AGPCNP-BC Practice Questions (2026) — Free Sample Questions with Answers

Answer: D

Basic activities of daily living (ADLs): Incorrect. Basic ADLs (bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, feeding) are intact in this patient.

Mobility, balance and gait performance outside the home: Incorrect. Nothing in the history suggests problems with walking or transfers.

Sensory function and communication: Incorrect. The problems described involve complex tasks, not vision, hearing or speech.

Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs): Correct. Managing finances and medications are IADLs (Lawton scale); IADL decline often precedes ADL loss and can be an early sign of cognitive impairment.

Katz ADLs = self-care basics; Lawton IADLs = phone, shopping, food prep, housekeeping, laundry, transportation, medications, finances. IADL loss should prompt cognitive screening.

Answer: B

"You really need to quit now, before you have a heart attack.": Incorrect. Warning and directing can provoke resistance; MI avoids the 'righting reflex' and draws out the patient's own reasons for change.

"Smoking relaxes you, and you also see it harms your health.": Correct. A double-sided reflection acknowledges both sides of his ambivalence, which helps him explore discrepancy and talk about change on his own terms.

"Many patients quit easily with the patch, so let's start one.": Incorrect. Moving straight to a plan before he is ready ignores his ambivalence and may reduce engagement.

"Why do you keep smoking if you know it is bad for you?": Incorrect. 'Why' questions can sound judgmental and lead the patient to defend continued smoking.

MI uses OARS (open questions, affirmations, reflections, summaries) to resolve ambivalence and evoke change talk; avoid lecturing, labeling and premature planning.

Answer: D

Rosiglitazone: Incorrect. Thiazolidinediones cause fluid retention and are contraindicated in symptomatic heart failure.

Saxagliptin: Incorrect. Saxagliptin was associated with increased heart failure hospitalization (SAVOR-TIMI 53) and should be avoided in HF.

Glipizide: Incorrect. Sulfonylureas lower glucose but carry hypoglycemia risk and offer no heart failure benefit.

Empagliflozin: Correct. SGLT2 inhibitors reduce heart failure hospitalization and cardiovascular death in HFrEF regardless of A1C and are recommended for patients with T2D and HF.

T2D with HF → SGLT2 inhibitor; with ASCVD → SGLT2i or GLP-1 RA with proven benefit; with CKD → SGLT2i (and GLP-1 RA). Choose these independent of A1C.

Answer: C

Order temporal artery biopsy and start prednisone once results confirm the diagnosis: Incorrect. Waiting for biopsy results risks irreversible vision loss; biopsy remains diagnostic for 1–2 weeks after steroids begin.

Prescribe a triptan and schedule follow-up in 2 weeks for a new headache diary: Incorrect. New headache with jaw claudication and high inflammatory markers in an older adult is giant cell arteritis until proven otherwise, not migraine.

Start high-dose prednisone today and arrange temporal artery biopsy or ultrasound: Correct. Suspected GCA calls for immediate glucocorticoids (e.g., prednisone 40–60 mg daily) to prevent blindness, with urgent biopsy or vascular ultrasound and specialist referral.

Order MRI of the brain with contrast and treat with NSAIDs until it is completed: Incorrect. Brain MRI does not diagnose GCA, and NSAIDs do not prevent ischemic complications; delaying steroids is dangerous.

GCA (age >50, new headache, jaw claudication, scalp tenderness, high ESR/CRP): start steroids immediately, then confirm with biopsy/ultrasound; urgent IV steroids and ophthalmology if visual loss.

Answer: A

One-time abdominal aortic aneurysm ultrasound: Correct. USPSTF recommends a one-time AAA ultrasound for men aged 65–75 who have ever smoked (100 or more lifetime cigarettes).

Annual carotid artery duplex ultrasound screening: Incorrect. USPSTF recommends against screening for asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis in the general adult population.

Annual resting electrocardiogram: Incorrect. USPSTF recommends against screening ECGs for low-risk adults and finds insufficient evidence for higher-risk adults.

Serum PSA every 6 months: Incorrect. PSA screening for men 55–69 is an individual decision every 1–2 years at most; twice-yearly testing is not recommended.

AAA: one-time ultrasound for men 65–75 who ever smoked (Grade B). Also consider lung cancer LDCT for adults 50–80 with ≥20 pack-years who quit within 15 years (he qualifies).

Answer: C

Increase her insulin dose to improve overall glycemic control: Incorrect. Raising insulin when she has inconsistent food access would worsen hypoglycemia.

Refer her to a diabetes educator for a carbohydrate-counting class: Incorrect. Education alone does not address the underlying lack of food.

Screen for food insecurity and connect her with food resources: Correct. Screening (e.g., the two-item Hunger Vital Sign) and linking her to SNAP, food banks or social work address the cause; her regimen can then be adjusted to lower hypoglycemia risk.

Tell her to skip insulin on days when she does not have food: Incorrect. Unstructured advice to skip insulin can cause hyperglycemia; regimen changes should be planned with her.

Social determinants drive outcomes: screen for food insecurity, housing and cost barriers; connect to resources and choose lower-hypoglycemia regimens for patients with unreliable food access.