ACHPN Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the ACHPN exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 ACHPN Exam Format at a Glance
📚 ACHPN Topics to Study (21)
✍️ Sample ACHPN Questions & Answers
1. Which of the following documentation practices BEST supports continuity of care across the palliative care IDT?
A shared, integrated care plan accessible to all disciplines ensures consistent care delivery and prevents miscommunication across the team.
2. A hospice caregiver reports she has not slept more than 3 hours nightly for two weeks. Which action should the ACHPN take first?
Caregiver sleep deprivation is a sign of significant burden; the ACHPN should assess the need for respite care and mobilize the interdisciplinary team to provide relief and support.
3. When assessing a patient's decision-making capacity in palliative care, which four elements must be established?
Decision-making capacity requires that the patient demonstrate understanding, appreciation, reasoning, and the ability to communicate a consistent choice.
4. When facilitating an IDT care conference for a patient with advanced dementia, which framework is most useful for guiding goals-of-care discussions?
When a patient lacks decision-making capacity, substituted judgment and best interest standards guide surrogates to make decisions aligned with the patient's values.
5. Which palliative care assessment framework uses the acronym 'IPOS' to capture patient-reported outcomes?
The IPOS (Integrated Palliative Outcome Scale) is a validated patient-reported outcome measure that captures physical symptoms, psychological concerns, and family/information needs in palliative care.
6. A nurse on the palliative care team is experiencing moral distress related to a patient receiving aggressive treatment against their previously stated wishes. Which is the MOST appropriate first step?
Moral distress should be addressed through proper channels such as ethics consultation or team debriefing, which protects the nurse, patient, and team dynamics.