Sarah Michelle’s AANP Board Exam
Review 2025/2026 – FNP Practice
Questions, Answers & Detailed
Rationales | Comprehensive
Certification Study Guide| Guaranteed
Pass (GRADED A+)
1. A 58-year-old patient with hypertension reports persistent
headaches and blurred vision. Blood pressure is 212/118 mm
Hg. Which action should the nurse practitioner take first?
A. Recheck the blood pressure in 1 hour
B. Prescribe an additional oral antihypertensive
C. Assess for acute target-organ damage and arrange emergency
evaluation
D. Recommend a low-sodium diet and follow-up in 1 week
Answer: _C. Assess for acute target-organ damage and arrange
emergency evaluation_
Rationale: A markedly elevated blood pressure accompanied by
symptoms concerning for target-organ injury requires
immediate assessment for hypertensive emergency and
appropriate emergency management.
2. A 24-year-old woman presents with dysuria, urinary
frequency, and urgency for 2 days. She has no fever, flank pain,
,vaginal discharge, or pregnancy risk. Which diagnosis is most
likely?
A. Pyelonephritis
B. Acute uncomplicated cystitis
C. Bacterial vaginosis
D. Pelvic inflammatory disease
Answer: _B. Acute uncomplicated cystitis_
Rationale: Dysuria, frequency, and urgency without systemic
symptoms or flank pain are characteristic of acute
uncomplicated cystitis.
3. A patient with asthma uses a rescue inhaler several times each
week and reports nighttime symptoms. Which finding indicates
inadequate asthma control?
A. Symptoms occurring once every several months
B. No limitation of normal activity
C. Frequent short-acting bronchodilator use
D. Normal oxygen saturation at rest
Answer: _C. Frequent short-acting bronchodilator use_
Rationale: Frequent reliance on a short-acting bronchodilator
suggests inadequate control and the need to reassess the
patient's controller regimen, adherence, triggers, and technique.
,4. A 67-year-old patient reports new-onset unilateral temporal
headache, jaw claudication, and transient visual disturbance.
What is the priority concern?
A. Migraine
B. Tension headache
C. Giant cell arteritis
D. Cluster headache
Answer: _C. Giant cell arteritis_
Rationale: New temporal headache with jaw claudication and
visual symptoms in an older adult is highly concerning for giant
cell arteritis, which requires urgent evaluation and treatment
because of the risk of permanent vision loss.
5. A patient with type 2 diabetes has an A1C of 9.2% despite
adherence to lifestyle modifications and metformin. What
should the clinician do?
A. Discontinue metformin
B. Reassess the treatment plan and intensify glucose-lowering
therapy
C. Tell the patient to continue the same treatment for another
year
D. Stop monitoring A1C
Answer: _B. Reassess the treatment plan and intensify glucose-
lowering therapy_
, Rationale: An A1C substantially above the individualized
treatment goal indicates inadequate glycemic control and
warrants reassessment and treatment intensification.
6. Which finding is most characteristic of hypothyroidism?
A. Heat intolerance
B. Tremor
C. Weight loss
D. Cold intolerance
Answer: _D. Cold intolerance_
Rationale: Hypothyroidism commonly produces fatigue, weight
gain, constipation, dry skin, bradycardia, and cold intolerance.
7. A 45-year-old patient reports unilateral calf swelling, warmth,
and tenderness after a long flight. Which diagnosis should be
considered first?
A. Osteoarthritis
B. Deep vein thrombosis
C. Cellulitis only
D. Muscle strain only
Answer: _B. Deep vein thrombosis_
Rationale: Unilateral calf swelling, warmth, and tenderness in a
patient with recent prolonged immobility are concerning for
DVT and require prompt diagnostic evaluation.
Review 2025/2026 – FNP Practice
Questions, Answers & Detailed
Rationales | Comprehensive
Certification Study Guide| Guaranteed
Pass (GRADED A+)
1. A 58-year-old patient with hypertension reports persistent
headaches and blurred vision. Blood pressure is 212/118 mm
Hg. Which action should the nurse practitioner take first?
A. Recheck the blood pressure in 1 hour
B. Prescribe an additional oral antihypertensive
C. Assess for acute target-organ damage and arrange emergency
evaluation
D. Recommend a low-sodium diet and follow-up in 1 week
Answer: _C. Assess for acute target-organ damage and arrange
emergency evaluation_
Rationale: A markedly elevated blood pressure accompanied by
symptoms concerning for target-organ injury requires
immediate assessment for hypertensive emergency and
appropriate emergency management.
2. A 24-year-old woman presents with dysuria, urinary
frequency, and urgency for 2 days. She has no fever, flank pain,
,vaginal discharge, or pregnancy risk. Which diagnosis is most
likely?
A. Pyelonephritis
B. Acute uncomplicated cystitis
C. Bacterial vaginosis
D. Pelvic inflammatory disease
Answer: _B. Acute uncomplicated cystitis_
Rationale: Dysuria, frequency, and urgency without systemic
symptoms or flank pain are characteristic of acute
uncomplicated cystitis.
3. A patient with asthma uses a rescue inhaler several times each
week and reports nighttime symptoms. Which finding indicates
inadequate asthma control?
A. Symptoms occurring once every several months
B. No limitation of normal activity
C. Frequent short-acting bronchodilator use
D. Normal oxygen saturation at rest
Answer: _C. Frequent short-acting bronchodilator use_
Rationale: Frequent reliance on a short-acting bronchodilator
suggests inadequate control and the need to reassess the
patient's controller regimen, adherence, triggers, and technique.
,4. A 67-year-old patient reports new-onset unilateral temporal
headache, jaw claudication, and transient visual disturbance.
What is the priority concern?
A. Migraine
B. Tension headache
C. Giant cell arteritis
D. Cluster headache
Answer: _C. Giant cell arteritis_
Rationale: New temporal headache with jaw claudication and
visual symptoms in an older adult is highly concerning for giant
cell arteritis, which requires urgent evaluation and treatment
because of the risk of permanent vision loss.
5. A patient with type 2 diabetes has an A1C of 9.2% despite
adherence to lifestyle modifications and metformin. What
should the clinician do?
A. Discontinue metformin
B. Reassess the treatment plan and intensify glucose-lowering
therapy
C. Tell the patient to continue the same treatment for another
year
D. Stop monitoring A1C
Answer: _B. Reassess the treatment plan and intensify glucose-
lowering therapy_
, Rationale: An A1C substantially above the individualized
treatment goal indicates inadequate glycemic control and
warrants reassessment and treatment intensification.
6. Which finding is most characteristic of hypothyroidism?
A. Heat intolerance
B. Tremor
C. Weight loss
D. Cold intolerance
Answer: _D. Cold intolerance_
Rationale: Hypothyroidism commonly produces fatigue, weight
gain, constipation, dry skin, bradycardia, and cold intolerance.
7. A 45-year-old patient reports unilateral calf swelling, warmth,
and tenderness after a long flight. Which diagnosis should be
considered first?
A. Osteoarthritis
B. Deep vein thrombosis
C. Cellulitis only
D. Muscle strain only
Answer: _B. Deep vein thrombosis_
Rationale: Unilateral calf swelling, warmth, and tenderness in a
patient with recent prolonged immobility are concerning for
DVT and require prompt diagnostic evaluation.
