APEA 3P Exam Predictor Exam (Best Predictor
Exam for 2025/2026)
1. A 37-year-old female patient with a history of a single episode of depression and
frequent complaints of PMS is being treated for hypothyroidism. Today she
complains of poor concentration and fatigue. Initially, the NP should:
a. Question her further
2. Which of the following is an example of secondary prevention?
a. Annual influenza vaccination
3. A 35-year old female with a history of mitral valve prolapse is scheduled
for routine dental cleaning. According to the 2007 American
Association’s guideline for endocarditis prophylaxis, what would you
advise this patient?
a. She does not need prophylaxis for any dental procedure
4. A patient recovering from a recent stroke is starting anticoagulant therapy. The
nurse practitioner should teach the patient to avoid all of the following EXCEPT:
a. b. milk and milk products
5. A patient presents with periorbital erythema and edema, fever, and nasal
drainage. The nurse practitioner should
a. start aggressive antibiotic therapy
6. A positive drawer sign support a diagnosis of
b. cruciate ligament injury
7. A 50-year-old patient with diabetes complains of pain bilaterally in her lower legs
while walking. The pain disappears at rest. What else would you expect to identify
on her lower extremities.
b. peripheral artery insufficiency
8. A 16-year-old athlete complains of pain underneath his heel every time he
walks. There is a verrucous surface level with the skin of the heel. What
pharmacologic interventions should the nurse practitioner prescribe for this
patient?
, a. salicylic acid plasters
9. A -year-old with Type I diabetes has had itching and burning lesions between
her toes for 6 months. Scrapings of the lesion confirm the diagnosis of tinea
pedis. What is the best treatment option for this patient?
a. prescribe an anti-fungal powder for application between her toes
and in her shoes and a topical prescription strength anti-fungal
cream for other affected areas. Monitor for a secondary bacterial
infection.
one week, 2 weeks, and every month thereafter.
c. Prescribe a prescription strength antifungal/steroid combination cream.
Monitor for a secondary bacterial infection.
10. What is an appropriate drug for prophylactic treatment of migraine
headaches in a 21-year- old female?
a. . Sumatriptan
(Imitrex)
b.propranolol
(Inderal)
c. ibuprofen (Motrin)
d. dihydroergotamine (DHE)
11. Which of the following are the classic features of ulcerative colitis?
a. RLQ pain, frequently accompanied by a palpable mass, fever, and leukopenia
b.Massive painful hematemesis, occasionally accompanied by melena
c. Rapidly progressive dysphagia to solid foods, anoriexia, and weight loss out
of proportion to the dysphagia
d. Remission and exacerbations of bloody diarrhea, tenesmus, fecal incontinence,
abdominal pain, and T
.
12. Which drugs below would be expected to produce the least amount of hypokalemia?
a. Furosemide (Lasix)
b.hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) and spironolactone (Aldactone)
c. Spironolactone (Aldactone)
d.hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ)
13. What information should patients with diabetes and their families receive about
hypoglycemia?
a. Hypoglycemia is very rare
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, b.Hypoglycemia requires professional medical treatment
c. Hypoglycemia is serious, dangerous, and can be fatal if not treated
quickly
d.Hypoglycemia occurs only as a result of overdose of insulin
14. A 60-year-old male patient with a past history of glaucoma and frequent
sinusitis presents today with hypertension. On his last 2 visits to the clinic his
blood pressures were 150-160/90-98. The nurse practitioner decides to treat the
hypertension with long-acting propranolol (Inderal). Before prescribing it, the
nurse practitioner should ask:
a. whether he smokes or consumes alcohol on a daily basis
b. what other medications have been prescribed for him
c. if he takes a daily antihistamine
d.if other family members are hypertensive
15. Which of the following is NOT associated with Type 2 diabetes mellitus?
a. Gestational diabetes, birth of a macrosomic infant
b.Hispanic, African-American, or Native American descent
c. Alcohol or other drug abuse
d.Obesity, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia
16. A 35-year-old male presents with a severe unilateral headache over his left
eye. He says it started about one hour ago and has rapidly gotten worse. He gives
a history of similar headaches over the past 2 years. Physical examination is
negative except for left eye lacrimation. What is the most likely diagnosis?
