AMB-BC Exam Prep: Ambulatory Care Nursing (ANCC) Study Guide + 900+ Practice Questions

16 of 125. A 45-year-old patient with Type 1 diabetes calls the ambulatory clinic reporting a blood glucose of 62 mg/dL after a morning run. The patient is alert, slightly shaky, and able to swallow. Which intervention should the nurse recommend to follow the 15-15 rule?

30 of 125. A 58-year-old patient with Stage III COPD tells the nurse during a smoking cessation counseling session, “I’ve tried quitting five times and I always fail; there is just no point in trying again.” The nurse observes the patient looking at the floor with slumped shoulders. Which response best demonstrates the use of empathy and active listening to facilitate further dialogue?

29 of 125. A 68-year-old patient with heart failure and stage 3 chronic kidney disease is discharged from the hospital after a three-day stay for volume overload. During the initial transitional care management phone call within 48 hours of discharge, the patient reports a two-pound weight gain since yesterday and difficulty obtaining the new prescription for a loop diuretic due to transportation barriers. Which action by the ambulatory care nurse best facilitates a safe transition and prevents readmission?

28 of 125. A 45-year-old patient visits the ambulatory clinic daily for hydration therapy. The current peripheral IV catheter was inserted 96 hours ago; the site remains free of redness, pain, or edema, and the transparent dressing is clean, dry, and intact.

27 of 125. During a busy immunization clinic, a nurse nearly administers the wrong vaccine but is stopped by the patient. The patient is now angry and questioning the safety of the clinic’s practices.

26 of 125. An ambulatory care nurse is preparing a 40-year-old female patient for a physical exam. The patient, who wears a hijab, requests that only female staff be present in the room. How should the nurse assess the patient’s cultural beliefs regarding modesty and healthcare?

25 of 125. A 52-year-old patient with a BMI of 31.4 kg/m² and a history of a well-controlled seizure disorder and chronic alcohol use disorder is evaluating weight loss medications. Which pharmacotherapeutic agent should the nurse recognize as contraindicated for this clinical profile?

24 of 125. An 80-year-old male with HFrEF lives alone and uses a manual scale. He reports a 6-pound weight gain over five days but states he feels “fine” and has no shortness of breath or edema. He admits he has been eating more canned soups recently due to the cold weather. How should the ambulatory care nurse prioritize the next step in this patient’s management?

23 of 125. A 78-year-old patient with diabetic neuropathy and a history of one near-fall in the past six months completes the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test in 16 seconds. Which action should the ambulatory care nurse take next based on these findings?

22 of 125. A patient with Type 1 Diabetes on an insulin pump reports a glucose reading of 310 mg/dL on their CGM with a “double up” trend arrow. They administered a correction bolus two hours ago, but the glucose has not changed. They feel nauseated and fatigued. What is the most appropriate next step for the nurse to advise?

21 of 125. A nurse is providing post-procedure wound care instructions to a Deaf patient using a certified American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter. To ensure the patient has accurately synthesized the information and can perform the care safely at home, which strategy should the nurse employ during the education session?

20 of 125. A telehealth nurse identifies a significant gap in personal knowledge regarding the legal implications of cross-state practice and patient privacy regulations. The nurse seeks specific continuing education to address this professional development need and improve practice safety.

19 of 125. An 84-year-old male with a history of coronary artery disease and heart failure is found to have a TSH of 7.2 mIU/L and a normal Free T4 during a routine wellness exam. He denies any symptoms of fatigue or cold intolerance.

18 of 125. During a follow-up visit for a complex diagnostic result, the ambulatory nurse is using a Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) service to communicate with a Deaf patient. The video connection begins to lag significantly, causing the interpreter’s signs to become choppy and difficult for the patient to follow. What is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take?

17 of 125. During a routine follow-up call, a 70-year-old veteran with chronic pain and a new diagnosis of terminal cancer expresses that his family would be better off without him. He sounds lethargic and distant. Which intervention is most appropriate?

