Page 1 of 41
19 May 2026
PCCN CERTIFICATION EXAM –150 ACCURATE
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWER 2026/2027 LATEST
EXAM UPDATE GUARANTEE HIGH PASS MARK COVERING
MOST TESTED QUESTIONS
In the early stages of iron deficient anemias, blood studies show:
(a) macrocytic normochromic
(b) microcytic hypochromic
(c) normochromic normocytic
(d) pancytopenic hypocytic - CORRECT ANSWER-(a) normochromic normocytic
A 14-year-old, male patient has some general concerns about eczema, as his twin brother was
recently diagnosed with this condition. The patient reports urticaria and a rash on his posterior
knees bilaterally. The three factors that put the patient at risk for eczema are a family history of
eczema, a personal history of allergic rhinitis, and a history of:
(a) asthma
(b) bee allergy
(c) otitis media
(d) psoriasis - CORRECT ANSWER-(a) asthma
A patient has hyperactive reflexes of the lower extremities. The adult-gerontology primary care
nurse practitioner assesses for ankle clonus by:
(a) firmly applying a low-pitched tuning fork to the lateral malleolus.
(b) flexing the leg at the knee, rotating it externally, and striking the Achilles tendon with the
percussion hammer.
(c) sharply dorsiflexing the foot and maintaining this position while supporting the knee.
(d) stroking the lateral aspect of the sole from the heel to the ball of the foot with the sharp end of
the percussion hammer. - CORRECT ANSWER-(c) sharply dorsiflexing the foot and maintaining this
position while supporting the knee.
A 70-year-old, female patient is having her yearly evaluation. The adult-gerontology primary care
nurse practitioner gives which physical examination finding the highest priority for immediate
treatment?
(a) Atrophy of vaginal rugae.
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19 May 2026
(b) Cystocele present.
(c) Palpable ovary.
(d) Pessary in place. - CORRECT ANSWER-(c) Palpable ovary.
The adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner reminds a 16-year-old, male patient who
just received his driver's license to wear a seat belt at all times when in a car. The patient replies
that he does not need to wear a seat belt, because nothing will happen to him if he is involved in
an automobile collision. According to the health belief model, what chief component does the
patient lack?
(a) Enabling factors.
(b) Motivation.
(c) Perceived role conflict.
(d) Perceived severity. - CORRECT ANSWER-(d) Perceived severity.
The adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner evaluates an 80-year-old patient with
cognitive deficits, who is unaccompanied by the adult child who typically is present. The patient
has urinary symptoms, for which the nurse practitioner considers ordering sulfamethoxazole-
trimethoprim (Bactrim). The patient's previous medical record is unavailable. Before prescribing
the medication, the nurse practitioner:
(a) contacts the patient's adult child.
(b) queries the other staff members.
(c) relies on the patient's self-report.
(d) waits until the patient's chart is available. - CORRECT ANSWER-(a) contacts the patient's adult
child.
The adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner conducts a small group class on weight
management. The nurse practitioner anticipates that the patient who may have the greatest
difficulty implementing the counseling is the:
(a) extroverted patient raising his or her grandchildren.
(b) introverted patient who does not speak in the group.
(c) personable patient who lives with his or her children.
(d) worried patient whose son is serving in military conflict. - CORRECT ANSWER-(d) worried
patient whose son is serving in military conflict.
, Page 3 of 41
19 May 2026
The adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner evaluates a patient with cold symptoms
who reports smoking half a pack of cigarettes a day and shows no interest in quitting. The nurse
practitioner's most appropriate approach is to treat the cold symptoms and:
(a) advise the patient to stop smoking.
(b) prescribe bupropion (Zyban).
(c) raise the issue of smoking cessation at the next visit.
(d) recommend that the patient select a low nicotine cigarette. - CORRECT ANSWER-(a) advise the
patient to stop smoking.
The adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner plans to provide smoking cessation
education at a community center to older adults and their families. The nurse practitioner designs
the program based on knowledge that older adult smokers:
(a) are likely to be optimistic about their ability to quit.
(b) are more likely to be successful at quitting than younger smokers.
(c) have a decreased risk of morbidity and mortality than do younger smokers.
(d) receive more instruction to quit from health care providers than younger smokers. - CORRECT
ANSWER-(b) are more likely to be successful at quitting than younger smokers.
An 84-year-old patient arrives at the office for an initial visit. The patient questions the need for
colorectal screening, since 10 years have passed since the last colonoscopy. The adult-gerontology
primary care nurse practitioner recommends:
(a) a colonoscopy.
