AANP Board Questions and answers 2026\2027 A+
Grade
Therapeutic INR values below ____ increase stroke risk sixfold.
- correct answer 2
Diabetic Retinopathy Findings
- correct answer Microaneurysms
Neovascularization
Cotton Wool Spots
Hard exudates
All of the following would require the nurse practitioner to delay testing a patient's prostate-specific
antigen (PSA), except:
a. Urinary retention
b. Urinary tract infection
c. After a digital rectal exam
d. Vigorous exercise 3 days prior
- correct answer Vigorous exercise 3 days prior
PSA testing is falsely elevated in a patient with urinary retention and urinary tract infection and after a
digital rectal exam. Vigorous exercise does not have to be stopped 3 days prior to testing; however,
vigorous exercise should be discouraged before testing because it will falsely elevate the PSA levels.
Ejaculation within 48 hours will also falsely raise the PSA level.
,Tic Douloureaux
- correct answer There are two types of tic douloureux (trigeminal neuralgia).
Type 1--presents with extreme, shock-like facial pain, which lasts from a few seconds to 2 minutes per
event and can last up to 2 hours total. Type 1 does not awaken the patient at night.
Type 2-- is a constant, aching, burning facial pain with less intensity but may occur with Type 1. Type 2 is
more common in women and peaks in their 60s. Type 2 can also be related to secondary neurologic
disease such as multiple sclerosis or HSV-1.
The nurse practitioner sees a 58-year-old female patient who reports abscesses and pustules in the axilla
and groin and under the breasts, which burst and drain purulent green discharge. She has a history of
smoking and a body mass index (BMI) of 37.1.
Which diagnosis is most likely?
a. Impetigo
b. Carbuncles
c. Shingles
d. Hidradenitis suppurativa
- correct answer hidradenitis suppurativa
Hidradenitis suppurativa is most common in women (3:1). Smoking and obesity are significant risk
factors. Lesions are treated with topical antibiotics (or oral antibiotics, warm compresses, and pain
medications). Institute diet changes to reduce high glycemic and dairy food intake. Refer to a
dermatologist for additional treatment options.
Insulin Lispro (Humalog)
- correct answer Lispro is a rapid-acting insulin that is used on a sliding scale to work from meal to meal
Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
- correct answer chronic, pruritic rash of the hands, flexural folds, and neck that can be exacerbated by
stress and environmental factors.
,Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN)
- correct answer TEN is the result of a severe skin reaction to medications such as allopurinol,
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and anticonvulsants.
Melanoma
- correct answer Melanoma are nevi with uneven texture, irregular borders, variegated colors, size
larger than 6 mm, and changing size (the mnemonic ABCDE stands for asymmetry, border irregularity,
color variations in the same region, diameter >6 mm, and enlargement or change in size over time), and
they can be pruritic. Risk factors include family history of melanoma (10% of cases), extensive/intense
sunlight exposure, blistering sunburn in childhood, tanning beds, and atypical nevus
Seborrheic keratoses
- correct answer Seborrheic keratoses are soft, fleshy, painless growths that are located mostly on the
back. Skin lesions look like they are "pasted" on the skin and can range in color from light tan to black.
Acanthosis nigricans
- correct answer Acanthosis nigricans are diffuse, soft thickenings of the skin usually located at the neck
and axilla. They are also associated with diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and gastrointestinal
cancer.
Acrochordon
- correct answer Acrochordons (skin tags) are painless, pedunculated outgrowths of skin that are
common in the neck and axillary areas. If the growths are traumatized, they become necrotic and fall
off. They are most common in diabetics and patients who are obese.
Which of the following is associated with male aging?
a. Increased levels of estrogen
b. Decreased sperm production
c. Increased production of semen
d. Decreased concentration of sperm
- correct answer Decreased sperm production
A nurse practitioner sees a patient for an evaluation of sexually transmitted diseases. Assessment
reveals Fitz-Hugh-Curtis. The nurse practitioner will prescribe:
, - correct answer Ceftriaxone 500 mg IM × one dose plus doxycycline 100 mg BID × 14 days plus
metronidazole 500 mg BID × 14 days.
Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome should be treated as a complicated gonorrheal/chlamydial infection:
Ceftriaxone 500 mg IM × one dose plus doxycycline 100 mg BID × 14 days plus metronidazole 500 mg
BID × 14 days for anaerobic coverage.
sensitive screening test for HIV
- correct answer Combination HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibody immunoassay with p24 antigen.
DM medication class that should not be used in patients with heart failure or hx of bladder cancer?
- correct answer Thiazolidinediones
Medication class with high risk of hypoglycemic events:
- correct answer Sulfonylureas stimulate the beta cells but have a long half-life, and there is a high risk
for severe hypoglycemic events.
Treponema pallidum
- correct answer T. pallidum is a gram-negative spirochete bacterium that causes syphilis.
Which class of diuretics is contraindicated in patients who are allergic to sulfa products?
- correct answer Thiazides (hydrochlorothiazide and indapamide) and loop diuretics (furosemide and
bumetanide) are contraindicated in patients with sulfa allergies.
Hypertensive Retinopathy Findings
- correct answer - silver wire/copper wire arterioles.
- AV nicking
Bullous Myringitis
- correct answer Small vesicles containing blood on the drum; accompany mycoplasma pneumonia and
virus infections
Bullous myringitis is an ear infection in which small, fluid-filled blisters form on the eardrum. This finding
distinguishes this diagnosis.
