NP Professional Standards & Competencies 5

Question 1

Which scenario represents a breach of professional boundaries by an NP?

Accepted Answer

Connecting with a current patient on social media to share health tips

Answer

Connecting with current patients on social media blurs the professional-personal boundary and risks confidentiality, dual relationships, and biased care.

Question 2

Which statement about the NP's role in advocacy aligns with professional standards?

Accepted Answer

NPs should advocate for patients, communities, and health policy at local, state, and national levels

Answer

NP professional standards explicitly include advocacy at multiple levels — individual, community, and systems/policy — as a core professional responsibility.

Question 3

A competent adult patient with terminal cancer requests information about medical aid in dying. The NP personally opposes this practice. The NP should:

Accepted Answer

Provide objective information about all legal options available in the state and offer referral to a provider who can assist

Answer

Even when an NP has moral objections, professional standards require provision of accurate information and referral so the patient can exercise informed autonomy.

Question 4

Which action constitutes unprofessional conduct that could result in disciplinary action by a state nursing board?

Accepted Answer

Practicing beyond one's scope of competence without seeking consultation

Answer

Practicing beyond the scope of one's competence without consultation constitutes unprofessional conduct and is subject to state board disciplinary action.

Question 5

Which describes the difference between licensure and certification for nurse practitioners?

Accepted Answer

Licensure is granted by the state and is legally required to practice; certification is a credential granted by a professional certifying body

Answer

State licensure is the legal authority to practice; national certification (e.g., AANPCB, ANCC) validates specialty competence and is typically required for licensure.

NP - Nurse Practitioner Practice Test

NP - Nurse Practitioner Practice Test

NP Professional Standards & Competencies 5