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The CARN-AP exam has 150 questions and runs 4 hours.
These 10 free CARN-AP questions are organized by exam domain, so you can see how each part of the Certified Addictions Registered Nurse - Advanced Practice blueprint is tested. Reveal the answer and explanation under each question.
Emergency department assessment after a marked reduction in daily alcohol intake shows a CIWA-Ar score of 6, intact orientation, and a blood alcohol concentration of 0.11 g/dL. The patient has had withdrawal seizures during two previous attempts to stop drinking. Which conclusion is warranted before choosing a withdrawal-management setting?
Correct answer: A - Current symptoms are mild, but the seizure history increases the risk of complicated withdrawal.
The current depressive symptoms began during a period of heavy methamphetamine use and have continued through three weeks without use. The APRN is distinguishing an independent depressive disorder from a substance-induced condition. Which additional history would carry the greatest diagnostic weight?
Correct answer: B - Comparable depressive episodes were documented before methamphetamine use and during prolonged nonuse.
For the third time, a 17-year-old who uses cannabis daily presents with episodes of intense vomiting and abdominal discomfort. Hot showers provide temporary relief. The episodes stopped during several months without cannabis and returned after daily use resumed. He has not recently reduced or stopped use. What is the best working diagnosis?
Correct answer: C - Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome.
Before an observed buprenorphine initiation, a 36-year-old with opioid use disorder is alert, breathing 16 times/min, and in objective moderate opioid withdrawal. He also takes clonazepam 0.5 mg twice daily for panic disorder; the prescription and four-year treatment history are verified. He reports no alcohol or other sedative use. How should the clonazepam affect today's treatment decision?
Correct answer: C - Start buprenorphine with coordinated monitoring and management of the sedative regimen.
A 58-year-old has completed alcohol withdrawal treatment and has been abstinent for 10 days. He wants medication to support continued abstinence. He receives verified daily methadone maintenance and has stable chronic kidney disease with a creatinine clearance of 42 mL/min. Which medication plan fits these findings?
Correct answer: B - Acamprosate 333 mg orally three times daily.
An outpatient program treating methamphetamine use disorder can fund an incentive intervention. Its target is stimulant abstinence, rather than attendance alone. Which arrangement most directly implements evidence-based contingency management for that target?
Correct answer: D - Provide an agreed reward immediately after each verified stimulant-negative specimen.
"I smoked one cigarette after an argument. Should I take the patch off?" asks a patient on day 9 of treatment with a 21-mg nicotine patch. She has no nausea, dizziness, palpitations, or chest pain and wants to resume abstinence immediately. The most appropriate counseling is to:
Correct answer: D - Continue the patch and revise the plan for breakthrough cravings.
During overdose-response teaching, a patient's sister asks, "I heard naloxone does not work on xylazine. Should I still use it if my brother becomes unresponsive and is barely breathing after using fentanyl?" Which response accurately explains naloxone's role?
Correct answer: A - Give naloxone for possible opioid effects; support breathing and call 911.
"Only two cans on Saturday night, and nothing during the week," says a 29-year-old woman. Each can contains 16 U.S. fluid ounces at 9% alcohol by volume, and she finishes both within 90 minutes. Using U.S. standard-drink quantities and NIAAA drinking-pattern definitions, which feedback is accurate?
Correct answer: A - Those cans contain about 4.8 standard drinks, meeting the usual female binge-drinking pattern.
An obstetric resident proposes tapering buprenorphine before delivery to prevent neonatal withdrawal. The patient is 32 weeks pregnant, has been stable on 16 mg daily, and has no sedation, withdrawal, or cravings. She asks the addictions APRN to join the discussion. The consultation should recommend:
Correct answer: B - Continue buprenorphine, coordinate perinatal care, and plan monitoring for neonatal withdrawal.
The CARN-AP exam also covers these domains. Drill them in the full free practice test:
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