This comprehensive study guide includes 85 board-style questions with correct answers tailored for the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNPC-AG) certification exam for the 2025/2026 cycle. Aligned with current AACN and ACNPC-AG exam standards, this resource covers a wide range of essential acute care topics including cardiovascular pathology (e.g., murmurs, valve disorders, aortic stenosis), neurology (e.g., hematomas, neuro assessments, dislocations), infectious disease (e.g., sepsis management, reportable STIs), gastrointestinal emergencies (e.g., toxic megacolon, hepatic risks), shock types, trauma care, and musculoskeletal diagnostics (e.g., Lachman, Apley, and other special tests).
Clear, concise answer explanations support clinical reasoning development and test readiness, with fast recall tips for high-yield facts like Light’s criteria, metabolic derangements, dermatologic red flags (e.g., melanoma, basal cell carcinoma), and appropriate diagnostic pathways (e.g., bronchoscopy for foreign body, 3-sided dressing for GSW).
Who this document is for:
AGACNP students in MSN, DNP, or post-master’s programs preparing for AACN ACNPC-AG certification
Acute care clinical nurse specialists seeking recertification support
Nurse practitioner students enrolled in acute care, pharmacology, or diagnostic reasoning courses
Advanced practice nursing faculty or preceptors using board review as instructional material
Keywords:
ACNPC AG review 2025, acute care nurse practitioner exam, adult-gerontology NP study guide, board-style clinical questions, AACN certification prep, murmurs and valve disease, GI complications, sepsis protocols, shock classification, Light's criteria, neuro trauma, melanoma diagnosis, MSK injury tests, certification vs licensure, metabolic alkalosis and acidosis
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ACNPC AG 2025/2026 Exam Questions
and Corresponding Answers with Surety
of 100% Pass Mark
Early sepsis tx with empiric abx - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔Within 6 hours
The clock drawing test is most correlated with - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔Driving
performance
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔Genetic mutation
Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔Most common adult form of MD
"Clasp knife" on rapid motion - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔Spasticity
Bicuspid aortic valve - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔A congenital abnormality
Most common valve lesion in elderly - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔Aortic stenosis
Rheumatic fever related valve disease - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔Mitral stenosis
, SD hematoma - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔Venous cross bridging
epidural hematoma - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔Loc, arterial
Lights criteria - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔LdH greater than 2/3 upper limit, pl to serum ldh
>.6; pl to serum protein > 0.5
PEs can cause both - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔Trans or exudative effusions
Murphy's sign - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔cholecystitis; R subcostal pressure produces pain
Psoas sign - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔appendicitis
Obturator sign - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔appendicitis or pelvic abscess; 90 degree passive
hip rotation
Battle sign - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔mastoid bruising; basilar skull fx
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔+ gastrin leads to ulcers from +
partial acid production
posterior hip dislocation - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔90% of cases with internal rotation and
affected limb shortening
ant hip dislocation - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔External rotation, limb shortening not
significant