1
CNL CERTIFICATION ACTUAL FINAL EXAM WITH
STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2026-27 VERSION
1. The CNL role includes:
a. client and community advocacy.
b. evidence-based practice.
c. oversite of care delivery and outcomes.
d. all of the above
a. client and community advocacy.
2. Which statement is true about practice settings for the CNL?
a. The CNL role is designed for the acute-care hospital setting.
b. CNLs practice in all healthcare settings.
c. The design of the CNL curriculum is such that CNLs cannot move from one
practice setting to another.
d. The CNL's quality improvement and care coordination training is applicable
only to acute- care settings.
b. CNLs practice in all healthcare settings.
3. The clinical nurse leader role is the first new nursing role in
a. the last 5 years
b. the last decade.
,2
c. 25 years.
d. over 40 years.
d. over 40 years.
4. The first regular administration of the CNL Certification Examination occurred
in
a. 1993.
b. 2002.
c. 2007.
d. 2012.
c. 2007.
5. For the CNL, the measure of quality practice
a. is client care outcomes.
b. has not yet been articulated by the AACN.
c. nursing satisfaction.
d. healthcare team member approval.
a. is client care outcomes.
6. A 2012 U.S. Department of Labor report projected that the number of
employed nurses would change from 2.74 million in 2010 to in 2020.
a. 2.34 million
b. 3 million
c. 3.45 million
d. over 8 million
c. 3.45 million
7. In The Future of Nursing, the Institute of Nursing called for of the
nursing workforce to have at least a baccalaureate degree by 2020.
a. 45%
b.60%
c. 80%
d. 95%
c. 80%
8. The CNL graduate education program assumes that
,3
a. the graduate does not meet the criteria for advanced practice registered
nursing scope of practice.
, 4
b. the education program culminates in a baccalaureate degree.
c. the graduate is not eligible to matriculate to a doctoral program.
d. graduates require additional education before being eligible to sit
for the CNL Certification Examination.
a. the graduate does not meet the criteria for advanced practice registered
nursing scope of practice.
9. How many models for graduate CNL education programs have emerged?
a. 2
b. 5
c. 8
d. 15
b. 5
10. In what settings are CNLs currently practicing?
a. Outpatient clinics
b. School health
c. Acute-care hospitals
d. All of the above
d. All of the above
11. Nursing is discipline that
a. is relationship-based.
b. was evidence-based since its inception.
c. is slightly outmoded.
d. tends to shun problem solving.
a. is relationship-based.
12. With changes in the Affordable Care Act, Americans will have access to
health services.
a. fewer
b. all
c. more
d. the same number of
c. more
CNL CERTIFICATION ACTUAL FINAL EXAM WITH
STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2026-27 VERSION
1. The CNL role includes:
a. client and community advocacy.
b. evidence-based practice.
c. oversite of care delivery and outcomes.
d. all of the above
a. client and community advocacy.
2. Which statement is true about practice settings for the CNL?
a. The CNL role is designed for the acute-care hospital setting.
b. CNLs practice in all healthcare settings.
c. The design of the CNL curriculum is such that CNLs cannot move from one
practice setting to another.
d. The CNL's quality improvement and care coordination training is applicable
only to acute- care settings.
b. CNLs practice in all healthcare settings.
3. The clinical nurse leader role is the first new nursing role in
a. the last 5 years
b. the last decade.
,2
c. 25 years.
d. over 40 years.
d. over 40 years.
4. The first regular administration of the CNL Certification Examination occurred
in
a. 1993.
b. 2002.
c. 2007.
d. 2012.
c. 2007.
5. For the CNL, the measure of quality practice
a. is client care outcomes.
b. has not yet been articulated by the AACN.
c. nursing satisfaction.
d. healthcare team member approval.
a. is client care outcomes.
6. A 2012 U.S. Department of Labor report projected that the number of
employed nurses would change from 2.74 million in 2010 to in 2020.
a. 2.34 million
b. 3 million
c. 3.45 million
d. over 8 million
c. 3.45 million
7. In The Future of Nursing, the Institute of Nursing called for of the
nursing workforce to have at least a baccalaureate degree by 2020.
a. 45%
b.60%
c. 80%
d. 95%
c. 80%
8. The CNL graduate education program assumes that
,3
a. the graduate does not meet the criteria for advanced practice registered
nursing scope of practice.
, 4
b. the education program culminates in a baccalaureate degree.
c. the graduate is not eligible to matriculate to a doctoral program.
d. graduates require additional education before being eligible to sit
for the CNL Certification Examination.
a. the graduate does not meet the criteria for advanced practice registered
nursing scope of practice.
9. How many models for graduate CNL education programs have emerged?
a. 2
b. 5
c. 8
d. 15
b. 5
10. In what settings are CNLs currently practicing?
a. Outpatient clinics
b. School health
c. Acute-care hospitals
d. All of the above
d. All of the above
11. Nursing is discipline that
a. is relationship-based.
b. was evidence-based since its inception.
c. is slightly outmoded.
d. tends to shun problem solving.
a. is relationship-based.
12. With changes in the Affordable Care Act, Americans will have access to
health services.
a. fewer
b. all
c. more
d. the same number of
c. more
