NURS 8020C AHA MID-TERM REVIEW QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
PLUS ◆RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF.
CORE DOMAINS
Advanced Health Assessment
Pathophysiology and Risk Stratification
Medical Coding and Billing Compliance
Ethical and Legal Standards
Patient Communication and Counseling
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Clinical Decision Making and Diagnostics
INTRODUCTION
This comprehensive examination is designed to evaluate the advanced practice
*nurse's foundational and applied knowledge across key clinical domains. The *
assessment focuses on real-world application, critical thinking, and clinical
*decision-making essential for safe practice. Through multiple-choice and *
*scenario-based questions, candidates are tested on synthesizing patient data, *
*applying guidelines, navigating regulatory frameworks, and demonstrating *
*ethical standards. Emphasis is placed on accurate assessment and diagnostic *
reasoning to ensure optimal healthcare outcomes in diverse settings.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–300
,Question 1
Your middle-aged patient has a BMI of 29. You would tell him that...
A. Hyperlipidemia & weight gain are a problem
B. The results are within normal limits
◆✔◆ C. He is at risk for CAD & DM
D. He is at risk for BPH & DM
◆RATIONALE: A BMI of 29 falls into the overweight category, which
significantly increases the patient's risk for developing coronary artery disease (CAD)
and diabetes mellitus (DM).
Question 2
You realize that as an Advanced Practice Nurse you must ask questions regarding
sensitive topics. To be most effective you employ the basic principle that guide
responses to sensitive topics. All of these are important which is the most...
A. Be succinct
B. Be focused
C. Be direct
◆✔◆ D. Be nonjudgmental
◆RATIONALE: Approaching sensitive topics in a nonjudgmental manner is
crucial to foster trust, maintain rapport, and encourage patients to provide honest and
complete information.
Question 3
Susie Lee presents for a checkup to your office. You have not seen her before but she
was last seen by the MD in your group for a URI 2 years ago. According to the CPT
definition she is classified as...
◆✔◆ A. Established
B. New
C. Billable at a higher level
D. Concurrent care
,◆RATIONALE: According to CPT guidelines, a patient is considered
established if they have received professional services from the provider or another
provider of the exact same specialty and subspecialty in the group practice within the
past three years.
Question 4
Ms. Waters is being assessed for a job physical. You ask her about her exercise
regimen. She responds that she uses the treadmill every day for 30 minutes. What
would be your next question?
A. Do you get a good workout?
B. Do you do anything else?
C. Have you had any injuries?
◆✔◆ D. How long have you been doing this?
◆RATIONALE: When a patient reports an exercise regimen, determining the
duration of the habit helps the provider accurately assess the patient's baseline
cardiovascular fitness level and overall lifestyle.
Question 5
A patient presents to the clinic for a chronic cough that has lasted 4 weeks. According
to CPT coding guidelines, this is classified as:
A. Acute
◆✔◆ B. Subacute
C. Chronic
D. Recurrent
◆RATIONALE: A cough lasting between 3 and 8 weeks is defined as subacute,
whereas acute is less than 3 weeks and chronic is greater than 8 weeks.
Question 6
When performing a physical assessment on an older adult, which of the following
findings is considered a normal age-related change?
A. Sudden onset of confusion
, ◆✔◆ B. Decreased hearing acuity
C. Unilateral pupil dilation
D. New onset of incontinence
◆RATIONALE: Presbycusis, or decreased hearing acuity, is a common and
expected physiological change associated with aging.
Question 7
An APRN is reviewing lab results for a patient with metabolic syndrome. Which of the
following findings is most closely associated with this condition?
A. LDL of 90 mg/dL
B. Fasting glucose of 85 mg/dL
◆✔◆ C. Triglycerides of 180 mg/dL
D. HDL of 60 mg/dL
◆RATIONALE: Metabolic syndrome is characterized by a triglyceride level of
150 mg/dL or higher, alongside other criteria like elevated blood pressure and
abdominal obesity.
Question 8
A patient asks the APRN about the purpose of informed consent. The most accurate
response is that informed consent:
A. Protects the provider from malpractice claims
B. Is only necessary for surgical procedures
◆✔◆ C. Ensures the patient understands the risks, benefits, and alternatives
D. Transfers decision-making authority to the healthcare team
◆RATIONALE: Informed consent is a legal and ethical requirement ensuring
patients have a comprehensive understanding of a proposed procedure, including its
risks, benefits, and alternative options, before agreeing to it.
