ACTUAL AGACNP AACN BOARDS EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
3 steps of pain management - CORRECT ANSWER -1. aspirin, tylenol, NSAIDs
2. codeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, tramadol (only with NSAIDS)
3. morphine, hydromorphone, methadone, fentanyl
Breakthrough cancer pain management - CORRECT ANSWER -fentanyl
Metastatic bone pain management - CORRECT ANSWER -bisphosphonates
Tension headache symptoms & management - CORRECT ANSWER -symptoms - tight, back of
head/neck
management - OTC analgesics and rest
Migraine headache types and treatments - CORRECT ANSWER -classic - WITH aura
common - WITHOUT aura
treatment - sumatriptan and analgesics
Cluster headache symptoms and management - CORRECT ANSWER -symptoms - occur at night,
ipsilateral congestion, rhinorrhea, and eye redness
Albumin levels <3.5 - CORRECT ANSWER -protein malnutrition
Albumin <2.7 - CORRECT ANSWER -Edema
Complications of enteral nutrition - CORRECT ANSWER -aspiration, refeeding, dehydration
,Complications of parenteral nutrition - CORRECT ANSWER -pneumothorax, hemothorax
Urine sodium >20 - CORRECT ANSWER -renal salt wasting (kidney is the problem)
Urine sodium <10 - CORRECT ANSWER -kidney isn't the problem
isotonic hyponatremia serum osmolality and causes - CORRECT ANSWER -serum osmolality -
284-295
causes - extreme hyperlipidemia or nhyperproteinemia
hypotonic hyponatremia serum osmolality and types - CORRECT ANSWER -serum osmolality
<280
hypovolemic w/ sodium <10
hypovolemic w/ sodium >20
hypervolemic
hypovolemic w/ urine sodium <10 causes - CORRECT ANSWER -dehydration, diuresis, vomiting
hypovolemic w/ urine sodium >20 - CORRECT ANSWER -diuretics, ACE, mineralocorticoid
deficiency
hypervolemic hypotonic hyponatremia - CORRECT ANSWER -edema, CHF, liver disease, renal
failure
must restrict fluids
,hypertonic hyponatremia serum osmolality and causes - CORRECT ANSWER -serum osmolality
>290
causes - HHS
hypokalemia causes, signs/symptoms, treatment - CORRECT ANSWER -causes - diuretics, GI
losses, renal loss, alkalosis
signs/symptoms - weakness, fatigue, cramps, broad T waves, u waves
treatment - oral replacement if >2.5, 40mEq/L/hr IV if severe
hyperkalemia causes, signs/symptoms, treatment - CORRECT ANSWER -causes - renal failure,
drugs, hypoaldosteronism
signs/symptoms - weakness, flaccid paralysis, abdominal distension, diarrhea, peaked T waves
treatment - ion resin exchange (kayexalate), insulin, D5W
hypocalcemia causes, signs/symptoms, treatment - CORRECT ANSWER -causes - pancreatitis,
renal failure, trauma, massive transfusions
symptoms - increased DTRs, cramps, convulsions, prolonged QT, Chvostek's and Trousseau's sign
treatment - check for alkalosis, IV calcium gluconate if acute, oral supplements if chronic
hypercalcemia causes, signs/symptoms, treatment - CORRECT ANSWER -causes - vitamin D
intoxication, immobilization, thiazide diuretics
symptoms - fatigue, muscle weakness, constipation, coma, death
treatment - calcitonin if renal/card involvement, NS, loop diuretics, dialysis if severe
respiratory acidosis causes, signs/symptoms, treatment - CORRECT ANSWER -causes -
hypoventilation (pH<7.35, pCO2>45)
symptoms - somnolence, confusion, coma, myoclonus with asterixis
treatment - narcan if unknown cause, increased ventilator rate
, respiratory alkalosis causes, signs/symptoms, treatment - CORRECT ANSWER -causes -
hyperventilation (pH>7.45, pCO2<35)
symptoms - lightheadedness, tingling, tetany if severe
treatment - paper bag breathing, decreased ventilator rate
metabolic acidosis types, causes, treatment - CORRECT ANSWER -types:
increased anion gap - DKA, alcoholic ketoacidosis, lactic acidosis
normal anion gap - diarrhea, ileostomy, renal tubular acidosis, DKA recovery
treat with fluids
metabolic alkalosis causes, signs/symptoms, treatment - CORRECT ANSWER -causes - saline
responsive, NG suction, vomiting, diuretics
treatment - d/c diuretics, give NaCl and KCl, H2 blockers if GI loss
Gram positive bacteria - CORRECT ANSWER -streptococci, staphylococcus, enterococci, bacilli
Gram negative bacteria - CORRECT ANSWER -E. coli, klebsiella, pseudomonas, acinetobacter,
enterobacter
anti-rejection meds following transplant - CORRECT ANSWER -1. steroids
2. antimetabolites
3. calcineurin inhibitors OR mTOR inhibitor
Herpes Zoster (shingles) characteristics and treatment - CORRECT ANSWER -characteristics -
grouped vesicle eruption, with erythema and exudate, along dermatomal pathway
