ANCC practice questions
An 88-year-old woman presents to the clinic today with new-onset confusion. The patient has a medical
history significant for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, peripheral arterial disease, and type 2 diabetes
mellitus. Based solely on the patient's history, which would be the most likely differential diagnosis?
A. Atrial fibrillation
B. Cerebral infarction
C. Pulmonary embolism
D. Seizure - ANS Cerebral infarction
A 36-year-old man presents with severe colicky flank pain that has been coming and going for the last
day or so. He states the pain comes in waves and lasts anywhere from 20-60 minutes. What medication,
if the patient reports taking it, may put him at a higher risk for this condition?
A. Acyclovir (Zovirax) as herpes simplex suppressive treatment
B. Cephalexin (Keflex) for a recent cellulitis infection
C. Colchicine (Colcrys) for a gout flare
D. Propranolol (Inderal XL) for chronic migraine prophylaxis - ANS Acyclovir
The nurse practitioner prescribes terazosin to a patient who has been diagnosed with benign prostatic
hyperplasia. What is an important teaching point in regard to this medication?
A. This medication may cause dizziness the first time you take it, so take it before bed.
B. This medication may cause hyperactivity, so take in the morning.
C. This medication may raise your blood pressure.
D. This medication will shrink the prostate and help you urinate more easily. - ANS This medication may
cause dizziness the first time you take it, so take it before bed
,Combined oral contraceptive use is associated with the risk for adverse effects. When counseling a
patient, which of the following adverse effects warrants immediate notification of the nurse
practitioner?
A. Breast tenderness
B. Nausea
C. New headache
D. Weight gain - ANS New headache
A patient with a history of daily famotidine (Pepcid) use for 8 consecutive weeks presents to the clinic
for follow-up of gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms. Which of the following lab tests should be
monitored in patients who require long-term famotidine (Pepcid) therapy?
A. Basic metabolic panel
B. Complete blood count
C. Kidney function panel
D. Liver Function test - ANS Complete blood count
The nurse practitioner is counseling a patient regarding contraception methods. Which of the following
is incorrect regarding the patch form of contraception?
A. It has the same failure rate as combined oral contraceptives
B. The breast and abdomen are both acceptable places for the patch
C. The patch is contraindicated in patients with a history of thromboemblolism
D. The patch should be changed to a new location every week for 3 weeks and then removed for 1 week
to allow for menses - ANS The breast and abdomen are both acceptable places for the patch
A 65-year-old man presents for a medication reconciliation today. He reports taking allopurinol
(Aloprim), lisinopril (Prinivil), atorvastatin (Lipitor), and acetaminophen (Tylenol) as needed. He has been
doing well on these medications for the last 3 years. What medication education should be provided at
today's visit?
A. "Ensure that you are limiting excess calcium intake as allopurinol can increase calcium levels"
,B. "Please monitor for any onset of asymmetric facial swelling"
C. "We will need to obtain liver function tests every 6 months"
D. "We will obtain a hemoglobin A1C every 3 months as atorvastatin can increase your blood glucose
levels" - ANS "Please monitor for any onset of asymmetric facial swelling"
What is the recommended daily folic acid supplementation during a normal pregnancy?
A. 1000mcg
B. 250mcg
C. 400mcg
D. 500mcg - ANS 400mcg
The nurse practitioner is seeing a patient today for medication reconciliation. The patient's past medical
history includes prediabetes, migraines with aura, hypertension, and concern for metabolic syndrome.
Which of the following medications would warrant further evaluation today?
A. Amlodipine (Norvasc)
B. Chlorthalidone (Thalitone)
C. Clonidine (Catapres)
D. Lisinopril (Prinivil) - ANS Chlorthalidone (Thalitone)
A parent brings his healthy 11-month-old infant into the clinic. He states the family is traveling in 2
weeks and is wondering whether his son should get his varicella vaccine before they go. Which of the
following is the most appropriate response?