(b) a fecal DNA test.
(c) flexible sigmoidoscopy.
(d) watchful waiting. - CORRECT ANSWER-(d) watchful waiting.
To evaluate for heart failure, which diagnostic test does the adult-gerontology primary care nurse
practitioner order for a patient with swelling in the lower extremities?
(a) Ankle-brachial index.
(b) Brain natriuretic peptide test.
(c) D-dimer assay.
(d) Spirometry study. - CORRECT ANSWER-(b) Brain natriuretic peptide test.
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19 May 2026
Before placing a patient with onychomycosis on a pulsed dose of itraconazole (Sporanox), which
laboratory values does the adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner obtain?
(a) Liver function studies.
(b) Platelet count.
(c) Renal function studies.
(d) White blood cell count. - CORRECT ANSWER-(a) Liver function studies.
A 30-year-old, female patient has a two-week history of nausea, vomiting, decreased weight,
abdominal pain, and a long-term history of multiple sexual partners. The patient's physical
examination reveals abdominal tenderness with icteric sclerae and skin. Which laboratory test
confirms active hepatitis B?
(a) Antibody.
(b) Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
(c) Immune globulin G.
(d) Surface antigen. - CORRECT ANSWER-(d) Surface antigen.
For two to three months, a 78-year-old patient has not been taking levothyroxine (Synthroid) as
prescribed. The patient now has symptoms of increasing constipation, lethargy, and weakness.
The adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner anticipates that laboratory tests will show
that the patient's:
(a) T4 level decreased, and TSH level increased.
(b) T4 level increased, and TSH level decreased.
(c) T4 level increased, and TSH level is unchanged.
(d) T4 level is unchanged, and TSH level decreased. - CORRECT ANSWER-(a) T4 level decreased, and
TSH level increased.
A 68-year-old patient has sustained an unintended weight loss of 15 lb (6.8 kg) over the last two
months but reports feeling well. The patient's problems include depression, tobacco abuse,
obesity, and dyslipidemia. His or her medications are sertralizine (Zoloft), simvastatin (Zocor), and
famotidine (Pepcid). The adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner performs which THREE
actions?
(a) Adds a probiotic.
(b) Conducts a depression screening.
(c) Decreases the dosage of the statin medication.
(d) Obtains a chest x-ray.
19 May 2026
PCCN CERTIFICATION EXAM –150 ACCURATE
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWER 2026/2027 LATEST
EXAM UPDATE GUARANTEE HIGH PASS MARK COVERING
MOST TESTED QUESTIONS
In the early stages of iron deficient anemias, blood studies show:
(a) macrocytic normochromic
(b) microcytic hypochromic
(c) normochromic normocytic
(d) pancytopenic hypocytic - CORRECT ANSWER-(a) normochromic normocytic
A 14-year-old, male patient has some general concerns about eczema, as his twin brother was
recently diagnosed with this condition. The patient reports urticaria and a rash on his posterior
knees bilaterally. The three factors that put the patient at risk for eczema are a family history of
eczema, a personal history of allergic rhinitis, and a history of:
(a) asthma
(b) bee allergy
(c) otitis media
(d) psoriasis - CORRECT ANSWER-(a) asthma
A patient has hyperactive reflexes of the lower extremities. The adult-gerontology primary care
nurse practitioner assesses for ankle clonus by:
(a) firmly applying a low-pitched tuning fork to the lateral malleolus.
(b) flexing the leg at the knee, rotating it externally, and striking the Achilles tendon with the
percussion hammer.
(c) sharply dorsiflexing the foot and maintaining this position while supporting the knee.
(d) stroking the lateral aspect of the sole from the heel to the ball of the foot with the sharp end of
the percussion hammer. - CORRECT ANSWER-(c) sharply dorsiflexing the foot and maintaining this
position while supporting the knee.
A 70-year-old, female patient is having her yearly evaluation. The adult-gerontology primary care
nurse practitioner gives which physical examination finding the highest priority for immediate
treatment?
(a) Atrophy of vaginal rugae.
, Page 2 of 41
19 May 2026
(b) Cystocele present.
(c) Palpable ovary.
(d) Pessary in place. - CORRECT ANSWER-(c) Palpable ovary.
The adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner reminds a 16-year-old, male patient who
just received his driver's license to wear a seat belt at all times when in a car. The patient replies
that he does not need to wear a seat belt, because nothing will happen to him if he is involved in
an automobile collision. According to the health belief model, what chief component does the
patient lack?
(a) Enabling factors.
(b) Motivation.
(c) Perceived role conflict.
