NURSE PRACTITIONER CERTIFICATION
EXAM PREP
7TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)MARGARET FITZGERALD
TEST BANK
1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Prepping for Nurse Practitioner Boards —
Study Planning & Prioritization
Stem: A recently graduated FNP student has six months before
the AANP exam and a practice test average of 68% with weak
performance in endocrine and pharmacology. She can study
full-time five days per week or part-time while working. Which
study plan best maximizes her probability of passing?
A. Continue current study schedule but double daily practice
question volume.
B. Create a weekly schedule weighting two-thirds time to
endocrine/pharmacology, include spaced retrieval and weekly
,simulated exams.
C. Focus exclusively on endocrine and pharmacology until
scores reach ≥85% then resume other topics.
D. Purchase a commercial intensive course in month five and
cram previously missed content.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale (Correct): This plan applies targeted remediation
(weighting weaker domains), uses evidence-based techniques
(spaced retrieval), and includes frequent simulated exams to
track growth—optimizing learning efficiency before test day. It
balances breadth and depth consistent with exam blueprint-
focused preparation.
Rationale (A): Increasing question volume without targeted
spacing or remediation may produce superficial exposure and
poor retention.
Rationale (C): Exclusive focus risks neglecting other blueprint
areas and may create new weak domains.
Rationale (D): Late cramming courses often provide low return
on investment compared with earlier structured practice and
remediation.
Teaching Point: Prioritize weak domains with spaced retrieval
and regular simulated exams.
Citation: Fitzgerald, M. (2025). Nurse Practitioner Certification
Exam Prep (7th ed.). Ch. 1.
2
,Reference: Ch. 1 — Prepping for Nurse Practitioner Boards —
Practice Testing Interpretation
Stem: An NP candidate’s practice exam report shows a scaled
score improvement from 540 to 565 over three full-length tests
but a plateau in item-level accuracy for cardiac topics. How
should the candidate interpret and act on these results?
A. Stop reviewing cardiac material; overall scaled score
improved.
B. Ignore practice test analytics and continue general review.
C. Use item analysis to target specific cardiac subtopics,
integrate case-based practice, and re-test in 2–3 weeks.
D. Increase the number of practice tests per week regardless of
targeted review.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale (Correct): Scaled-score improvement is encouraging
but plateauing in a domain indicates persistent conceptual
gaps; targeted content remediation plus case-based practice
addresses weaknesses and subsequent re-testing measures
efficacy. This reflects data-driven study decisions.
Rationale (A): High-level score gains can mask persistent
domain deficits that may appear on exam.
Rationale (B): Ignoring analytics wastes diagnostic feedback
that guides efficient study.
Rationale (D): More tests without focused remediation risks
repeating the same mistakes and test fatigue.
Teaching Point: Use item-level analytics to direct targeted
remediation before increasing test frequency.
, Citation: Fitzgerald, M. (2025). Nurse Practitioner Certification
Exam Prep (7th ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference: Ch. 1 — Prepping for Nurse Practitioner Boards —
Test-Day Decision-Making
Stem: During an actual certification exam, an examinee
encounters a lengthy vignette with unfamiliar lab values and is
halfway through the allotted time. Which immediate approach
best preserves accuracy and timing?
A. Read the vignette once thoroughly, answer by recall, then
move on.
B. Skip the item and mark it for review to return after
completing easier items.
C. Quickly identify the question’s objective, scan for key
diagnostic clues, eliminate two distractors, and answer.
D. Spend extra time computing all lab-based differentials before
answering.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale (Correct): This approach balances time management
and clinical reasoning: identify the testing objective, seek
discriminating clues, use elimination to increase probability of a
correct single best answer, and maintain pacing. It aligns with
effective board strategies.
Rationale (A): One read without targeted scanning risks missing
discriminators and wastes time.
EXAM PREP
7TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)MARGARET FITZGERALD
TEST BANK
1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Prepping for Nurse Practitioner Boards —
Study Planning & Prioritization
Stem: A recently graduated FNP student has six months before
the AANP exam and a practice test average of 68% with weak
performance in endocrine and pharmacology. She can study
full-time five days per week or part-time while working. Which
study plan best maximizes her probability of passing?
A. Continue current study schedule but double daily practice
question volume.
B. Create a weekly schedule weighting two-thirds time to
endocrine/pharmacology, include spaced retrieval and weekly
,simulated exams.
C. Focus exclusively on endocrine and pharmacology until
scores reach ≥85% then resume other topics.
D. Purchase a commercial intensive course in month five and
cram previously missed content.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale (Correct): This plan applies targeted remediation
(weighting weaker domains), uses evidence-based techniques
(spaced retrieval), and includes frequent simulated exams to
track growth—optimizing learning efficiency before test day. It
balances breadth and depth consistent with exam blueprint-
focused preparation.
Rationale (A): Increasing question volume without targeted
spacing or remediation may produce superficial exposure and
poor retention.
Rationale (C): Exclusive focus risks neglecting other blueprint
areas and may create new weak domains.
Rationale (D): Late cramming courses often provide low return
on investment compared with earlier structured practice and
remediation.
Teaching Point: Prioritize weak domains with spaced retrieval
and regular simulated exams.
Citation: Fitzgerald, M. (2025). Nurse Practitioner Certification
Exam Prep (7th ed.). Ch. 1.
2
,Reference: Ch. 1 — Prepping for Nurse Practitioner Boards —
Practice Testing Interpretation
Stem: An NP candidate’s practice exam report shows a scaled
score improvement from 540 to 565 over three full-length tests
but a plateau in item-level accuracy for cardiac topics. How
should the candidate interpret and act on these results?
A. Stop reviewing cardiac material; overall scaled score
improved.
B. Ignore practice test analytics and continue general review.
C. Use item analysis to target specific cardiac subtopics,
integrate case-based practice, and re-test in 2–3 weeks.
D. Increase the number of practice tests per week regardless of
targeted review.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale (Correct): Scaled-score improvement is encouraging
but plateauing in a domain indicates persistent conceptual
gaps; targeted content remediation plus case-based practice
addresses weaknesses and subsequent re-testing measures
efficacy. This reflects data-driven study decisions.
Rationale (A): High-level score gains can mask persistent
domain deficits that may appear on exam.
Rationale (B): Ignoring analytics wastes diagnostic feedback
that guides efficient study.
Rationale (D): More tests without focused remediation risks
repeating the same mistakes and test fatigue.
Teaching Point: Use item-level analytics to direct targeted
remediation before increasing test frequency.
, Citation: Fitzgerald, M. (2025). Nurse Practitioner Certification
Exam Prep (7th ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference: Ch. 1 — Prepping for Nurse Practitioner Boards —
Test-Day Decision-Making
Stem: During an actual certification exam, an examinee
encounters a lengthy vignette with unfamiliar lab values and is
halfway through the allotted time. Which immediate approach
best preserves accuracy and timing?
A. Read the vignette once thoroughly, answer by recall, then
move on.
B. Skip the item and mark it for review to return after
completing easier items.
C. Quickly identify the question’s objective, scan for key
diagnostic clues, eliminate two distractors, and answer.
D. Spend extra time computing all lab-based differentials before
answering.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale (Correct): This approach balances time management
and clinical reasoning: identify the testing objective, seek
discriminating clues, use elimination to increase probability of a
correct single best answer, and maintain pacing. It aligns with
effective board strategies.
Rationale (A): One read without targeted scanning risks missing
discriminators and wastes time.