d. Cluster headache
e. Classic migraine headache
17. A 16-year-old sexually active female present to the clinic. She has never had
vaccination for hepatitis A or B, she has had one MMR immunization, and her last
tetanus vaccination was 4 years ago. Which vaccination would be contraindicated
without further testing?
c. MMR
18. A 15-year-old male presents with abdominal pain that began in the peri-
umbilical area then localized to the right lower quadrant. He complains of nausea,
vomiting, anorexia, and low-grade fever. A complete blood count (CBC) reveals
moderate leukocytosis. What is the most likely diagnosis?
d. Acute appendicitis
19. A 25-year-old hypertensive patient has a BMI of 16. His blood pressure is
165/100. There is an audible bruit in his left upper abdominal quadrant. He
3|Page
, probably has:
a. Essential hypertension
b. Secondary hypertension
20. Which of the following is the most common presenting sign of substance abuse in
adolescents?
d. changes in behavior
21. Therapeutic international normalized ratio (INR) for a patient takein warfarin
(Coumadin) for chronic atrial fibrillation is expected to be
a. increased
22. A 199-year-old female reports that she is having “panic attacks.” The NP knows
that panic attacks are characterized by
d. sudden onset of intense fear or terror
23. A 25-year-old complains of fever and throat pain. The tonsils have exudate
bilaterally. The patient describes having an anaphylactic reaction to penicillin in the
past. What antibiotic should the NP prescribe if she believes the causative agent is
bacterial?
a. amoxicillin (Amoxil)
b. erythromycin
24. A diagnostic finding of Hodgkin’s lymphoma is the presence of
b. Reed-Sternberg cells
25. With a history of ankle sprain, the nurse practitioner would most likely elicit a
history of
d. ankle inversion
26. Certification for nurse practitioners is offered through:
c. national certifying organizations
27. Simple cases of impetigo and folliculitis are usually successfully treated with:
a. systemic antibiotics
b. topical antibiotics
28. A 43-year-old has chronic gout. He comes to the clinic for the 3rd time in
as many months for treatment of an exacerbation. Dietary counseling should
include avoidance of all of the following EXCEPT:
c. green, leafy vegetables
29. A 57-year-old patient presents for an annual physical exam. He reports having
3 attacks of acute gout during the past year. He does not take any medication
4|Page
Exam for 2025/2026)
1. A 37-year-old female patient with a history of a single episode of depression and
frequent complaints of PMS is being treated for hypothyroidism. Today she
complains of poor concentration and fatigue. Initially, the NP should:
a. Question her further
2. Which of the following is an example of secondary prevention?
a. Annual influenza vaccination
3. A 35-year old female with a history of mitral valve prolapse is scheduled
for routine dental cleaning. According to the 2007 American
Association’s guideline for endocarditis prophylaxis, what would you
advise this patient?
a. She does not need prophylaxis for any dental procedure
4. A patient recovering from a recent stroke is starting anticoagulant therapy. The
nurse practitioner should teach the patient to avoid all of the following EXCEPT:
a. b. milk and milk products
5. A patient presents with periorbital erythema and edema, fever, and nasal
drainage. The nurse practitioner should
a. start aggressive antibiotic therapy
6. A positive drawer sign support a diagnosis of
b. cruciate ligament injury
7. A 50-year-old patient with diabetes complains of pain bilaterally in her lower legs
while walking. The pain disappears at rest. What else would you expect to identify
on her lower extremities.
b. peripheral artery insufficiency
8. A 16-year-old athlete complains of pain underneath his heel every time he
walks. There is a verrucous surface level with the skin of the heel. What
pharmacologic interventions should the nurse practitioner prescribe for this
patient?
, a. salicylic acid plasters
9. A -year-old with Type I diabetes has had itching and burning lesions between
her toes for 6 months. Scrapings of the lesion confirm the diagnosis of tinea
pedis. What is the best treatment option for this patient?
a. prescribe an anti-fungal powder for application between her toes
and in her shoes and a topical prescription strength anti-fungal
cream for other affected areas. Monitor for a secondary bacterial
infection.
one week, 2 weeks, and every month thereafter.
c. Prescribe a prescription strength antifungal/steroid combination cream.
Monitor for a secondary bacterial infection.
