A 58-year-old man calls the clinic reporting "heartburn" that began 30 minutes ago while shoveling snow. He is sweaty and nauseated and says antacids have not helped. What is the nurse's most appropriate disposition?

Instruct him to call 911 and chew aspirin if not allergic, per protocol

Schedule a same-day appointment with his primary care provider

Advise him to take a second dose of antacid and call back in 1 hour

Have him drive to the nearest emergency department

Which finding meets the definition of chronic kidney disease?

An eGFR of 52 mL/min/1.73 m² persisting for 4 months

A single eGFR of 55 mL/min/1.73 m² during dehydration

A serum creatinine of 1.0 mg/dL

Microscopic hematuria after vigorous exercise

After 3 months of a diabetes care plan, a patient's A1C has not improved. What should the nurse do first?

Reassess adherence, barriers, and the patient's understanding of the plan

Document that the goal was not met and close the care plan

Request an insulin prescription

Refer the patient to an endocrinologist

A nurse who recently earned the AMB-BC credential is asked by a physician to independently perform a procedure that is not within the RN scope in the state. How should the nurse respond?

Decline, explaining that certification validates knowledge but does not expand legal scope

Perform it once the physician agrees to provide direct, in-person supervision of the procedure

Perform it, since national specialty certification expands the RN's legal scope of practice

Perform it if the physician enters a verbal order and accepts responsibility for the outcome

A small fire starts in a clinic trash can. Using the RACE acronym, what is the nurse's first action?

Rescue anyone in immediate danger

Close the doors to contain the fire

A 34-year-old woman calls reporting the sudden onset of "the worst headache of my life" while lifting weights 1 hour ago. She has vomited once. Which disposition is correct?

Call 911 for emergency evaluation

Take ibuprofen and rest in a dark room

Same-day appointment for migraine evaluation

A patient with COPD completed pulmonary rehabilitation. Which data best evaluate the expected outcome of improved functional capacity?

Change in six-minute walk distance and patient-reported dyspnea

The number of rehabilitation sessions attended

The patient's satisfaction with the staff

The number of education handouts provided

A state board of nursing receives a complaint about a nurse who diverted opioids because of a substance use disorder. Which outcome reflects an alternative-to-discipline approach?

Participation in a monitored treatment and recovery program with a return-to-practice plan

Immediate license revocation to protect the public from further diversion

Referral of the case to the employer for internal disciplinary action only

A public reprimand and fine, with the nurse's license remaining fully active and unrestricted

Ambulatory Care Nursing

Free Ambulatory Care Nursing Practice Questions

10 sample questions for the Ambulatory Care Nursing, with the correct answer and an explanation for each. No account needed. Try each one before you open the answer.

Sections covered on the exam: Assess and Evaluate, Education, Plan and Implement, Professional Role.

