ANCC Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification
Exam | Complete Practice Questions with
Verified Correct Answers and Detailed
Rationales | Latest Update - 2026/2027
Edition
Question 1
How many medications does it typically take to be considered "polypharmacy?"
A. Three
B. Ten
C. Twenty-four
D. Five or more
Answer: D
Rationale: Polypharmacy is typically defined as the concurrent use of five or more
medications. This is a significant concern in ambulatory care, especially among
older adults, as it increases the risk of adverse drug reactions, drug interactions,
and medication non-adherence.
Question 2
The ANP knows that it is her responsibility to report certain things to the proper
authorities. Which of the following is NOT required to be reported?
A. Gunshot wound
B. Suspected child abuse
C. Drug abuse
D. Stab wounds
Answer: C
Rationale: Drug abuse is not required by law to be reported. Gunshot wounds, stab
wounds, and child abuse (actual or suspected) are required to be reported to the
proper authorities. Mandatory reporting laws vary by state but generally include
violent injuries and child/elder abuse.
pg. 1
,Question 3
Prior to undergoing an abdominal sonogram, the patient should do what?
A. Refrain from food and water for 12 hours
B. Empty his or her bladder
C. Drink a liter of water
D. Empty his or her bowels
Answer: C
Rationale: Prior to an abdominal sonogram, the patient is asked to drink water to
fill the bladder, which helps visualize pelvic structures. In addition, fasting for 8 to
12 hours prior to the procedure is often required to reduce bowel gas and improve
image quality.
Question 4
Which of the following is NOT part of a nursing diagnosis?
A. Statement of the patient's actual health status
B. Signs of illness
C. Medical diagnosis (such as stroke or pulmonary blockage)
D. Symptoms of illness
Answer: C
Rationale: Nursing diagnoses should never contain medical diagnoses. Rather, the
nursing diagnosis is a statement of the patient's actual health status, risks for
condition developing, causative and related factors, and signs and symptoms.
Question 5
Primary care would be considered the cornerstone of ambulatory care with nurses
practicing in which of the following areas of healthcare?
A. Telehealth services
B. Internal medicine
C. Pediatrics
D. All of the above
Answer: D
Rationale: Primary care is the cornerstone of ambulatory care, with nurses
practicing in telehealth services, internal medicine, pediatrics, family practice,
women's health, and many other ambulatory settings.
pg. 2
,Question 6
What does FDA stand for?
A. Food and Drug Administration
B. Food Depression Association
C. Fixed Depression Administration
D. None of the above
Answer: A
Rationale: The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is an agency which
regulates both the development and sale of drugs, ensuring safety and efficacy of
medications and medical devices.
Question 7
Endoscopes are cleaned and ______.
A. High level disinfected
B. Sterilized
C. Low level disinfected
D. Intermediate level disinfected
Answer: A
Rationale: Endoscopes are critical items that cannot be sterilized due to their
sensitivity to heat and moisture. They require high-level disinfection after cleaning.
Critical items that contact sterile tissue are normally sterilized, but endoscopes are
an exception.
Question 8
Which of the following is considered an independent nursing action?
A. Teaching a patient about the new diet she has been prescribed for management
of her condition
B. Assisting the speech therapist by helping the patient practice speech exercises
C. Administering pain medication to the patient
D. Giving the patient a backrub
Answer: D
Rationale: Independent nursing actions are those which do not require a
physician's order. Giving a backrub is one of these independent nursing actions. In
the age of managed care, actions which arise from collaborative care plans are
known as interdependent actions.
pg. 3
, Question 9
Which of the following is a digitalis medicine?
A. Lanoxin
B. Bumex
C. Zestril
D. Adalat
Answer: A
Rationale: Lanoxin (Digoxin) is a digitalis medication—a cardiac glycoside that
treats CHF and arrhythmias and provides blood pressure support. Bumex is a loop
diuretic. Zestril is an ACE inhibitor. Adalat is a calcium channel blocker.
Question 10
Which of the following is not one of the steps in evidence-based practice?
A. Constructing the clinical question
B. Patient selection
C. Appropriate selection of resources
D. Appraise the validity of the evidence
Answer: B
Rationale: Patient selection is not one of the steps in evidence-based practice. The
steps consist of: (1) Patient assessment, (2) Constructing the clinical question, (3)
Appropriate selection of resources, (4) Appraise the validity of the evidence, (5)
Apply the integrated patient preferences, evidence, and clinical expertise, (6)
Performance evaluation with patient.
Question 11
What is true regarding the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immune globulin?
A. This is indicated for children less than 2 years of age with chronic lung disease,
and infants <32 weeks
B. Contraindications include a reaction to neomycin or streptomycin products
C. This is indicated for adults without a history of RSV
D. Palivizumab (Synagis) provides permanent immunity for high-risk infants
Answer: A
Rationale: Palivizumab (Synagis) is indicated for children less than 2 years of age
with chronic lung disease and infants <32 weeks gestation. It provides temporary,
pg. 4
Exam | Complete Practice Questions with
Verified Correct Answers and Detailed
Rationales | Latest Update - 2026/2027
Edition
Question 1
How many medications does it typically take to be considered "polypharmacy?"
