AGACNP BOARD PREP UPDATED QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
Normal WBC count - CORRECT ANSWER -4-11 or 4,000-11,000
Neutrophils ROLE - CORRECT ANSWER -Destroy bacteria
Lymphocytes ROLE - CORRECT ANSWER -Destroy viruses
Monocytes Role - CORRECT ANSWER -Clear cellular debris. They eat dead cells
Eosinophils ROLE - CORRECT ANSWER -Combat allergens/parasites
Basophils ROLE - CORRECT ANSWER -Undetermined. Have a role in anaphylaxis
BANDS on a WBC differential - CORRECT ANSWER -Immature neutrophils. They sneak out before
they are fully developed. Increase in Bands means something bad is happening. Usually bacteria
Legal Authority: Certification - CORRECT ANSWER -Does not provide legal authority to practice.
it just shows that you have a knowledge base
Legal authority: State licensure - CORRECT ANSWER -Grants the NP the authority to practice in a
state. Defined by the individuals state's nurse practice act
Legal authority: prescriptive authority - CORRECT ANSWER -Changes from state to state. Most
need a license to prescribe. Most need a collaborative agreement.
,Legal authority: credentialing - CORRECT ANSWER -Provide practice authority in a particular
institution. Enables insurance reimbursement. Defines hospital privileges.
Systematic review (meta analysis) - CORRECT ANSWER -#1 Highest form of research. A massive
review of published research, in one place.
Randomized controlled trial - CORRECT ANSWER -#2 Evaluates the effectiveness of an
intervention
Cohort study - CORRECT ANSWER -#3 prospective or retrospective study that evaluates
variables and outcomes.
Case-Control Study - CORRECT ANSWER -#4 a retrospective study which evaluates cases.
Compares risk factors
Case series - CORRECT ANSWER -#5 Retrospective study examining the experiences of a group
Case Report - CORRECT ANSWER -#5 CLinical narrative of a single patient case
Editorial - CORRECT ANSWER -#6 An essay that addresses a specific topic from a qualified
individual or group of individuals
Expert opinion - CORRECT ANSWER -#6 Essay of a topic of concern from a qualified individual
Null hypothesis - CORRECT ANSWER -What you are trying to DISPROVE
alternative hypothesis - CORRECT ANSWER -What you are trying to prove
,P value >0.05 - CORRECT ANSWER -Fail to reject the null hypothesis. The null hypothesis is true.
You are unable to disprove what you wanted to disprove
P value < 0.05 - CORRECT ANSWER -reject the null hypothesis. The alternative hypothesis is
true. You are able to disprove what you wanted to disprove. This result is statistically significant
Quantitative studies - CORRECT ANSWER -Used to establish a correlation by evaluating the null
hypothesis and alternative hypothesis.
Relies on numerical and measurable data
Qualitative studies - CORRECT ANSWER -Rely on personal accounts or details in how people
think and respond. You want data saturation with no new ideas emerging. NO STATISTICS
What three things need to happen for an issue to be malpractice? - CORRECT ANSWER -1) there
needs to be a duty to the patient
2) Violation in standard of care
3) injury or death resulted due to that violation of care
Beneficence - CORRECT ANSWER -Obligation to help people in need
Best thing to do for the patient
Autonomy - CORRECT ANSWER -Patients right to make decisions
veracity - CORRECT ANSWER -being truthful and giving the patient full disclosure
non-malfeasance - CORRECT ANSWER -Ethical concept requiring that an action do no harm, or
do less harm than good
, justice - CORRECT ANSWER -patient gets what they deserve
Insurance: Claims made policy - CORRECT ANSWER -Cheapest form of insurance. Will cover you
when the claim is made if it was also the same policy in effect at the time of the incident.
Insurance: Occurrence based policy - CORRECT ANSWER -Basically as long as the policy was
active during the event, you are covered
Insurance: Tail coverage - CORRECT ANSWER -Extends the life of the claims made policy up until
the end of the statue of limitations. Most expensive coverage
WBC differential: Left shift - CORRECT ANSWER -Significant increase in neutrophils. Most likely a
bacterial infection
WBC differential: Right shift - CORRECT ANSWER -Significant increase in lymphocytes. Most
likely a viral infection
Most common cause of fever in the acute care setting - CORRECT ANSWER -Bacterial infections
Most common cause of fever in immunocompromised patients - CORRECT ANSWER -Fungal
infection. insidious onset that last much longer.