1 of 125. A 38-year-old male patient with a known diagnosis of HIV presents to the ambulatory clinic for his biannual laboratory work and physical exam. He reports being sexually active with one stable partner and consistent use of antiretroviral therapy. Which screening recommendation for Syphilis, Chlamydia, and Gonorrhea is most consistent with CDC guidelines for this patient?

15 of 125. A nurse is reviewing the discharge summary of a 70-year-old patient with a history of depression and recent pneumonia. The patient lives in a rural area and reports feeling “overwhelmed” by the five new medications added to her previous regimen. Which factor identified during the assessment represents the highest risk for readmission?

14 of 125. During a telephone triage for a patient reporting sudden onset chest pain and a history of generalized anxiety, the nurse must quickly differentiate between cardiac and non-cardiac causes. Which electronic health record functionality provides the most relevant clinical decision support for this specific assessment?

13 of 125. A veteran who served in a high-combat zone reports profound feelings of shame and “soul-crushing” guilt regarding his inability to prevent civilian casualties, despite following orders. He denies typical hyperarousal symptoms but feels alienated from his community. Which condition should the nurse prioritize for specialized referral?

12 of 125. A nurse is preparing a discharge plan for a patient with prelingual deafness and limited English proficiency who is recovering from a minor surgical procedure. The nurse needs to explain a complex medication schedule involving three different medications. Which tool would be most effective for this specific patient’s education?

11 of 125. A 29-year-old male presents to the community health clinic with a persistent productive cough for three weeks and a low-grade fever. He has a history of HIV with a recently documented low CD4 count. Which imaging study is most appropriate for the initial evaluation of his respiratory symptoms?

10 of 125. A 16-year-old female with end-stage renal disease attending an outpatient dialysis center expresses a firm desire to discontinue treatment, citing a poor quality of life. Her parents, who are her legal guardians, demand that the life-sustaining treatments continue regardless of her stated preference.

9 of 125. A 48-year-old female patient is receiving high-dose opioid therapy (95 Morphine Milligram Equivalents per day) for failed back surgery syndrome. The PDMP shows consistent fill dates and a single prescriber, but the patient reports that her pain is no longer controlled and requests a dose increase. What is the nurse’s priority in this assessment?

8 of 125. A 60-year-old patient with stable coronary artery disease presents with a GAD-7 score of 11 and reports that their anxiety manifests primarily as physical fatigue and somatic aches. The patient has been using mindfulness apps intermittently without significant relief of their physical symptoms.

7 of 125. A mother brings in her 4-year-old child who has had a runny nose and mild ear tugging for 24 hours. The child is playful, eating well, and has a temperature of 99.8°F; the exam shows a slightly red but mobile tympanic membrane.

6 of 125. A 22-year-old patient has been using a combined oral contraceptive containing 20 mcg of ethinyl estradiol for four months. She reports consistent, perfect use but is frustrated by persistent mid-cycle spotting that has occurred every month since she started the medication. She denies any new medications or gastrointestinal issues. Which of the following is the most appropriate clinical intervention?

5 of 125. A 66-year-old post-menopausal female reports her third urinary tract infection in the last six months. She mentions significant vaginal dryness and discomfort during intercourse but denies any new partners. Which strategy is most effective for reducing her risk of future infections?

4 of 125. An 85-year-old patient who takes six daily medications, including a benzodiazepine for sleep, completes the TUG test in 13.5 seconds. Which intervention is most appropriate for the nurse to include in the plan of care?

3 of 125. A nurse in a community-based wound care clinic is designing a study to see if negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) accelerates healing in patients with chronic venous stasis ulcers. To ensure the PICO question is narrow enough for an effective literature review, how should the nurse define the “Population” component?

2 of 125. A 62-year-old patient who recently immigrated from a region with low screening rates presents to the clinic. The patient has a history of ulcerative colitis diagnosed 15 years ago, which is currently in remission with mesalamine. Which screening strategy is most appropriate for this patient?