A. Three
B. Ten
C. Twenty-four
D. Five or more
Answer: D
Rationale: Polypharmacy is typically defined as the concurrent use of five or more
medications. This is a significant concern in ambulatory care, especially among
older adults, as it increases the risk of adverse drug reactions, drug interactions,
and medication non-adherence.
Question 2
The ANP knows that it is her responsibility to report certain things to the proper
authorities. Which of the following is NOT required to be reported?
A. Gunshot wound
B. Suspected child abuse
C. Drug abuse
D. Stab wounds
Answer: C
Rationale: Drug abuse is not required by law to be reported. Gunshot wounds, stab
wounds, and child abuse (actual or suspected) are required to be reported to the
proper authorities. Mandatory reporting laws vary by state but generally include
violent injuries and child/elder abuse.
pg. 1
,Question 3
Prior to undergoing an abdominal sonogram, the patient should do what?
A. Refrain from food and water for 12 hours
B. Empty his or her bladder
C. Drink a liter of water
D. Empty his or her bowels
Answer: C
Rationale: Prior to an abdominal sonogram, the patient is asked to drink water to
fill the bladder, which helps visualize pelvic structures. In addition, fasting for 8 to
12 hours prior to the procedure is often required to reduce bowel gas and improve
image quality.
Question 4
Which of the following is NOT part of a nursing diagnosis?
A. Statement of the patient's actual health status
B. Signs of illness
C. Medical diagnosis (such as stroke or pulmonary blockage)
D. Symptoms of illness
Answer: C
Rationale: Nursing diagnoses should never contain medical diagnoses. Rather, the
nursing diagnosis is a statement of the patient's actual health status, risks for
condition developing, causative and related factors, and signs and symptoms.
Question 5
Primary care would be considered the cornerstone of ambulatory care with nurses
practicing in which of the following areas of healthcare?
A. Telehealth services
B. Internal medicine
C. Pediatrics
D. All of the above
Answer: D
Rationale: Primary care is the cornerstone of ambulatory care, with nurses
practicing in telehealth services, internal medicine, pediatrics, family practice,
women's health, and many other ambulatory settings.
pg. 2
,Question 6
What does FDA stand for?
A. Food and Drug Administration
B. Food Depression Association
C. Fixed Depression Administration
D. None of the above
Answer: A
Rationale: The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is an agency which
regulates both the development and sale of drugs, ensuring safety and efficacy of
medications and medical devices.
Question 7
Endoscopes are cleaned and ______.
A. High level disinfected
B. Sterilized
C. Low level disinfected
D. Intermediate level disinfected
Answer: A
Rationale: Endoscopes are critical items that cannot be sterilized due to their
sensitivity to heat and moisture. They require high-level disinfection after cleaning.
Critical items that contact sterile tissue are normally sterilized, but endoscopes are
an exception.
Question 8
Which of the following is considered an independent nursing action?
A. Teaching a patient about the new diet she has been prescribed for management
of her condition
B. Assisting the speech therapist by helping the patient practice speech exercises
C. Administering pain medication to the patient
D. Giving the patient a backrub
Answer: D
Rationale: Independent nursing actions are those which do not require a
physician's order. Giving a backrub is one of these independent nursing actions. In
the age of managed care, actions which arise from collaborative care plans are
known as interdependent actions.
pg. 3
, Question 9
Which of the following is a digitalis medicine?
A. Lanoxin
B. Bumex
C. Zestril
D. Adalat
Answer: A
Rationale: Lanoxin (Digoxin) is a digitalis medication—a cardiac glycoside that
treats CHF and arrhythmias and provides blood pressure support. Bumex is a loop
diuretic. Zestril is an ACE inhibitor. Adalat is a calcium channel blocker.
Question 10
Which of the following is not one of the steps in evidence-based practice?
A. Constructing the clinical question
B. Patient selection
C. Appropriate selection of resources
D. Appraise the validity of the evidence
Answer: B
Rationale: Patient selection is not one of the steps in evidence-based practice. The
steps consist of: (1) Patient assessment, (2) Constructing the clinical question, (3)
Appropriate selection of resources, (4) Appraise the validity of the evidence, (5)
Apply the integrated patient preferences, evidence, and clinical expertise, (6)
Performance evaluation with patient.
Question 11
What is true regarding the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immune globulin?
A. This is indicated for children less than 2 years of age with chronic lung disease,
and infants <32 weeks
B. Contraindications include a reaction to neomycin or streptomycin products
C. This is indicated for adults without a history of RSV
D. Palivizumab (Synagis) provides permanent immunity for high-risk infants
Answer: A
Rationale: Palivizumab (Synagis) is indicated for children less than 2 years of age
with chronic lung disease and infants <32 weeks gestation. It provides temporary,
pg. 4