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
3 steps of pain management - CORRECT ANSWER -1. aspirin, tylenol, NSAIDs
2. codeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, tramadol (only with NSAIDS)
3. morphine, hydromorphone, methadone, fentanyl
Breakthrough cancer pain management - CORRECT ANSWER -fentanyl
Metastatic bone pain management - CORRECT ANSWER -bisphosphonates
Tension headache symptoms & management - CORRECT ANSWER -symptoms - tight, back of
head/neck
management - OTC analgesics and rest
Migraine headache types and treatments - CORRECT ANSWER -classic - WITH aura
common - WITHOUT aura
treatment - sumatriptan and analgesics
Cluster headache symptoms and management - CORRECT ANSWER -symptoms - occur at night,
ipsilateral congestion, rhinorrhea, and eye redness
Albumin levels <3.5 - CORRECT ANSWER -protein malnutrition
Albumin <2.7 - CORRECT ANSWER -Edema
Complications of enteral nutrition - CORRECT ANSWER -aspiration, refeeding, dehydration
,Complications of parenteral nutrition - CORRECT ANSWER -pneumothorax, hemothorax
Urine sodium >20 - CORRECT ANSWER -renal salt wasting (kidney is the problem)
Urine sodium <10 - CORRECT ANSWER -kidney isn't the problem
isotonic hyponatremia serum osmolality and causes - CORRECT ANSWER -serum osmolality -
284-295
causes - extreme hyperlipidemia or nhyperproteinemia
hypotonic hyponatremia serum osmolality and types - CORRECT ANSWER -serum osmolality
<280
hypovolemic w/ sodium <10
hypovolemic w/ sodium >20
hypervolemic
hypovolemic w/ urine sodium <10 causes - CORRECT ANSWER -dehydration, diuresis, vomiting
hypovolemic w/ urine sodium >20 - CORRECT ANSWER -diuretics, ACE, mineralocorticoid
deficiency
hypervolemic hypotonic hyponatremia - CORRECT ANSWER -edema, CHF, liver disease, renal
failure
must restrict fluids
,hypertonic hyponatremia serum osmolality and causes - CORRECT ANSWER -serum osmolality
>290
causes - HHS
hypokalemia causes, signs/symptoms, treatment - CORRECT ANSWER -causes - diuretics, GI
losses, renal loss, alkalosis
signs/symptoms - weakness, fatigue, cramps, broad T waves, u waves
treatment - oral replacement if >2.5, 40mEq/L/hr IV if severe
hyperkalemia causes, signs/symptoms, treatment - CORRECT ANSWER -causes - renal failure,
drugs, hypoaldosteronism
signs/symptoms - weakness, flaccid paralysis, abdominal distension, diarrhea, peaked T waves
treatment - ion resin exchange (kayexalate), insulin, D5W
hypocalcemia causes, signs/symptoms, treatment - CORRECT ANSWER -causes - pancreatitis,
renal failure, trauma, massive transfusions
symptoms - increased DTRs, cramps, convulsions, prolonged QT, Chvostek's and Trousseau's sign
treatment - check for alkalosis, IV calcium gluconate if acute, oral supplements if chronic
hypercalcemia causes, signs/symptoms, treatment - CORRECT ANSWER -causes - vitamin D
intoxication, immobilization, thiazide diuretics
symptoms - fatigue, muscle weakness, constipation, coma, death
treatment - calcitonin if renal/card involvement, NS, loop diuretics, dialysis if severe
respiratory acidosis causes, signs/symptoms, treatment - CORRECT ANSWER -causes -
hypoventilation (pH<7.35, pCO2>45)
symptoms - somnolence, confusion, coma, myoclonus with asterixis
treatment - narcan if unknown cause, increased ventilator rate
, respiratory alkalosis causes, signs/symptoms, treatment - CORRECT ANSWER -causes -
hyperventilation (pH>7.45, pCO2<35)
symptoms - lightheadedness, tingling, tetany if severe
treatment - paper bag breathing, decreased ventilator rate
metabolic acidosis types, causes, treatment - CORRECT ANSWER -types:
increased anion gap - DKA, alcoholic ketoacidosis, lactic acidosis
normal anion gap - diarrhea, ileostomy, renal tubular acidosis, DKA recovery
treat with fluids
metabolic alkalosis causes, signs/symptoms, treatment - CORRECT ANSWER -causes - saline
responsive, NG suction, vomiting, diuretics
treatment - d/c diuretics, give NaCl and KCl, H2 blockers if GI loss
Gram positive bacteria - CORRECT ANSWER -streptococci, staphylococcus, enterococci, bacilli
Gram negative bacteria - CORRECT ANSWER -E. coli, klebsiella, pseudomonas, acinetobacter,
enterobacter
anti-rejection meds following transplant - CORRECT ANSWER -1. steroids
2. antimetabolites
3. calcineurin inhibitors OR mTOR inhibitor
Herpes Zoster (shingles) characteristics and treatment - CORRECT ANSWER -characteristics -
grouped vesicle eruption, with erythema and exudate, along dermatomal pathway
