ANCC APRN Certification Exam: High-Yield Practice
Questions & Explanations
Content Description
This document provides a robust collection of multiple-choice practice questions designed to
help prepare advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) for the ANCC certification exams in
various specialties, including Family, Psychiatric-Mental Health, and Adult-Gerontology Primary
Care.
The questions are meticulously organized into key domains to facilitate targeted study and
self-assessment, with correct answers highlighted for immediate feedback. The content covers
critical topics such as:
● Pharmacology & Therapeutics:Questions on drug classifications (diuretics, statins,
beta-blockers), side effects, contraindications (e.g., ACE inhibitors in pregnancy), and
drug interactions, including CYP450 metabolism.
● Clinical Assessment & Diagnosis:Practice scenarios covering physical exam
techniques (e.g., cerebellar function, ankle clonus), ECG interpretation, heart sounds
(murmurs), laboratory test ordering and interpretation (CBC, ferritin, liver function), and
diagnosing common conditions like psoriasis, actinic keratosis, thyroid disorders, and
anemia.
● Professional Practice & Role:Scenarios focused on the APRN's role in leadership,
, quality improvement (peer review, PDSA cycle), billing and documentation, ethical
considerations (decisional capacity, confidentiality), and legal standards of care.
● Public Health & Prevention:Questions related to immunization schedules (Hepatitis
B), cancer screening guidelines (colorectal), health promotion models (Health Belief
Model), epidemiological factors (incubation periods), and prevention levels (primary,
secondary, and tertiary prevention).
● Cultural Competency:Scenarios that test the application of culturally sensitive care,
including managing family dynamics and understanding traditional health beliefs.
● Quality Improvement & Research:Questions on evaluating evidence hierarchy
(meta-analysis vs. cohort studies), interpreting research findings, and applying quality
improvement models (root cause analysis, PDSA).
● Patient Management & Counseling:Scenarios requiring clinical judgment in managing
various conditions like asthma, viral conjunctivitis, pain, and cognitive deficits in older
adults, along with communication strategies for patient education and sensitive topics
like smoking cessation and advanced care planning.
ANCC APRN Exam Practice Questions
1.Pharmacology
1. Q: Which diuretic is associated with increased lipoprotein levels?
● a. Furosemide (Lasix)
● b. Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ)
● c. Spironolactone (Aldactone)
● d. Triamterene (Dyrenium)
2. Q: A 60-year-old patient with diabetes has a blood pressure reading of
150/96 mmHg. After three months of increased exercise and decreased
calories, the patient has lost 10 lbs (4.54 kg). The patient's follow-up blood
pressure is 142/94 mmHg. Which medication does the family nurse
practitioner prescribe?
, ● a. Enalapril (Vasotec)
● b. Furosemide (Lasix)
● c. Hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL)
● d. Propranolol (Inderal)
3. Q: A new patient arrives at the office for treatment for depression. The
patient reports taking simvastatin (Zocor) and lisinopril (Zestril). When
selecting an antidepressant, the psychiatric-mental health nurse
practitioner eliminates fluoxetine (Prozac), based on the knowledge that the
combination can lead to increased plasma levels of the statin, resulting in
an increased risk of muscle damage and rhabdomyolysis. The nurse
practitioner's reason is that:
● a. both medications are CYP450 3A4 inhibitors.
● b. both medications are CYP450 3A4 substrates.
● c. one medication is a CYP450 3A4 substrate and one is a CYP450 3A4
inducer.
● d. one medication is a CYP450 3A4 substrate and one is a CYP450
3A4 inhibitor.
4. Q: Before an older adult patient initiates pharmacotherapy with a
medication that is cleared by the kidneys, an adult psychiatric and mental
health nurse practitioner assesses the patient's:
● a. blood urea nitrogen level.
● b. creatinine clearance.
● c. specific gravity.
● d. urinary sediment.
