2026/2027
APEA 3P Actual Exam 2026/2027
Comprehensive Study Guide,
Practice Questions, Exam Prep
Review, and Test Bank Preparation
Manual
Question 1
A nursing instructor is reviewing the concept of medical-surgical nursing with
students. Which statement best describes this specialty area?
A. Care limited to critically ill patients in ICU settings only
B. Care provided exclusively in hospital inpatient wards
C. Care across the lifespan in multiple healthcare settings
D. Care focused only on postoperative surgical patients
Correct Answer: C. Care across the lifespan in multiple healthcare settings
Rationale: Medical-surgical nursing is a broad specialty that provides care to patients
from adolescence through end of life across various healthcare settings including
hospitals, outpatient clinics, home health, and long-term care facilities. It is not
limited to ICU or postoperative patients only, making option C the most accurate and
comprehensive description.
Question 2
A patient is discharged after hospitalization for pneumonia. Which situation best
describes “rehospitalization”?
A. Admission for planned surgery after 6 months
B. Admission within 30 days of discharge
C. Transfer to rehabilitation facility
D. Admission to outpatient clinic for follow-up
Correct Answer: B. Admission within 30 days of discharge
Rationale: Rehospitalization refers specifically to a patient being readmitted to the
hospital within 30 days of a prior discharge. Planned surgeries or rehabilitation
transfers are not considered rehospitalization.
,2026/2027
Question 3
Which statement best describes transitional care?
A. Emergency treatment provided in ICU settings
B. Care delivered only during discharge teaching
C. Coordinated services during movement between care settings
D. Long-term inpatient rehabilitation care
Correct Answer: C. Coordinated services during movement between care
settings
Rationale: Transitional care ensures continuity of care as patients move between
healthcare settings, such as from hospital to home or rehabilitation facilities. It
involves coordination of services to prevent gaps in care.
Question 4
A home health nurse uses the OASIS assessment tool. Which domain is primarily
evaluated?
A. Pain level
B. Functional status
C. Medication adherence
D. Mental health only
Correct Answer: B. Functional status
Rationale: The Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) primarily
evaluates a patient’s functional status, including ability to perform daily activities and
self-care, which is essential for Medicare eligibility assessment.
Question 5
Which statement best describes critical care nursing?
A. Care provided only in emergency departments
B. Care for stable patients recovering at home
C. Care for critically ill patients across multiple settings
D. Care limited to postoperative surgical recovery units
Correct Answer: C. Care for critically ill patients across multiple settings
Rationale: Critical care nursing involves care for critically ill patients in intensive care
units and increasingly in virtual and community-based settings. It is not limited to
emergency departments or postoperative care alone.
,2026/2027
Question 6
Which definition best describes rehabilitation nursing?
A. Providing acute surgical interventions
B. Helping patients return to optimal function through holistic care
C. Managing emergency trauma cases
D. Administering end-of-life care only
Correct Answer: B. Helping patients return to optimal function through holistic
care
Rationale: Rehabilitation nursing focuses on restoring maximum functional ability
and independence through holistic, evidence-based care rather than acute or
emergency treatment.
Question 7
Which example best represents activities of daily living (ADLs)?
A. Paying utility bills
B. Shopping for groceries
C. Bathing and dressing
D. Managing finances
Correct Answer: C. Bathing and dressing
Rationale: ADLs include basic self-care tasks such as bathing, dressing, eating,
toileting, and mobility. Instrumental activities like shopping or bill payment require
higher cognitive functioning.
Question 8
Which task is considered an instrumental activity of daily living (IADL)?
A. Eating meals
B. Bathing
C. Walking
D. Paying bills
Correct Answer: D. Paying bills
, 2026/2027
Rationale: IADLs involve complex tasks necessary for independent living such as
managing finances, cooking, and transportation, unlike basic ADLs which involve
self-care.
Question 9
A nurse navigator primarily assists patients with:
A. Administering medications
B. Surgical procedures
C. Transitions between levels of care
D. Diagnosing diseases
Correct Answer: C. Transitions between levels of care
Rationale: Nurse navigators help patients move smoothly through different healthcare
settings such as hospital to rehabilitation or home care, ensuring continuity and
coordination of care.
Question 10
Which role best describes a case manager?
A. Performs surgical procedures
B. Ensures cost-effective and coordinated care
C. Provides emergency interventions
D. Diagnoses medical conditions
Correct Answer: B. Ensures cost-effective and coordinated care
Rationale: Case managers coordinate care plans, communicate with insurance
providers, and ensure care is both effective and cost-efficient.
