MEDSTUDY.COM
AACN PREP REVIEW FINAL PAPER 2026 FULL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A
◉ A nurse reads a meta-analysis of a clinical intervention that
supports its adoption in a nursing procedure. The most effective
action to be taken by the nurse is to:
A. Bring a copy of the study to nursing and physician leadership with
a request to consider reciting the current nursing procedure
B. Incorporate the clinical intervention into practice
C. Discuss the clinical intervention with the charge nurse
D. Assume that the clinical leadership will be adopting the new
practice in the near future. Answer: A. Bring a copy of the study to
nursing and physician leadership with a request to consider reciting
the current nursing procedure
◉ Which of the following statements related to patient
characteristics is TRUE?
A. A quadriplegic patient who was admitted with septic shock has
low resiliency
B. A patient with multiple comorbidities has low complexity
C. A patient who was admitted with multiple fractures and no other
problems has low predictability
,MEDSTUDY.COM
D. Restricting family visitation improves patient resource
availability. Answer: A. A quadriplegic patient who was admitted
with septic shock has low resiliency
This patient has 2 major problems that will decrease his ability to
"bounce back" and have a positive outcome. The plan of care should
optimally take this into consideration.
◉ While receiving a report from the nurse who was working during
the previous shift, a nurses notices that her colleague provided a
sedative drug but no analgesic to a post-op patient. The best
response would be to:
A. Point out to the nurse colleague that an omission of analgesia for
post-op patient is negligent
B. Consider that the previous shift was busier than usual, and
provide the analgesic as soon as possible
C. Point out to the nurse colleague that it appears as if an analgesic
was not given, inquire why, and then explain the importance of post-
op analgesia
D. Report the omission to the charge nurse. Answer: C. Point out to
the nurse colleague that it appears as if an analgesic was not given,
inquire why, and then explain the importance of post-op analgesia
Choice C gives the nurse the chance to teach and provides an
opportunity to hear the colleague's point of view
,MEDSTUDY.COM
◉ The family of a patient who is in critical, unstable condition is
critical of the hospital and nursing staff and is highly distraught.
What is the most appropriate response for the nurse?
A. Explain all interventions in detail
B. Listen to the family's concerns and provide reassurance
C. Provide information on the hospital's clinical excellence
D. Call the nursing supervisor to meet with the family. Answer: B.
Listen to the family's concerns and provide reassurance
This strategy allows the family to be heard and also allows the nurse
to show a degree of empathy
◉ The wife of a 29 year old critically ill trauma patient requests that
she be able to bring in their 9 month old daughter for the patient to
see. The patient, who is lightly sedated, nods "yes" when asked if he
wants to see his daughter. Which of the following would be the
nurse's best response?
A. Explain that children under the age of 12 can't visit
B. Ignore the policy and allow the wife to bring in their daughter
C. Explain to the wife that the patient will not remember the visit
D. Tell the wife that the physician and charge nurse will be consulted
to request permission. Answer: D. Tell the wife that the physician
and charge nurse will be consulted to request permission
, MEDSTUDY.COM
Choices A and C don't attempt to provide patient-centered care, and
B shows a lack of ability to collaborate on the part of the nurse
◉ A nurse receives information from her colleague at 0700 that,
during the previous shift, a 21 year old female patient who was
admitted with acute complications related to sickle cell crisis has not
reported a pain score of less than 8. The attending physician was
contacted at 0500 for additional analgesia but stated, "the order is
adequate; the patient is drug-seeking." During the initial day shift
assessment, the patient rates her pain as a 9. The best response by
the day shift nurse would be to:
