ANCC IQ
DOMAIN 1: SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATION
FINAL ASSESSMENT REVIEW
2026
1. A patient with chronic renal failure develops anemia. Which scientific foundation
explains this?
- A. Reduced iron absorption
- B. Decreased erythropoietin production
- C. Increased hemolysis
- D. Vitamin B12 deficiency
Answer: B
Rationale: The kidney produces erythropoietin; failure reduces RBC production.
2. Which neurotransmitter imbalance is most associated with major depressive
disorder?
- A. Dopamine excess
- B. Serotonin deficiency
- C. Acetylcholine excess
- D. GABA deficiency
Answer: B
Rationale: Serotonin deficiency underpins depressive symptoms.
3. A nurse practitioner explains the stress response. Which hormone is primarily
responsible for increasing blood glucose?
- A. Cortisol
- B. Insulin
- C. Aldosterone
- D. Thyroxine
Answer: A
Rationale: Cortisol mobilizes glucose during stress.
4. Which psychological theory emphasizes the importance of reinforcement in
behavior change?
- A. Cognitive theory
1
, - B. Behavioral theory
- C. Humanistic theory
- D. Psychodynamic theory
Answer: B
Rationale: Behavioral theory focuses on reinforcement and conditioning.
5. A patient with schizophrenia is treated with antipsychotics. Which
neurotransmitter pathway is most implicated?
- A. Serotonin
- B. Dopamine
- C. GABA
- D. Acetylcholine
Answer: B
Rationale: Dopamine dysregulation is central to schizophrenia.
16. The limbic system regulates emotional responses and memory.
Answer: True
Rationale: It integrates emotion and memory processing.
17. In Type 2 diabetes, insulin deficiency is absolute from disease onset.
Answer: False
Rationale: Initially, insulin resistance predominates; deficiency develops later.
18. Social determinants of health include education, income, and environment.
Answer: True
Rationale: These factors influence health outcomes.
19. The sympathetic nervous system decreases heart rate.
Answer: False
Rationale: It increases heart rate via adrenergic stimulation.
20. Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new
connections.
Answer: True
Rationale: It underpins learning and recovery after injury.
---
21. Explain why patients with chronic stress are at higher risk for cardiovascular
disease.
Answer: Chronic stress elevates cortisol and catecholamines, increasing blood
pressure and promoting atherosclerosis.
Rationale: Sustained stress response damages cardiovascular health.
2
, 22. Describe the biomedical basis of pain perception.
Answer: Nociceptors transmit signals via the spinal cord to the brain, where pain is
processed.
Rationale: Pain involves peripheral and central nervous system pathways.
23. How do social support networks influence patient recovery?
Answer: They reduce stress, improve adherence, and enhance resilience.
Rationale: Social science evidence links support to better outcomes.
24. Why is understanding epigenetics important in advanced nursing practice?
Answer: Epigenetics explains how environment and lifestyle influence gene
expression.
Rationale: It highlights the interplay of biology and social factors.
31. The primary neurotransmitter involved in Parkinson’s disease is _____.
Answer: Dopamine
Rationale: Dopamine deficiency in the basal ganglia causes motor symptoms.
32. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulates the release of ____
during stress.
Answer: Cortisol
Rationale: Cortisol is the end-product of HPA activation.
33. Maslow’s hierarchy places ____ needs at the base of the pyramid.
Answer: Physiological
Rationale: Basic survival needs must be met first.
34. The biomedical term for programmed cell death is _____.
Answer: Apoptosis
Rationale: Apoptosis maintains tissue homeostasis.
35. The social science concept describing unequal health outcomes across
populations is _____.
Answer: Health disparity
Rationale: Disparities reflect inequities in care and determinants.
36. The neurotransmitter most associated with anxiety disorders is _____.
Answer: GABA
Rationale: Reduced GABA activity contributes to hyperexcitability.
3
DOMAIN 1: SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATION
FINAL ASSESSMENT REVIEW
2026
1. A patient with chronic renal failure develops anemia. Which scientific foundation
explains this?
- A. Reduced iron absorption
- B. Decreased erythropoietin production
- C. Increased hemolysis
- D. Vitamin B12 deficiency
Answer: B
Rationale: The kidney produces erythropoietin; failure reduces RBC production.
2. Which neurotransmitter imbalance is most associated with major depressive
disorder?
- A. Dopamine excess
- B. Serotonin deficiency
- C. Acetylcholine excess
- D. GABA deficiency
Answer: B
Rationale: Serotonin deficiency underpins depressive symptoms.
3. A nurse practitioner explains the stress response. Which hormone is primarily
responsible for increasing blood glucose?
- A. Cortisol
- B. Insulin
- C. Aldosterone
- D. Thyroxine
Answer: A
Rationale: Cortisol mobilizes glucose during stress.
4. Which psychological theory emphasizes the importance of reinforcement in
behavior change?
- A. Cognitive theory
1
, - B. Behavioral theory
- C. Humanistic theory
- D. Psychodynamic theory
Answer: B
Rationale: Behavioral theory focuses on reinforcement and conditioning.
5. A patient with schizophrenia is treated with antipsychotics. Which
neurotransmitter pathway is most implicated?
- A. Serotonin
- B. Dopamine
- C. GABA
- D. Acetylcholine
Answer: B
Rationale: Dopamine dysregulation is central to schizophrenia.
16. The limbic system regulates emotional responses and memory.
Answer: True
Rationale: It integrates emotion and memory processing.
17. In Type 2 diabetes, insulin deficiency is absolute from disease onset.
Answer: False
Rationale: Initially, insulin resistance predominates; deficiency develops later.
18. Social determinants of health include education, income, and environment.
Answer: True
Rationale: These factors influence health outcomes.
19. The sympathetic nervous system decreases heart rate.
Answer: False
Rationale: It increases heart rate via adrenergic stimulation.
20. Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new
connections.
Answer: True
Rationale: It underpins learning and recovery after injury.
---
21. Explain why patients with chronic stress are at higher risk for cardiovascular
disease.
Answer: Chronic stress elevates cortisol and catecholamines, increasing blood
pressure and promoting atherosclerosis.
Rationale: Sustained stress response damages cardiovascular health.
2
, 22. Describe the biomedical basis of pain perception.
Answer: Nociceptors transmit signals via the spinal cord to the brain, where pain is
processed.
Rationale: Pain involves peripheral and central nervous system pathways.
23. How do social support networks influence patient recovery?
Answer: They reduce stress, improve adherence, and enhance resilience.
Rationale: Social science evidence links support to better outcomes.
24. Why is understanding epigenetics important in advanced nursing practice?
Answer: Epigenetics explains how environment and lifestyle influence gene
expression.
Rationale: It highlights the interplay of biology and social factors.
31. The primary neurotransmitter involved in Parkinson’s disease is _____.
Answer: Dopamine
Rationale: Dopamine deficiency in the basal ganglia causes motor symptoms.
32. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulates the release of ____
during stress.
Answer: Cortisol
Rationale: Cortisol is the end-product of HPA activation.
33. Maslow’s hierarchy places ____ needs at the base of the pyramid.
Answer: Physiological
Rationale: Basic survival needs must be met first.
34. The biomedical term for programmed cell death is _____.
Answer: Apoptosis
Rationale: Apoptosis maintains tissue homeostasis.
35. The social science concept describing unequal health outcomes across
populations is _____.
Answer: Health disparity
Rationale: Disparities reflect inequities in care and determinants.
36. The neurotransmitter most associated with anxiety disorders is _____.
Answer: GABA
Rationale: Reduced GABA activity contributes to hyperexcitability.
3