Question 9
AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
PLUS ◆RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF.
CORE DOMAINS
Advanced Health Assessment
Pathophysiology and Risk Stratification
Medical Coding and Billing Compliance
Ethical and Legal Standards
Patient Communication and Counseling
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Clinical Decision Making and Diagnostics
INTRODUCTION
This comprehensive examination is designed to evaluate the advanced practice
*nurse's foundational and applied knowledge across key clinical domains. The *
assessment focuses on real-world application, critical thinking, and clinical
*decision-making essential for safe practice. Through multiple-choice and *
*scenario-based questions, candidates are tested on synthesizing patient data, *
*applying guidelines, navigating regulatory frameworks, and demonstrating *
*ethical standards. Emphasis is placed on accurate assessment and diagnostic *
reasoning to ensure optimal healthcare outcomes in diverse settings.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–300
,Question 1
Your middle-aged patient has a BMI of 29. You would tell him that...
A. Hyperlipidemia & weight gain are a problem
B. The results are within normal limits
◆✔◆ C. He is at risk for CAD & DM
D. He is at risk for BPH & DM
◆RATIONALE: A BMI of 29 falls into the overweight category, which
significantly increases the patient's risk for developing coronary artery disease (CAD)
and diabetes mellitus (DM).
Question 2
You realize that as an Advanced Practice Nurse you must ask questions regarding
sensitive topics. To be most effective you employ the basic principle that guide
responses to sensitive topics. All of these are important which is the most...
A. Be succinct
B. Be focused
C. Be direct
◆✔◆ D. Be nonjudgmental
◆RATIONALE: Approaching sensitive topics in a nonjudgmental manner is
crucial to foster trust, maintain rapport, and encourage patients to provide honest and
complete information.
Question 3
Susie Lee presents for a checkup to your office. You have not seen her before but she
was last seen by the MD in your group for a URI 2 years ago. According to the CPT
definition she is classified as...
◆✔◆ A. Established
B. New
C. Billable at a higher level
D. Concurrent care
,◆RATIONALE: According to CPT guidelines, a patient is considered
established if they have received professional services from the provider or another
provider of the exact same specialty and subspecialty in the group practice within the
past three years.
Question 4
Ms. Waters is being assessed for a job physical. You ask her about her exercise
regimen. She responds that she uses the treadmill every day for 30 minutes. What
would be your next question?
A. Do you get a good workout?
B. Do you do anything else?
C. Have you had any injuries?
◆✔◆ D. How long have you been doing this?
◆RATIONALE: When a patient reports an exercise regimen, determining the
duration of the habit helps the provider accurately assess the patient's baseline
cardiovascular fitness level and overall lifestyle.
Question 5
A patient presents to the clinic for a chronic cough that has lasted 4 weeks. According
to CPT coding guidelines, this is classified as:
A. Acute
◆✔◆ B. Subacute
C. Chronic
D. Recurrent
◆RATIONALE: A cough lasting between 3 and 8 weeks is defined as subacute,
whereas acute is less than 3 weeks and chronic is greater than 8 weeks.
Question 6
When performing a physical assessment on an older adult, which of the following
findings is considered a normal age-related change?
A. Sudden onset of confusion
, ◆✔◆ B. Decreased hearing acuity
C. Unilateral pupil dilation
D. New onset of incontinence
◆RATIONALE: Presbycusis, or decreased hearing acuity, is a common and
expected physiological change associated with aging.
Question 7
An APRN is reviewing lab results for a patient with metabolic syndrome. Which of the
following findings is most closely associated with this condition?
A. LDL of 90 mg/dL
B. Fasting glucose of 85 mg/dL
◆✔◆ C. Triglycerides of 180 mg/dL
D. HDL of 60 mg/dL
◆RATIONALE: Metabolic syndrome is characterized by a triglyceride level of
150 mg/dL or higher, alongside other criteria like elevated blood pressure and
abdominal obesity.
Question 8
A patient asks the APRN about the purpose of informed consent. The most accurate
response is that informed consent:
A. Protects the provider from malpractice claims
B. Is only necessary for surgical procedures
◆✔◆ C. Ensures the patient understands the risks, benefits, and alternatives
D. Transfers decision-making authority to the healthcare team
◆RATIONALE: Informed consent is a legal and ethical requirement ensuring
patients have a comprehensive understanding of a proposed procedure, including its
risks, benefits, and alternative options, before agreeing to it.
Question 9