Question 11
When should discharge planning begin?
A. On discharge day
B. After surgery
C. Upon admission
D. After diagnosis confirmation
Correct Answer: C. Upon admission
APEA 3P Actual Exam 2026/2027
Comprehensive Study Guide,
Practice Questions, Exam Prep
Review, and Test Bank Preparation
Manual
Question 1
A nursing instructor is reviewing the concept of medical-surgical nursing with
students. Which statement best describes this specialty area?
A. Care limited to critically ill patients in ICU settings only
B. Care provided exclusively in hospital inpatient wards
C. Care across the lifespan in multiple healthcare settings
D. Care focused only on postoperative surgical patients
Correct Answer: C. Care across the lifespan in multiple healthcare settings
Rationale: Medical-surgical nursing is a broad specialty that provides care to patients
from adolescence through end of life across various healthcare settings including
hospitals, outpatient clinics, home health, and long-term care facilities. It is not
limited to ICU or postoperative patients only, making option C the most accurate and
comprehensive description.
Question 2
A patient is discharged after hospitalization for pneumonia. Which situation best
describes “rehospitalization”?
A. Admission for planned surgery after 6 months
B. Admission within 30 days of discharge
C. Transfer to rehabilitation facility
D. Admission to outpatient clinic for follow-up
Correct Answer: B. Admission within 30 days of discharge
Rationale: Rehospitalization refers specifically to a patient being readmitted to the
hospital within 30 days of a prior discharge. Planned surgeries or rehabilitation
transfers are not considered rehospitalization.
,2026/2027
Question 3
Which statement best describes transitional care?
A. Emergency treatment provided in ICU settings
B. Care delivered only during discharge teaching
C. Coordinated services during movement between care settings
D. Long-term inpatient rehabilitation care
Correct Answer: C. Coordinated services during movement between care
settings
Rationale: Transitional care ensures continuity of care as patients move between
healthcare settings, such as from hospital to home or rehabilitation facilities. It
involves coordination of services to prevent gaps in care.
Question 4
A home health nurse uses the OASIS assessment tool. Which domain is primarily
evaluated?
A. Pain level
B. Functional status
C. Medication adherence
D. Mental health only
Correct Answer: B. Functional status
Rationale: The Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) primarily
evaluates a patient’s functional status, including ability to perform daily activities and
self-care, which is essential for Medicare eligibility assessment.
Question 5
Which statement best describes critical care nursing?
A. Care provided only in emergency departments
B. Care for stable patients recovering at home
C. Care for critically ill patients across multiple settings
D. Care limited to postoperative surgical recovery units
Correct Answer: C. Care for critically ill patients across multiple settings
Rationale: Critical care nursing involves care for critically ill patients in intensive care
units and increasingly in virtual and community-based settings. It is not limited to
emergency departments or postoperative care alone.
,2026/2027
Question 6
Which definition best describes rehabilitation nursing?
A. Providing acute surgical interventions
B. Helping patients return to optimal function through holistic care
C. Managing emergency trauma cases
D. Administering end-of-life care only
Correct Answer: B. Helping patients return to optimal function through holistic
care
Rationale: Rehabilitation nursing focuses on restoring maximum functional ability
and independence through holistic, evidence-based care rather than acute or
emergency treatment.
Question 7
Which example best represents activities of daily living (ADLs)?
A. Paying utility bills
B. Shopping for groceries
C. Bathing and dressing
D. Managing finances
Correct Answer: C. Bathing and dressing
Rationale: ADLs include basic self-care tasks such as bathing, dressing, eating,
toileting, and mobility. Instrumental activities like shopping or bill payment require
higher cognitive functioning.
Question 8
Which task is considered an instrumental activity of daily living (IADL)?
A. Eating meals
B. Bathing
C. Walking
D. Paying bills
Correct Answer: D. Paying bills
, 2026/2027
Rationale: IADLs involve complex tasks necessary for independent living such as
managing finances, cooking, and transportation, unlike basic ADLs which involve
self-care.
Question 9
A nurse navigator primarily assists patients with:
A. Administering medications
B. Surgical procedures
C. Transitions between levels of care
D. Diagnosing diseases
Correct Answer: C. Transitions between levels of care
Rationale: Nurse navigators help patients move smoothly through different healthcare
settings such as hospital to rehabilitation or home care, ensuring continuity and
coordination of care.
Question 10
Which role best describes a case manager?
A. Performs surgical procedures
B. Ensures cost-effective and coordinated care
C. