NURSE PRACTITIONER CERTIFICATION
EXAM PREP
7TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)MARGARET FITZGERALD
TEST BANK
Question 1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Board Preparation — Clinical Reasoning
Frameworks
Stem:
An FNP student reports consistently narrowing MCQs to two
plausible options but selecting the incorrect one. On review,
errors occur when both options are “technically correct.” Which
test-taking strategy best addresses this pattern based on
Fitzgerald’s guidance?
Options:
A. Selecting the most comprehensive option
B. Choosing the option aligned with the stem’s timeframe
,C. Eliminating answers using absolute language
D. Selecting the option most commonly used in practice
Correct Answer: B
Rationale (Correct):
Fitzgerald emphasizes identifying the timeframe and intent of
the question—what the examiner is asking now, not what is
generally correct. Many board questions include multiple
correct statements, but only one is correct for the specific
clinical moment. Aligning the answer with the stem’s
timeframe improves discrimination.
Rationales (Incorrect):
A. “Most comprehensive” often exceeds the scope of the
question and introduces distractors.
C. Absolute language may help elimination but does not resolve
competing correct options.
D. Practice patterns vary and are not reliable for standardized
testing decisions.
Teaching Point:
Board questions test contextual correctness, not global truth.
Citation:
Fitzgerald, M. (2025). Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam Prep
(7th ed.). Ch. 1.
Question 2
,Reference: Ch. 1 — Board Preparation — Question Dissection
Stem:
A test item describes a stable adult with chronic symptoms and
asks for the “most appropriate next step.” Which action should
the NP candidate perform first when analyzing this question?
Options:
A. Identify all abnormal findings
B. Determine if the patient is sick or not sick
C. Recall guideline-based management
D. Select the least invasive option
Correct Answer: B
Rationale (Correct):
Fitzgerald stresses “sick vs. not sick” determination as the
foundational step in question analysis. This decision guides
urgency, diagnostics, and management. Misclassification leads
to inappropriate escalation or delay.
Rationales (Incorrect):
A. Abnormal findings matter but are interpreted after acuity
assessment.
C. Guidelines are applied after clinical status is determined.
D. Least invasive is not always the best next step.
Teaching Point:
Always classify acuity first before choosing diagnostics or
treatment.
, Citation:
Fitzgerald, M. (2025). Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam Prep
(7th ed.). Ch. 1.
Question 3
Reference: Ch. 1 — Board Preparation — High-Discrimination
Items
Stem:
An NP candidate notes that incorrect options often include
correct facts unrelated to the question’s focus. What
psychometric principle is being tested?
Options:
A. Recall accuracy
B. Content breadth
C. Clinical relevance
D. Memorization endurance
Correct Answer: C
Rationale (Correct):
High-discrimination questions include distractors that are
factually correct but clinically irrelevant. Fitzgerald highlights
that board exams test the ability to prioritize what matters most
in a scenario.
Rationales (Incorrect):
A. Recall alone is insufficient for these items.
EXAM PREP
7TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)MARGARET FITZGERALD
TEST BANK
Question 1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Board Preparation — Clinical Reasoning
Frameworks
Stem:
An FNP student reports consistently narrowing MCQs to two
plausible options but selecting the incorrect one. On review,
errors occur when both options are “technically correct.” Which
test-taking strategy best addresses this pattern based on
Fitzgerald’s guidance?
Options:
A. Selecting the most comprehensive option
B. Choosing the option aligned with the stem’s timeframe
,C. Eliminating answers using absolute language
D. Selecting the option most commonly used in practice
Correct Answer: B
Rationale (Correct):
Fitzgerald emphasizes identifying the timeframe and intent of
the question—what the examiner is asking now, not what is
generally correct. Many board questions include multiple
correct statements, but only one is correct for the specific
clinical moment. Aligning the answer with the stem’s
timeframe improves discrimination.
Rationales (Incorrect):
A. “Most comprehensive” often exceeds the scope of the
question and introduces distractors.
C. Absolute language may help elimination but does not resolve
competing correct options.
D. Practice patterns vary and are not reliable for standardized
testing decisions.
Teaching Point:
Board questions test contextual correctness, not global truth.
Citation:
Fitzgerald, M. (2025). Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam Prep
(7th ed.). Ch. 1.
Question 2
,Reference: Ch. 1 — Board Preparation — Question Dissection
Stem:
A test item describes a stable adult with chronic symptoms and
asks for the “most appropriate next step.” Which action should
the NP candidate perform first when analyzing this question?
Options:
A. Identify all abnormal findings
B. Determine if the patient is sick or not sick
C. Recall guideline-based management
D. Select the least invasive option
Correct Answer: B
Rationale (Correct):
Fitzgerald stresses “sick vs. not sick” determination as the
foundational step in question analysis. This decision guides
urgency, diagnostics, and management. Misclassification leads
to inappropriate escalation or delay.
Rationales (Incorrect):
A. Abnormal findings matter but are interpreted after acuity
assessment.
C. Guidelines are applied after clinical status is determined.
D. Least invasive is not always the best next step.
Teaching Point:
Always classify acuity first before choosing diagnostics or
treatment.
, Citation:
Fitzgerald, M. (2025). Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam Prep
(7th ed.). Ch. 1.
Question 3
Reference: Ch. 1 — Board Preparation — High-Discrimination
Items
Stem:
An NP candidate notes that incorrect options often include
correct facts unrelated to the question’s focus. What
psychometric principle is being tested?
Options:
A. Recall accuracy
B. Content breadth
C. Clinical relevance
D. Memorization endurance
Correct Answer: C
Rationale (Correct):
High-discrimination questions include distractors that are
factually correct but clinically irrelevant. Fitzgerald highlights
that board exams test the ability to prioritize what matters most
in a scenario.
Rationales (Incorrect):
A. Recall alone is insufficient for these items.
