NURSE PRACTITIONER CERTIFICATION
EXAM PREP
7TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)MARGARET FITZGERALD
TEST BANK
1. Reference
Ch. 1 — Prepping for Nurse Practitioner Boards — Creating
an Effective Study Plan
NP-Level Question Stem
A 34-year-old FNP student has 12 weeks before the AANP exam
and works 30 clinical hours weekly. She reports moderate
baseline content knowledge but poor time management. Which
study plan approach most likely maximizes retrieval practice
while respecting her schedule?
Options
A. Study 4 hours daily weekdays reviewing every system
linearly; take one simulated full-length exam in week 12.
B. Use focused 60–90 minute spaced daily sessions combining
,active recall and mixed-blocks of practice questions, with
weekly full-length simulations.
C. Read textbook chapters sequentially on weekends and do
question banks only during the final two weeks.
D. Rely primarily on group study sessions twice weekly and
postpone self-practice until after clinical shifts.
Correct Answer
B
Rationales
Correct Option: B promotes distributed practice, active
retrieval, and mixed practice—techniques shown to improve
long-term retention and clinical reasoning. Weekly full
simulations give psychometric familiarity and pacing practice.
This aligns with exam prep guidance advocating deliberate
practice and spaced testing.
A: Four hours daily is likely unsustainable with 30 clinical
hours and lacks spacing; a single late simulation is insufficient
for iterative improvement.
C: Sequential reading without retrieval practice yields low
transfer and high forgetting; cramming in final weeks is poor for
synthesis.
D: Group study alone may lack targeted retrieval practice
and individual feedback; delaying self-practice reduces exam
readiness.
,Teaching Point
Use spaced, active recall with mixed-topic question blocks;
simulate exams weekly.
Citation
Fitzgerald, M. (2025). Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam Prep
(7th ed.). Ch. 1.
2. Reference
Ch. 1 — Prepping for Nurse Practitioner Boards —
Blueprinting and Content Weighting
NP-Level Question Stem
An NP candidate notes that the exam blueprint allocates 30% to
cardiovascular, 20% to respiratory, and 10% to dermatology.
With 8 weeks left, how should the candidate allocate weekly
practice-question time for maximal exam alignment?
Options
A. Allocate practice-question time proportionally by blueprint
percentages and prioritize weak points within those systems.
B. Split time equally across all systems to avoid neglecting any
area.
C. Focus 80% on cardiovascular and respiratory and ignore
dermatology until the last two weeks.
D. Concentrate only on previously failed practice questions,
regardless of blueprint percentages.
, Correct Answer
A
Rationales
Correct Option: Allocating time according to blueprint
ensures practice reflects exam emphasis while also addressing
known weaknesses—balance of breadth and depth.
B: Equal time ignores blueprint weighting and may
underprepare for heavily tested systems.
C: Overemphasizing a subset sacrifices coverage of other
tested topics; dermatology still carries weight.
D: Reviewing failures is important but should be nested
within a blueprint-based schedule to maintain coverage.
Teaching Point
Align study time to the official blueprint; target high-weight
systems first.
Citation
Fitzgerald, M. (2025). Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam Prep
(7th ed.). Ch. 1.
3. Reference
Ch. 1 — Prepping for Nurse Practitioner Boards — Active
Learning Strategies
NP-Level Question Stem
During content review a student alternates between making
EXAM PREP
7TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)MARGARET FITZGERALD
TEST BANK
1. Reference
Ch. 1 — Prepping for Nurse Practitioner Boards — Creating
an Effective Study Plan
NP-Level Question Stem
A 34-year-old FNP student has 12 weeks before the AANP exam
and works 30 clinical hours weekly. She reports moderate
baseline content knowledge but poor time management. Which
study plan approach most likely maximizes retrieval practice
while respecting her schedule?
Options
A. Study 4 hours daily weekdays reviewing every system
linearly; take one simulated full-length exam in week 12.
B. Use focused 60–90 minute spaced daily sessions combining
,active recall and mixed-blocks of practice questions, with
weekly full-length simulations.
C. Read textbook chapters sequentially on weekends and do
question banks only during the final two weeks.
D. Rely primarily on group study sessions twice weekly and
postpone self-practice until after clinical shifts.
Correct Answer
B
Rationales
Correct Option: B promotes distributed practice, active
retrieval, and mixed practice—techniques shown to improve
long-term retention and clinical reasoning. Weekly full
simulations give psychometric familiarity and pacing practice.
This aligns with exam prep guidance advocating deliberate
practice and spaced testing.
A: Four hours daily is likely unsustainable with 30 clinical
hours and lacks spacing; a single late simulation is insufficient
for iterative improvement.
C: Sequential reading without retrieval practice yields low
transfer and high forgetting; cramming in final weeks is poor for
synthesis.
D: Group study alone may lack targeted retrieval practice
and individual feedback; delaying self-practice reduces exam
readiness.
,Teaching Point
Use spaced, active recall with mixed-topic question blocks;
simulate exams weekly.
Citation
Fitzgerald, M. (2025). Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam Prep
(7th ed.). Ch. 1.
2. Reference
Ch. 1 — Prepping for Nurse Practitioner Boards —
Blueprinting and Content Weighting
NP-Level Question Stem
An NP candidate notes that the exam blueprint allocates 30% to
cardiovascular, 20% to respiratory, and 10% to dermatology.
With 8 weeks left, how should the candidate allocate weekly
practice-question time for maximal exam alignment?
Options
A. Allocate practice-question time proportionally by blueprint
percentages and prioritize weak points within those systems.
B. Split time equally across all systems to avoid neglecting any
area.
C. Focus 80% on cardiovascular and respiratory and ignore
dermatology until the last two weeks.
D. Concentrate only on previously failed practice questions,
regardless of blueprint percentages.
, Correct Answer
A
Rationales
Correct Option: Allocating time according to blueprint
ensures practice reflects exam emphasis while also addressing
known weaknesses—balance of breadth and depth.
B: Equal time ignores blueprint weighting and may
underprepare for heavily tested systems.
C: Overemphasizing a subset sacrifices coverage of other
tested topics; dermatology still carries weight.
D: Reviewing failures is important but should be nested
within a blueprint-based schedule to maintain coverage.
Teaching Point
Align study time to the official blueprint; target high-weight
systems first.
Citation
Fitzgerald, M. (2025). Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam Prep
(7th ed.). Ch. 1.
3. Reference
Ch. 1 — Prepping for Nurse Practitioner Boards — Active
Learning Strategies
NP-Level Question Stem
During content review a student alternates between making
