Sample Test Questions

Nursing Professional Development Exam Sample Questions

The following sample questions are similar to those on the examination but do not represent the full range of content or levels of difficulty. The answers to the sample questions are provided after the last question. Please note: Taking these or any sample question(s) is not a requirement to sit for an actual certification examination. Completion of these or any other sample question(s) does not imply eligibility for certification or successful performance on any certification examination.

To respond to the sample questions, first enter your first and last names in the boxes below (this information will not be recorded; it is strictly for purposes of identifying your results). Then click the button corresponding to the best answer for each question. When you are finished, click the "Evaluate" button at the bottom of the page. A new browser window will open, displaying your results, which you may print, if you wish.

This practice exam is not timed, and you may take it as many times as you wish. Good luck!

First name: Last name:

1. The lecture format is most appropriate when the:

educational material is complex and detailed.
learning involves attitudes and feelings.
objective is to achieve long-term retention of knowledge.
primary purpose of education is the delivery of information.

2. Which statement indicates an accurate assessment of a learning need?

"Due to an increase in tuberculosis case rates, a learning activity on transmission is required."
"We identified 10 medication errors this month, indicating a need for a medication administration class."
"The nurses on this unit state they need a class on appropriate delegation skills."
"We must teach the staff to use the patient care assignment sheets at the beginning of each shift."

3. A learning objective that is based on the cognitive domain includes asking participants to:

demonstrate drawing blood from a central line catheter.
explain how they feel about caring for patients with terminal illness.
identify two risk factors for heart disease.
remove a colostomy pouch correctly.

4. Which action comes first when developing an educational program?

Apply for an educational grant.
Assess the internal and external environment.
Determine how available resources will be used.
Promote new services and programs to targeted employees.

5. Which criterion is most helpful in selecting an educational method?

The method facilitates meeting the learning objectives.
The physical characteristics of the classroom accommodate the method.
The teacher's skill and comfort with using the method.
The time that is allocated for the learning exercise is sufficient.

6. In a presentation to 250 nurses, which technique facilitates retention of content?

Administering a test after the presentation.
Providing a printed reference list to participants.
Requiring a reading assignment prior to the presentation.
Using an audience response system or video clips.

7. Six months after an educational activity on documentation, the nursing professional development practitioner performs an audit of patient charts. Which type of evaluation does the audit reflect?

Content.
Impact.
Outcome.
Process.

8. The primary purpose of a formative evaluation is to:

allow the facilitator to adjust content to meet participants' needs.
compare participants' knowledge before and after learning.
determine effectiveness based upon job performance.
measure final outcomes or results that are external to the activity.

9. During orientation, the nursing professional development practitioner teaches new nurses patient care documentation. To evaluate the effectiveness of this education, the practitioner's action is to audit the:

electronic health record (EHR).
incident reporting system.
learning management system (LMS).
patient classification system.

10. The nursing professional development practitioner's primary role as a leader requires:

an operational position, rather than a staff position.
alignment of educational operations with organizational goals and needs.
involvement with organization-wide committees.
participation in both policy and procedure development and monitoring activities.

11. The primary purpose of an education department's mission statement is to:

acknowledge consumer needs and wishes.
define the nursing professional development practitioner's roles and responsibilities.
guide the department's objectives and purpose.
reflect employees' values and scope of practice.

12. The nursing professional development practitioner works with an infection preventionist to involve staff in the selection of a new hand hygiene product. The practitioner facilitates selection by using which decision-making technique?

Brainstorming.
Consensus.
Convergent thinking.
Groupthink.

13. Which statement about certification in nursing professional development is accurate?

It determines the nurse's level of education.
It guarantees that standards of care will be met.
It is a means of licensure and public protection.
It measures the nurse's knowledge of the specialty.

14. Which role is the most challenging for preceptors?

Educator.
Evaluator.
Role model.
Socializer.

15. What is a responsibility within the nursing professional development practice model?

Learning environment.
Onboarding orientation.
Patient safety.
Quality of care.

16. When calculating the cost of a training program, the nursing professional development practitioner projects the real cost to the organization by obtaining information on the:

capital expense budget allocations for staff development.
indirect overhead cost per day of the staff development classroom.
operational budget of the business department.
participants' average salary, or salary per job category.

17. Mastery of which skill is most important for the new nursing professional development practitioner?

Communicating effectively.
Coordinating programs.
Managing resources.
Serving as facilitator.

18. A unit report identifies staff members who are inconsistently documenting patient care in a newly implemented electronic health record (EHR). The nursing professional development practitioner's next action is to:

build documentation requirements into annual staff competencies.
collaborate with the nurse manager regarding counseling staff.
develop a training program about staff documentation in the deficient areas.
facilitate a focus group to identify the contributing factors.

19. The credit awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for continuing education programs is:

certificates of attendance.
contact hours.
continuing education recognition.
continuing education units.

20. The nursing professional development practitioner plans a staff inservice on communicating with patients via electronic methods. What is the most appropriate method of communication?

Electronic health record portal.
Email.
Social media.
Text message.

21. To integrate research findings into practice, the nursing professional development practitioner's first action is to:

critique a research article with staff.
demonstrate the process by example.
design an instructional unit about evidence-based practice.
identify barriers to implementing the research results.

22. When instituting a quality improvement program for the education department, the first action is to:

clearly define the program's purpose and functions, and the processes by which the services will be provided.
design an evaluation program that includes quality control, technology measurement, and performance measurement.
develop an evaluation tool to assess the quality of services provided by the department and the desired outcomes.
implement a quality improvement plan, determine its impact, and document the results.

23. The nursing professional development practitioner coordinating a seminar for National Nurses Week contacts a nationally known speaker about delivering the keynote address. Early in the planning stage of the seminar, the practitioner seeks to:

develop a staffing plan with the nurse manager to promote attendance.
generate collaborative agreements with other agencies.
obtain a contract from the speaker confirming honorarium and reimbursement of expenses.
request copies of the speaker's book from the publisher.

24. Which method realistically replicates the integration of assessment, diagnosis, and interventions for a patient with cardiopulmonary arrest?

High-fidelity simulations.
Interactive computer programs.
Podcasts.
Video case presentations.

25. The nursing professional development practitioner designs a learning activity aimed at increasing learner engagement. Which instructional tool is most likely to accomplish this goal?

Audience response system.
Electronic slide presentation.
Electronic text.
Podcast.

Sample Test Questions

Nursing Professional Development Exam Sample Questions

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