Grade
Therapeutic INR values below ____ increase stroke risk sixfold.
- correct answer 2
Diabetic Retinopathy Findings
- correct answer Microaneurysms
Neovascularization
Cotton Wool Spots
Hard exudates
All of the following would require the nurse practitioner to delay testing a patient's prostate-specific
antigen (PSA), except:
a. Urinary retention
b. Urinary tract infection
c. After a digital rectal exam
d. Vigorous exercise 3 days prior
- correct answer Vigorous exercise 3 days prior
PSA testing is falsely elevated in a patient with urinary retention and urinary tract infection and after a
digital rectal exam. Vigorous exercise does not have to be stopped 3 days prior to testing; however,
vigorous exercise should be discouraged before testing because it will falsely elevate the PSA levels.
Ejaculation within 48 hours will also falsely raise the PSA level.
,Tic Douloureaux
- correct answer There are two types of tic douloureux (trigeminal neuralgia).
Type 1--presents with extreme, shock-like facial pain, which lasts from a few seconds to 2 minutes per
event and can last up to 2 hours total. Type 1 does not awaken the patient at night.
Type 2-- is a constant, aching, burning facial pain with less intensity but may occur with Type 1. Type 2 is
more common in women and peaks in their 60s. Type 2 can also be related to secondary neurologic
disease such as multiple sclerosis or HSV-1.
The nurse practitioner sees a 58-year-old female patient who reports abscesses and pustules in the axilla
and groin and under the breasts, which burst and drain purulent green discharge. She has a history of
smoking and a body mass index (BMI) of 37.1.
Which diagnosis is most likely?
a. Impetigo
b. Carbuncles
c. Shingles
d. Hidradenitis suppurativa
- correct answer hidradenitis suppurativa
Hidradenitis suppurativa is most common in women (3:1). Smoking and obesity are significant risk
factors. Lesions are treated with topical antibiotics (or oral antibiotics, warm compresses, and pain
medications). Institute diet changes to reduce high glycemic and dairy food intake. Refer to a
dermatologist for additional treatment options.
Insulin Lispro (Humalog)
- correct answer Lispro is a rapid-acting insulin that is used on a sliding scale to work from meal to meal
Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
- correct answer chronic, pruritic rash of the hands, flexural folds, and neck that can be exacerbated by
stress and environmental factors.
,Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN)
- correct answer TEN is the result of a severe skin reaction to medications such as allopurinol,
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and anticonvulsants.
Melanoma
- correct answer Melanoma are nevi with uneven texture, irregular borders, variegated colors, size
larger than 6 mm, and changing size (the mnemonic ABCDE stands for asymmetry, border irregularity,
color variations in the same region, diameter >6 mm, and enlargement or change in size over time), and
they can be pruritic. Risk factors include family history of melanoma (10% of cases), extensive/intense
sunlight exposure, blistering sunburn in childhood, tanning beds, and atypical nevus
Seborrheic keratoses
- correct answer Seborrheic keratoses are soft, fleshy, painless growths that are located mostly on the
back. Skin lesions look like they are "pasted" on the skin and can range in color from light tan to black.
Acanthosis nigricans
- correct answer Acanthosis nigricans are diffuse, soft thickenings of the skin usually located at the neck
and axilla. They are also associated with diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and gastrointestinal
cancer.
Acrochordon
- correct answer Acrochordons (skin tags) are painless, pedunculated outgrowths of skin that are
common in the neck and axillary areas. If the growths are traumatized, they become necrotic and fall
off. They are most common in diabetics and patients who are obese.
Which of the following is associated with male aging?
a. Increased levels of estrogen
b. Decreased sperm production
c. Increased production of semen
d. Decreased concentration of sperm
- correct answer Decreased sperm production
A nurse practitioner sees a patient for an evaluation of sexually transmitted diseases. Assessment
reveals Fitz-Hugh-Curtis. The nurse practitioner will prescribe:
, - correct answer Ceftriaxone 500 mg IM × one dose plus doxycycline 100 mg BID × 14 days plus
metronidazole 500 mg BID × 14 days.
Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome should be treated as a complicated gonorrheal/chlamydial infection:
Ceftriaxone 500 mg IM × one dose plus doxycycline 100 mg BID × 14 days plus metronidazole 500 mg
BID × 14 days for anaerobic coverage.
sensitive screening test for HIV
- correct answer Combination HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibody immunoassay with p24 antigen.
DM medication class that should not be used in patients with heart failure or hx of bladder cancer?
- correct answer Thiazolidinediones
Medication class with high risk of hypoglycemic events:
- correct answer Sulfonylureas stimulate the beta cells but have a long half-life, and there is a high risk
for severe hypoglycemic events.
Treponema pallidum
- correct answer T. pallidum is a gram-negative spirochete bacterium that causes syphilis.
Which class of diuretics is contraindicated in patients who are allergic to sulfa products?
- correct answer Thiazides (hydrochlorothiazide and indapamide) and loop diuretics (furosemide and
bumetanide) are contraindicated in patients with sulfa allergies.
Hypertensive Retinopathy Findings
- correct answer - silver wire/copper wire arterioles.
- AV nicking
Bullous Myringitis
- correct answer Small vesicles containing blood on the drum; accompany mycoplasma pneumonia and
virus infections
Bullous myringitis is an ear infection in which small, fluid-filled blisters form on the eardrum. This finding
distinguishes this diagnosis.