A. It is always recommended to get the varicella vaccine if the patient is < 12 months and traveling.
B. The patient does not need vaccination now but may have to get the vaccine if exposed on vacation
C. The varicella vaccine is only routinely recommended for children > 12 months.
D. Varicella has largely been eradicated, so getting the vaccine should not be a concern for this patient,
even when > 12 months of age - ANS The varicella vaccine is only routinely recommended for children >
12 months
, A 58-year-old woman presents for her yearly checkup. Current medications include aspirin 325 mg daily
and several herbal supplements. Which of the following herbal supplements should be used with
caution while also taking aspirin?
A. Echinacea
B. Fish oil
C. Ginkgo biloba extract
D. Valerian root - ANS Ginkgo biloba extract
A 31-year-old woman presents to the clinic as a new patient. It is noted on her home medication list that
she takes naproxen (Naprosyn) nearly every day due to chronic knee pain after sustaining a work injury.
The nurse practitioner knows that patient education about this medication has been successful when
the patient states which of the following?
at patient education about this medication has been successful when the patient states which of the
following?
A. "I can take this medication with alcohol without concern."
B. "I should stop my daily naproxen (Naprosyn) if I become pregnant."
C. "If I need surgery, I should stop taking naproxen (Naprosyn) 1 day before the procedure."
D. "Naproxen (Naprosyn) does not increase the risk of stomach ulcers." - ANS " I should stop my daily
naproxen (Naprosyn) if I become pregnant."
An 18-year-old patient presents to the office to discuss the human papillomavirus vaccine. How should
the nurse practitioner describe the vaccine schedule to this patient?
A. "Because you are older than 15, you will need three doses of the vaccine over the next 6 months"
B. "This is a two-dose series, so you will need to come back in the next 6 to 12 months to get your
second dose"
C. "This requires only one injection, so you will not need to come back if you get the vaccine today"
D. "You are too old to receive this vaccine" - ANS "Because you are older than 15, you will need three
doses of the vaccine over the next 6 months"
An 88-year-old woman presents to the clinic today with new-onset confusion. The patient has a medical
history significant for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, peripheral arterial disease, and type 2 diabetes
mellitus. Based solely on the patient's history, which would be the most likely differential diagnosis?
A. Atrial fibrillation
B. Cerebral infarction
C. Pulmonary embolism
D. Seizure - ANS Cerebral infarction
A 36-year-old man presents with severe colicky flank pain that has been coming and going for the last
day or so. He states the pain comes in waves and lasts anywhere from 20-60 minutes. What medication,
if the patient reports taking it, may put him at a higher risk for this condition?
A. Acyclovir (Zovirax) as herpes simplex suppressive treatment
B. Cephalexin (Keflex) for a recent cellulitis infection
C. Colchicine (Colcrys) for a gout flare
D. Propranolol (Inderal XL) for chronic migraine prophylaxis - ANS Acyclovir
The nurse practitioner prescribes terazosin to a patient who has been diagnosed with benign prostatic
hyperplasia. What is an important teaching point in regard to this medication?
A. This medication may cause dizziness the first time you take it, so take it before bed.
B. This medication may cause hyperactivity, so take in the morning.
C. This medication may raise your blood pressure.
D. This medication will shrink the prostate and help you urinate more easily. - ANS This medication may
cause dizziness the first time you take it, so take it before bed
,Combined oral contraceptive use is associated with the risk for adverse effects. When counseling a
patient, which of the following adverse effects warrants immediate notification of the nurse
practitioner?
A. Breast tenderness
B. Nausea
C. New headache
D. Weight gain - ANS New headache
A patient with a history of daily famotidine (Pepcid) use for 8 consecutive weeks presents to the clinic
for follow-up of gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms. Which of the following lab tests should be
monitored in patients who require long-term famotidine (Pepcid) therapy?
A. Basic metabolic panel
B. Complete blood count
C. Kidney function panel
D. Liver Function test - ANS Complete blood count
The nurse practitioner is counseling a patient regarding contraception methods. Which of the following
is incorrect regarding the patch form of contraception?
