Mark hard items quickly and return later.
Citation: Fitzgerald, M. (2025). Nurse Practitioner Certification
Exam Prep (7th ed.). Ch. 1.
Q4
Reference: Ch. 1 — Prepping for Nurse Practitioner Boards —
Wrong-Answer Analysis
Stem: A student reviews missed practice items by re-reading
the rationales but continues to repeat similar mistakes.
According to Ch.1, which method best reduces repeat errors?
A. Re-read rationales twice weekly.
