ANCC Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield ANCC facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. A patient has a mechanical mitral valve replacement and is prescribed warfarin. What is the correct target INR range? → 2.5-3.5
2. An 82-year-old patient is started on a new benzodiazepine. According to the Beers Criteria, this is concerning because: → They increase the risk of falls, cognitive impairment, and delirium in older adults
3. Which finding is most indicative of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) in a patient with a traumatic brain injury? → Cushing's triad: hypertension, bradycardia, and irregular respirations
4. A patient with borderline personality disorder is engaging in splitting behavior. How should the nursing staff respond? → Maintain consistent communication and unified team responses
5. Which of the following is the hallmark symptom that distinguishes bipolar I disorder from bipolar II disorder? → At least one full manic episode
6. A 2-year-old weighing 13 kg needs acetaminophen 15 mg/kg every 4-6 hours. Available concentration is 160 mg/5 mL. How many mL per dose? → 6.1 mL
7. A CDS alert fires 400 times per month but 92% are overridden by clinicians. This phenomenon is called: → Alert fatigue
8. According to the Surviving Sepsis Campaign, what is the recommended fluid resuscitation target within the first 3 hours of septic shock? → At least 30 mL/kg crystalloid
9. A patient with Type 2 diabetes has an HbA1c of 8.9%. According to ADA guidelines, the initial medication of choice is: → Metformin
10. Which standardized nursing language is most widely used in EHRs to document nursing diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes in a computable format? → NANDA-I, NIC, and NOC (NNN taxonomy)
11. Which antipsychotic medication requires mandatory REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy) enrollment due to risk of agranulocytosis? → Clozapine
12. The ANCC Magnet Recognition Program's 14 Forces of Magnetism primarily focus on which outcome? → Attracting and retaining excellent nursing staff and improving patient outcomes
13. A patient with cancer pain is starting extended-release morphine. Which order must also be provided at initiation of scheduled opioid therapy? → Routine laxative (senna or docusate) to prevent opioid-induced constipation
14. A nurse manager uses the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle for a quality improvement project. In which phase would outcomes data be analyzed? → Study
15. A patient with TBI has ICP of 28 mmHg and MAP of 85 mmHg. What is the CPP and is it within the recommended range? → CPP = 57 mmHg; below the recommended minimum of 60-70 mmHg
16. Which of the following best describes the primary focus of ambulatory care nursing practice? → Delivering health services to patients who are not admitted overnight
17. Which model of care delivery is most commonly used in ambulatory care settings to manage high-risk patients with complex chronic conditions? → Care coordination and case management model
18. An infant at a well-child visit is noted to have not regained birth weight by 2 weeks of age. What is the priority intervention? → Evaluate feeding technique and frequency
19. Anticipatory guidance most appropriate for a male child during early adolescence (11-14) includes: → bodily changes and secondary sex characteristics.
20. A patient receiving interleukin-2 (IL-2) immunotherapy develops severe hypotension and fluid retention. These findings are characteristic of: → Capillary leak syndrome associated with IL-2 therapy
21. When teaching a patient with heart failure about fluid restriction, the nurse explains that daily weights should be taken: → Each morning after voiding and before eating
22. Under HIPAA, which represents a permitted use of PHI without requiring patient authorization? → Disclosing PHI to another treating provider for care coordination (treatment purpose)
23. A patient with acute liver failure and hepatic encephalopathy needs management of cerebral edema. Which nursing intervention is the priority? → Elevate head of bed to 30 degrees and minimize stimulation
24. Which nursing diagnosis is most appropriate for a patient with cancer experiencing cancer-related fatigue? → Activity intolerance related to disease process and treatment effects
25. Which usability testing method involves observing nurses performing real tasks in the EHR and measuring time-on-task, errors, and satisfaction? → Summative usability testing with task-based performance metrics
26. Elder mistreatment screening should be performed using which validated tool in outpatient settings? → Elder Abuse Suspicion Index (EASI)
27. A nurse is assessing an older adult for functional status. Which assessment tool evaluates basic activities of daily living (ADLs)? → Both B and C
28. A patient with neuropathic pain from diabetic peripheral neuropathy needs medication. Which first-line agent is most evidence-supported? → Duloxetine (Cymbalta) or pregabalin (Lyrica)
29. Which finding most directly indicates severe acute pancreatitis per the Revised Atlanta Classification? → Organ failure persisting more than 48 hours
30. A nurse executive is analyzing a balanced scorecard for the nursing division. Which of the four perspectives does this tool evaluate? → Financial, customer, internal processes, learning and growth