A. Explain to the patient that the physician has been notified by no
further orders were received
B. Reassure the patient that the next dose of analgesia is due in an
hour
C. Call the physician, report the current assessment, and recommend
that analgesia order that the nurse feels is most appropriate for the
patient's pain
D. Contact the nurse manager and explain the situation. Answer: C.
Call the physician, report the current assessment, and recommend
that analgesia order that the nurse feels is most appropriate for the
patient's pain
AACN PREP REVIEW FINAL PAPER 2026 FULL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A
◉ A nurse reads a meta-analysis of a clinical intervention that
supports its adoption in a nursing procedure. The most effective
action to be taken by the nurse is to:
A. Bring a copy of the study to nursing and physician leadership with
a request to consider reciting the current nursing procedure
B. Incorporate the clinical intervention into practice
C. Discuss the clinical intervention with the charge nurse
D. Assume that the clinical leadership will be adopting the new
practice in the near future. Answer: A. Bring a copy of the study to
nursing and physician leadership with a request to consider reciting
the current nursing procedure
◉ Which of the following statements related to patient
characteristics is TRUE?
A. A quadriplegic patient who was admitted with septic shock has
low resiliency
B. A patient with multiple comorbidities has low complexity
C. A patient who was admitted with multiple fractures and no other
problems has low predictability
,MEDSTUDY.COM
D. Restricting family visitation improves patient resource
availability. Answer: A. A quadriplegic patient who was admitted
with septic shock has low resiliency
This patient has 2 major problems that will decrease his ability to
"bounce back" and have a positive outcome. The plan of care should
optimally take this into consideration.
◉ While receiving a report from the nurse who was working during
the previous shift, a nurses notices that her colleague provided a
sedative drug but no analgesic to a post-op patient. The best
response would be to:
A. Point out to the nurse colleague that an omission of analgesia for
post-op patient is negligent
B. Consider that the previous shift was busier than usual, and
provide the analgesic as soon as possible
C. Point out to the nurse colleague that it appears as if an analgesic
was not given, inquire why, and then explain the importance of post-
op analgesia
D. Report the omission to the charge nurse. Answer: C. Point out to
the nurse colleague that it appears as if an analgesic was not given,
inquire why, and then explain the importance of post-op analgesia
Choice C gives the nurse the chance to teach and provides an
opportunity to hear the colleague's point of view
,MEDSTUDY.COM
◉ The family of a patient who is in critical, unstable condition is
critical of the hospital and nursing staff and is highly distraught.
What is the most appropriate response for the nurse?
A. Explain all interventions in detail
B. Listen to the family's concerns and provide reassurance
C. Provide information on the hospital's clinical excellence
D. Call the nursing supervisor to meet with the family. Answer: B.
Listen to the family's concerns and provide reassurance
This strategy allows the family to be heard and also allows the nurse
to show a degree of empathy
◉ The wife of a 29 year old critically ill trauma patient requests that
she be able to bring in their 9 month old daughter for the patient to
see. The patient, who is lightly sedated, nods "yes" when asked if he
wants to see his daughter. Which of the following would be the
nurse's best response?
A. Explain that children under the age of 12 can't visit
B. Ignore the policy and allow the wife to bring in their daughter
C. Explain to the wife that the patient will not remember the visit
D. Tell the wife that the physician and charge nurse will be consulted
to request permission. Answer: D. Tell the wife that the physician
and charge nurse will be consulted to request permission
, MEDSTUDY.COM
Choices A and C don't attempt to provide patient-centered care, and
B shows a lack of ability to collaborate on the part of the nurse
◉ A nurse receives information from her colleague at 0700 that,
during the previous shift, a 21 year old female patient who was
admitted with acute complications related to sickle cell crisis has not
reported a pain score of less than 8. The attending physician was
contacted at 0500 for additional analgesia but stated, "the order is
adequate; the patient is drug-seeking." During the initial day shift
assessment, the patient rates her pain as a 9. The best response by
the day shift nurse would be to:
A. Explain to the patient that the physician has been notified by no
further orders were received
B. Reassure the patient that the next dose of analgesia is due in an
hour
C. Call the physician, report the current assessment, and recommend
that analgesia order that the nurse feels is most appropriate for the
patient's pain
D. Contact the nurse manager and explain the situation. Answer: C.
Call the physician, report the current assessment, and recommend
that analgesia order that the nurse feels is most appropriate for the
patient's pain