Question 1 · Assess and Evaluate
A 58-year-old man calls the clinic reporting "heartburn" that began 30 minutes ago while shoveling snow. He is sweaty and nauseated and says antacids have not helped. What is the nurse's most appropriate disposition?
- A.Schedule a same-day appointment with his primary care provider
- B.Advise him to take a second dose of antacid and call back in 1 hour
- C.Instruct him to call 911 and chew aspirin if not allergic, per protocol
- D.Have him drive to the nearest emergency department
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. Instruct him to call 911 and chew aspirin if not allergic, per protocol
Exertional epigastric discomfort with diaphoresis and nausea is a red flag for acute coronary syndrome. Emergency medical services provide monitoring and treatment en route, and aspirin is given per protocol when there is no allergy. Driving himself is unsafe, and a clinic visit or waiting delays reperfusion therapy.
Question 2 · Education
Which finding meets the definition of chronic kidney disease?
- A.A single eGFR of 55 mL/min/1.73 m² during dehydration
- B.A serum creatinine of 1.0 mg/dL
- C.An eGFR of 52 mL/min/1.73 m² persisting for 4 months
- D.Microscopic hematuria after vigorous exercise
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. An eGFR of 52 mL/min/1.73 m² persisting for 4 months
CKD requires markers of kidney damage or an eGFR below 60 mL/min/1.73 m² for more than 3 months. A single low value during dehydration may reflect acute kidney injury, and a normal creatinine or transient exercise-related hematuria does not meet criteria.
Question 3 · Assess and Evaluate
After 3 months of a diabetes care plan, a patient's A1C has not improved. What should the nurse do first?
- A.Document that the goal was not met and close the care plan
- B.Request an insulin prescription
- C.Refer the patient to an endocrinologist
- D.Reassess adherence, barriers, and the patient's understanding of the plan
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. Reassess adherence, barriers, and the patient's understanding of the plan
When expected outcomes are not met, evaluation returns to assessment: is the patient taking the treatment as intended, are there barriers such as cost or health literacy, and is the plan realistic? Escalation or regimen changes follow that reassessment.
Question 4 · Professional Role
A nurse who recently earned the AMB-BC credential is asked by a physician to independently perform a procedure that is not within the RN scope in the state. How should the nurse respond?
- A.Perform it once the physician agrees to provide direct, in-person supervision of the procedure
- B.Perform it, since national specialty certification expands the RN's legal scope of practice
- C.Perform it if the physician enters a verbal order and accepts responsibility for the outcome
- D.Decline, explaining that certification validates knowledge but does not expand legal scope
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. Decline, explaining that certification validates knowledge but does not expand legal scope
Specialty certification validates knowledge and competence but does not change the legal scope of practice defined by the state nurse practice act. Physician supervision, a verbal order, or assumed responsibility cannot authorize an RN to perform an act outside that scope.
Question 5 · Professional Role
A small fire starts in a clinic trash can. Using the RACE acronym, what is the nurse's first action?
- A.Activate the alarm
- B.Close the doors to contain the fire
- C.Use the extinguisher
- D.Rescue anyone in immediate danger
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. Rescue anyone in immediate danger
RACE is Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish or Evacuate. The first priority is removing anyone in immediate danger, followed by activating the alarm.
Question 6 · Assess and Evaluate
A 34-year-old woman calls reporting the sudden onset of "the worst headache of my life" while lifting weights 1 hour ago. She has vomited once. Which disposition is correct?
- A.Take ibuprofen and rest in a dark room
- B.Same-day appointment for migraine evaluation
- C.Call 911 for emergency evaluation
- D.Routine neurology referral
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. Call 911 for emergency evaluation
A sudden, severe "thunderclap" headache, especially with exertion and vomiting, suggests subarachnoid hemorrhage and requires emergency evaluation. NSAIDs could worsen bleeding, and a clinic visit delays diagnosis.
Question 7 · Education
A patient with CKD stage 3 asks what to take for arthritis pain. Which medication should the nurse advise the patient to avoid unless prescribed?
- A.Ibuprofen
- B.Acetaminophen
- C.Topical capsaicin
- D.Warm compresses
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. Ibuprofen
NSAIDs such as ibuprofen reduce renal blood flow and can worsen kidney function, raise blood pressure, and cause hyperkalemia. Acetaminophen at appropriate doses and non-drug measures are generally preferred.
Question 8 · Assess and Evaluate
A patient with COPD completed pulmonary rehabilitation. Which data best evaluate the expected outcome of improved functional capacity?
- A.The number of rehabilitation sessions attended
- B.The patient's satisfaction with the staff
- C.Change in six-minute walk distance and patient-reported dyspnea
- D.The number of education handouts provided
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. Change in six-minute walk distance and patient-reported dyspnea
Outcome evaluation measures change in the patient's status. The six-minute walk distance and dyspnea scores reflect functional capacity. Attendance and handouts are process measures, and satisfaction is an experience measure.
Question 9 · Professional Role
A state board of nursing receives a complaint about a nurse who diverted opioids because of a substance use disorder. Which outcome reflects an alternative-to-discipline approach?
- A.Immediate license revocation to protect the public from further diversion
- B.Participation in a monitored treatment and recovery program with a return-to-practice plan
- C.Referral of the case to the employer for internal disciplinary action only
- D.A public reprimand and fine, with the nurse's license remaining fully active and unrestricted
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. Participation in a monitored treatment and recovery program with a return-to-practice plan
Alternative-to-discipline programs combine treatment, monitoring, and practice restrictions, protecting the public while supporting recovery and a structured return to practice. Revocation and public reprimand are traditional disciplinary actions, and diversion remains a board matter rather than solely an employer issue.
Question 10 · Professional Role
During a clinic disaster drill, which structure provides a standardized command and communication framework?
- A.Chain of infection
- B.Incident Command System
- C.SBAR
- D.Root cause analysis
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. Incident Command System
The Incident Command System provides a scalable structure of roles, command, and communication for emergency response and is used across healthcare and emergency agencies.

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