A. It has the same failure rate as combined oral contraceptives
B. The breast and abdomen are both acceptable places for the patch
C. The patch is contraindicated in patients with a history of thromboemblolism
D. The patch should be changed to a new location every week for 3 weeks and then removed for 1 week
to allow for menses - ANS The breast and abdomen are both acceptable places for the patch
A 65-year-old man presents for a medication reconciliation today. He reports taking allopurinol
(Aloprim), lisinopril (Prinivil), atorvastatin (Lipitor), and acetaminophen (Tylenol) as needed. He has been
doing well on these medications for the last 3 years. What medication education should be provided at
today's visit?
A. "Ensure that you are limiting excess calcium intake as allopurinol can increase calcium levels"
,B. "Please monitor for any onset of asymmetric facial swelling"
C. "We will need to obtain liver function tests every 6 months"
D. "We will obtain a hemoglobin A1C every 3 months as atorvastatin can increase your blood glucose
levels" - ANS "Please monitor for any onset of asymmetric facial swelling"
What is the recommended daily folic acid supplementation during a normal pregnancy?
A. 1000mcg
B. 250mcg
C. 400mcg
D. 500mcg - ANS 400mcg
The nurse practitioner is seeing a patient today for medication reconciliation. The patient's past medical
history includes prediabetes, migraines with aura, hypertension, and concern for metabolic syndrome.
Which of the following medications would warrant further evaluation today?
A. Amlodipine (Norvasc)
B. Chlorthalidone (Thalitone)
C. Clonidine (Catapres)
D. Lisinopril (Prinivil) - ANS Chlorthalidone (Thalitone)
A parent brings his healthy 11-month-old infant into the clinic. He states the family is traveling in 2
weeks and is wondering whether his son should get his varicella vaccine before they go. Which of the
following is the most appropriate response?
A. It is always recommended to get the varicella vaccine if the patient is < 12 months and traveling.
B. The patient does not need vaccination now but may have to get the vaccine if exposed on vacation
C. The varicella vaccine is only routinely recommended for children > 12 months.
D. Varicella has largely been eradicated, so getting the vaccine should not be a concern for this patient,
even when > 12 months of age - ANS The varicella vaccine is only routinely recommended for children >
12 months
, A 58-year-old woman presents for her yearly checkup. Current medications include aspirin 325 mg daily
and several herbal supplements. Which of the following herbal supplements should be used with
caution while also taking aspirin?
A. Echinacea
B. Fish oil
C. Ginkgo biloba extract
D. Valerian root - ANS Ginkgo biloba extract
A 31-year-old woman presents to the clinic as a new patient. It is noted on her home medication list that
she takes naproxen (Naprosyn) nearly every day due to chronic knee pain after sustaining a work injury.
The nurse practitioner knows that patient education about this medication has been successful when
the patient states which of the following?
at patient education about this medication has been successful when the patient states which of the
following?
A. "I can take this medication with alcohol without concern."
B. "I should stop my daily naproxen (Naprosyn) if I become pregnant."
C. "If I need surgery, I should stop taking naproxen (Naprosyn) 1 day before the procedure."
D. "Naproxen (Naprosyn) does not increase the risk of stomach ulcers." - ANS " I should stop my daily
naproxen (Naprosyn) if I become pregnant."
An 18-year-old patient presents to the office to discuss the human papillomavirus vaccine. How should
the nurse practitioner describe the vaccine schedule to this patient?
A. "Because you are older than 15, you will need three doses of the vaccine over the next 6 months"
B. "This is a two-dose series, so you will need to come back in the next 6 to 12 months to get your
second dose"
C. "This requires only one injection, so you will not need to come back if you get the vaccine today"
D. "You are too old to receive this vaccine" - ANS "Because you are older than 15, you will need three
doses of the vaccine over the next 6 months"