5. Q: For two to three months, an older adult patient has not been taking his
Questions & Explanations
Content Description
This document provides a robust collection of multiple-choice practice questions designed to
help prepare advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) for the ANCC certification exams in
various specialties, including Family, Psychiatric-Mental Health, and Adult-Gerontology Primary
Care.
The questions are meticulously organized into key domains to facilitate targeted study and
self-assessment, with correct answers highlighted for immediate feedback. The content covers
critical topics such as:
● Pharmacology & Therapeutics:Questions on drug classifications (diuretics, statins,
beta-blockers), side effects, contraindications (e.g., ACE inhibitors in pregnancy), and
drug interactions, including CYP450 metabolism.
● Clinical Assessment & Diagnosis:Practice scenarios covering physical exam
techniques (e.g., cerebellar function, ankle clonus), ECG interpretation, heart sounds
(murmurs), laboratory test ordering and interpretation (CBC, ferritin, liver function), and
diagnosing common conditions like psoriasis, actinic keratosis, thyroid disorders, and
anemia.
● Professional Practice & Role:Scenarios focused on the APRN's role in leadership,
, quality improvement (peer review, PDSA cycle), billing and documentation, ethical
considerations (decisional capacity, confidentiality), and legal standards of care.
● Public Health & Prevention:Questions related to immunization schedules (Hepatitis
B), cancer screening guidelines (colorectal), health promotion models (Health Belief
Model), epidemiological factors (incubation periods), and prevention levels (primary,
secondary, and tertiary prevention).
● Cultural Competency:Scenarios that test the application of culturally sensitive care,
including managing family dynamics and understanding traditional health beliefs.
● Quality Improvement & Research:Questions on evaluating evidence hierarchy
(meta-analysis vs. cohort studies), interpreting research findings, and applying quality
improvement models (root cause analysis, PDSA).
● Patient Management & Counseling:Scenarios requiring clinical judgment in managing
various conditions like asthma, viral conjunctivitis, pain, and cognitive deficits in older
adults, along with communication strategies for patient education and sensitive topics
like smoking cessation and advanced care planning.
ANCC APRN Exam Practice Questions
1.Pharmacology
1. Q: Which diuretic is associated with increased lipoprotein levels?
● a. Furosemide (Lasix)
● b. Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ)
● c. Spironolactone (Aldactone)
● d. Triamterene (Dyrenium)
2. Q: A 60-year-old patient with diabetes has a blood pressure reading of
150/96 mmHg. After three months of increased exercise and decreased
calories, the patient has lost 10 lbs (4.54 kg). The patient's follow-up blood
pressure is 142/94 mmHg. Which medication does the family nurse
practitioner prescribe?
, ● a. Enalapril (Vasotec)
● b. Furosemide (Lasix)
● c. Hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL)
● d. Propranolol (Inderal)
3. Q: A new patient arrives at the office for treatment for depression. The
patient reports taking simvastatin (Zocor) and lisinopril (Zestril). When
selecting an antidepressant, the psychiatric-mental health nurse
practitioner eliminates fluoxetine (Prozac), based on the knowledge that the
combination can lead to increased plasma levels of the statin, resulting in
an increased risk of muscle damage and rhabdomyolysis. The nurse
practitioner's reason is that:
● a. both medications are CYP450 3A4 inhibitors.
● b. both medications are CYP450 3A4 substrates.
● c. one medication is a CYP450 3A4 substrate and one is a CYP450 3A4
inducer.
● d. one medication is a CYP450 3A4 substrate and one is a CYP450
3A4 inhibitor.
4. Q: Before an older adult patient initiates pharmacotherapy with a
medication that is cleared by the kidneys, an adult psychiatric and mental
health nurse practitioner assesses the patient's:
● a. blood urea nitrogen level.
● b. creatinine clearance.
● c. specific gravity.
● d. urinary sediment.
5. Q: For two to three months, an older adult patient has not been taking his
