AACN ACNPC-AG study guide
AACN ACNPC-AG · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
ACNPC-AG (Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner) is AACN's entry-level advanced practice board certification for acute care nurse practitioners educated at the graduate level to provide continuous and comprehensive advanced nursing care to acutely ill adult-gerontology patients - young adults, older adults and the frail elderly - who are experiencing episodic illness, exacerbation of a chronic illness or terminal illness. It aligns with the APRN Consensus Model and other foundational national standards of APRN education, accreditation and regulation, is accepted in all states, and is accepted by the Magnet Recognition Program. Eligibility rests on two requirements: a current, unencumbered U.S. RN or APRN license, meaning no formal board discipline and no provisions or conditions that limit practice, and completion of a graduate-level adult-gerontology ACNP program at a nationally accredited school of nursing whose curriculum includes supervised clinical and didactic coursework consistent with AG-ACNP competencies. The AACN ACNPC-AG study guide has 4 sections and about 1,221 words.
01Clinical Judgment: Assessment, Diagnosis, and Clinical Reasoning
Clinical judgment on the ACNPC-AG exam is less about recalling a disease than about sequencing decisions: recognize instability, generate a prioritized differential, choose tests that change management, and reassess. Start with an ABC/MAP screen and a focused history that includes baseline function, code status, and caregiver report.
313 words, about 2 min02Management of Acutely Ill Adult-Gerontology Patients
Acute management questions test bundles and timing. For septic shock: cultures, broad-spectrum antibiotics within 1 hour, 30 mL/kg crystalloid for hypotension or lactate 4 mmol/L or higher, and vasopressors for MAP under 65 despite fluids.
318 words, about 2 min03Health Promotion, Disease Prevention, and Care Across the Continuum
Health promotion questions ask who benefits, when, and for how long. Use USPSTF grades and age cutoffs, but individualize by life expectancy and time-to-benefit.
288 words, about 1 min04Professional Role, Ethics, Systems, and Collaborative Practice
Professional-practice questions test scope of practice, credentialing, collaborative agreements, and accountability. APRN authority is state-specific: full, reduced, or restricted practice, prescriptive authority, and supervision or collaboration requirements.
302 words, about 2 min