Non-infectious causes of fever - CORRECT ANSWER -Autoimmune
Inflammatory
Drug reactions
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
Normal WBC count - CORRECT ANSWER -4-11 or 4,000-11,000
Neutrophils ROLE - CORRECT ANSWER -Destroy bacteria
Lymphocytes ROLE - CORRECT ANSWER -Destroy viruses
Monocytes Role - CORRECT ANSWER -Clear cellular debris. They eat dead cells
Eosinophils ROLE - CORRECT ANSWER -Combat allergens/parasites
Basophils ROLE - CORRECT ANSWER -Undetermined. Have a role in anaphylaxis
BANDS on a WBC differential - CORRECT ANSWER -Immature neutrophils. They sneak out before
they are fully developed. Increase in Bands means something bad is happening. Usually bacteria
Legal Authority: Certification - CORRECT ANSWER -Does not provide legal authority to practice.
it just shows that you have a knowledge base
Legal authority: State licensure - CORRECT ANSWER -Grants the NP the authority to practice in a
state. Defined by the individuals state's nurse practice act
Legal authority: prescriptive authority - CORRECT ANSWER -Changes from state to state. Most
need a license to prescribe. Most need a collaborative agreement.
,Legal authority: credentialing - CORRECT ANSWER -Provide practice authority in a particular
institution. Enables insurance reimbursement. Defines hospital privileges.
Systematic review (meta analysis) - CORRECT ANSWER -#1 Highest form of research. A massive
review of published research, in one place.
Randomized controlled trial - CORRECT ANSWER -#2 Evaluates the effectiveness of an
intervention
Cohort study - CORRECT ANSWER -#3 prospective or retrospective study that evaluates
variables and outcomes.
Case-Control Study - CORRECT ANSWER -#4 a retrospective study which evaluates cases.
Compares risk factors
Case series - CORRECT ANSWER -#5 Retrospective study examining the experiences of a group
Case Report - CORRECT ANSWER -#5 CLinical narrative of a single patient case
Editorial - CORRECT ANSWER -#6 An essay that addresses a specific topic from a qualified
individual or group of individuals
Expert opinion - CORRECT ANSWER -#6 Essay of a topic of concern from a qualified individual
Null hypothesis - CORRECT ANSWER -What you are trying to DISPROVE
alternative hypothesis - CORRECT ANSWER -What you are trying to prove
,P value >0.05 - CORRECT ANSWER -Fail to reject the null hypothesis. The null hypothesis is true.
You are unable to disprove what you wanted to disprove
P value < 0.05 - CORRECT ANSWER -reject the null hypothesis. The alternative hypothesis is
true. You are able to disprove what you wanted to disprove. This result is statistically significant
Quantitative studies - CORRECT ANSWER -Used to establish a correlation by evaluating the null
hypothesis and alternative hypothesis.
Relies on numerical and measurable data
Qualitative studies - CORRECT ANSWER -Rely on personal accounts or details in how people
think and respond. You want data saturation with no new ideas emerging. NO STATISTICS
What three things need to happen for an issue to be malpractice? - CORRECT ANSWER -1) there
needs to be a duty to the patient
2) Violation in standard of care
3) injury or death resulted due to that violation of care
Beneficence - CORRECT ANSWER -Obligation to help people in need
Best thing to do for the patient
Autonomy - CORRECT ANSWER -Patients right to make decisions
veracity - CORRECT ANSWER -being truthful and giving the patient full disclosure
non-malfeasance - CORRECT ANSWER -Ethical concept requiring that an action do no harm, or
do less harm than good
, justice - CORRECT ANSWER -patient gets what they deserve
Insurance: Claims made policy - CORRECT ANSWER -Cheapest form of insurance. Will cover you
when the claim is made if it was also the same policy in effect at the time of the incident.
Insurance: Occurrence based policy - CORRECT ANSWER -Basically as long as the policy was
active during the event, you are covered
Insurance: Tail coverage - CORRECT ANSWER -Extends the life of the claims made policy up until
the end of the statue of limitations. Most expensive coverage
WBC differential: Left shift - CORRECT ANSWER -Significant increase in neutrophils. Most likely a
bacterial infection
WBC differential: Right shift - CORRECT ANSWER -Significant increase in lymphocytes. Most
likely a viral infection
Most common cause of fever in the acute care setting - CORRECT ANSWER -Bacterial infections
Most common cause of fever in immunocompromised patients - CORRECT ANSWER -Fungal
infection. insidious onset that last much longer.
Non-infectious causes of fever - CORRECT ANSWER -Autoimmune
Inflammatory
Drug reactions