(d) Perceived severity. - CORRECT ANSWER-(d) Perceived severity.
The adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner evaluates an 80-year-old patient with
cognitive deficits, who is unaccompanied by the adult child who typically is present. The patient
has urinary symptoms, for which the nurse practitioner considers ordering sulfamethoxazole-
trimethoprim (Bactrim). The patient's previous medical record is unavailable. Before prescribing
the medication, the nurse practitioner:
(a) contacts the patient's adult child.
(b) queries the other staff members.
(c) relies on the patient's self-report.
(d) waits until the patient's chart is available. - CORRECT ANSWER-(a) contacts the patient's adult
child.
The adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner conducts a small group class on weight
management. The nurse practitioner anticipates that the patient who may have the greatest
difficulty implementing the counseling is the:
(a) extroverted patient raising his or her grandchildren.
(b) introverted patient who does not speak in the group.
(c) personable patient who lives with his or her children.
(d) worried patient whose son is serving in military conflict. - CORRECT ANSWER-(d) worried
patient whose son is serving in military conflict.
, Page 3 of 41
19 May 2026
The adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner evaluates a patient with cold symptoms
who reports smoking half a pack of cigarettes a day and shows no interest in quitting. The nurse
practitioner's most appropriate approach is to treat the cold symptoms and:
(a) advise the patient to stop smoking.
(b) prescribe bupropion (Zyban).
(c) raise the issue of smoking cessation at the next visit.
(d) recommend that the patient select a low nicotine cigarette. - CORRECT ANSWER-(a) advise the
patient to stop smoking.
The adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner plans to provide smoking cessation
education at a community center to older adults and their families. The nurse practitioner designs
the program based on knowledge that older adult smokers:
(a) are likely to be optimistic about their ability to quit.
(b) are more likely to be successful at quitting than younger smokers.
(c) have a decreased risk of morbidity and mortality than do younger smokers.
(d) receive more instruction to quit from health care providers than younger smokers. - CORRECT
ANSWER-(b) are more likely to be successful at quitting than younger smokers.
An 84-year-old patient arrives at the office for an initial visit. The patient questions the need for
colorectal screening, since 10 years have passed since the last colonoscopy. The adult-gerontology
primary care nurse practitioner recommends:
(a) a colonoscopy.
(b) a fecal DNA test.
(c) flexible sigmoidoscopy.
(d) watchful waiting. - CORRECT ANSWER-(d) watchful waiting.
To evaluate for heart failure, which diagnostic test does the adult-gerontology primary care nurse
practitioner order for a patient with swelling in the lower extremities?
(a) Ankle-brachial index.
(b) Brain natriuretic peptide test.
(c) D-dimer assay.
(d) Spirometry study. - CORRECT ANSWER-(b) Brain natriuretic peptide test.
, Page 4 of 41
19 May 2026
Before placing a patient with onychomycosis on a pulsed dose of itraconazole (Sporanox), which
laboratory values does the adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner obtain?
(a) Liver function studies.
(b) Platelet count.
(c) Renal function studies.
(d) White blood cell count. - CORRECT ANSWER-(a) Liver function studies.
A 30-year-old, female patient has a two-week history of nausea, vomiting, decreased weight,
abdominal pain, and a long-term history of multiple sexual partners. The patient's physical
examination reveals abdominal tenderness with icteric sclerae and skin. Which laboratory test
confirms active hepatitis B?
(a) Antibody.
(b) Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
(c) Immune globulin G.
(d) Surface antigen. - CORRECT ANSWER-(d) Surface antigen.
For two to three months, a 78-year-old patient has not been taking levothyroxine (Synthroid) as
prescribed. The patient now has symptoms of increasing constipation, lethargy, and weakness.
The adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner anticipates that laboratory tests will show
that the patient's:
(a) T4 level decreased, and TSH level increased.
(b) T4 level increased, and TSH level decreased.
(c) T4 level increased, and TSH level is unchanged.
(d) T4 level is unchanged, and TSH level decreased. - CORRECT ANSWER-(a) T4 level decreased, and
TSH level increased.
A 68-year-old patient has sustained an unintended weight loss of 15 lb (6.8 kg) over the last two
months but reports feeling well. The patient's problems include depression, tobacco abuse,
obesity, and dyslipidemia. His or her medications are sertralizine (Zoloft), simvastatin (Zocor), and
famotidine (Pepcid). The adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner performs which THREE
actions?
(a) Adds a probiotic.
(b) Conducts a depression screening.
(c) Decreases the dosage of the statin medication.
(d) Obtains a chest x-ray.