10. What is an appropriate drug for prophylactic treatment of migraine
headaches in a 21-year- old female?
a. . Sumatriptan
(Imitrex)
b.propranolol
(Inderal)
c. ibuprofen (Motrin)
d. dihydroergotamine (DHE)
11. Which of the following are the classic features of ulcerative colitis?
a. RLQ pain, frequently accompanied by a palpable mass, fever, and leukopenia
b.Massive painful hematemesis, occasionally accompanied by melena
c. Rapidly progressive dysphagia to solid foods, anoriexia, and weight loss out
of proportion to the dysphagia
d. Remission and exacerbations of bloody diarrhea, tenesmus, fecal incontinence,
abdominal pain, and T
.
12. Which drugs below would be expected to produce the least amount of hypokalemia?
a. Furosemide (Lasix)
b.hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) and spironolactone (Aldactone)
c. Spironolactone (Aldactone)
d.hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ)
13. What information should patients with diabetes and their families receive about
hypoglycemia?
a. Hypoglycemia is very rare
2|Page
, b.Hypoglycemia requires professional medical treatment
c. Hypoglycemia is serious, dangerous, and can be fatal if not treated
quickly
d.Hypoglycemia occurs only as a result of overdose of insulin
14. A 60-year-old male patient with a past history of glaucoma and frequent
sinusitis presents today with hypertension. On his last 2 visits to the clinic his
blood pressures were 150-160/90-98. The nurse practitioner decides to treat the
hypertension with long-acting propranolol (Inderal). Before prescribing it, the
nurse practitioner should ask:
a. whether he smokes or consumes alcohol on a daily basis
b. what other medications have been prescribed for him
c. if he takes a daily antihistamine
d.if other family members are hypertensive
15. Which of the following is NOT associated with Type 2 diabetes mellitus?
a. Gestational diabetes, birth of a macrosomic infant
b.Hispanic, African-American, or Native American descent
c. Alcohol or other drug abuse
d.Obesity, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia
16. A 35-year-old male presents with a severe unilateral headache over his left
eye. He says it started about one hour ago and has rapidly gotten worse. He gives
a history of similar headaches over the past 2 years. Physical examination is
negative except for left eye lacrimation. What is the most likely diagnosis?
d. Cluster headache
e. Classic migraine headache
17. A 16-year-old sexually active female present to the clinic. She has never had
vaccination for hepatitis A or B, she has had one MMR immunization, and her last
tetanus vaccination was 4 years ago. Which vaccination would be contraindicated
without further testing?
c. MMR
18. A 15-year-old male presents with abdominal pain that began in the peri-
umbilical area then localized to the right lower quadrant. He complains of nausea,
vomiting, anorexia, and low-grade fever. A complete blood count (CBC) reveals
moderate leukocytosis. What is the most likely diagnosis?
d. Acute appendicitis
19. A 25-year-old hypertensive patient has a BMI of 16. His blood pressure is
165/100. There is an audible bruit in his left upper abdominal quadrant. He
3|Page
, probably has:
a. Essential hypertension
b. Secondary hypertension
20. Which of the following is the most common presenting sign of substance abuse in
adolescents?
d. changes in behavior
21. Therapeutic international normalized ratio (INR) for a patient takein warfarin
(Coumadin) for chronic atrial fibrillation is expected to be
a. increased
22. A 199-year-old female reports that she is having “panic attacks.” The NP knows
that panic attacks are characterized by
d. sudden onset of intense fear or terror
23. A 25-year-old complains of fever and throat pain. The tonsils have exudate
bilaterally. The patient describes having an anaphylactic reaction to penicillin in the
past. What antibiotic should the NP prescribe if she believes the causative agent is
bacterial?
a. amoxicillin (Amoxil)
b. erythromycin
24. A diagnostic finding of Hodgkin’s lymphoma is the presence of
b. Reed-Sternberg cells
25. With a history of ankle sprain, the nurse practitioner would most likely elicit a
history of
d. ankle inversion
26. Certification for nurse practitioners is offered through:
c. national certifying organizations
27. Simple cases of impetigo and folliculitis are usually successfully treated with:
a. systemic antibiotics
b. topical antibiotics
28. A 43-year-old has chronic gout. He comes to the clinic for the 3rd time in
as many months for treatment of an exacerbation. Dietary counseling should
include avoidance of all of the following EXCEPT:
c. green, leafy vegetables
29. A 57-year-old patient presents for an annual physical exam. He reports having
3 attacks of acute gout during the past year. He does not take any medication
4|Page
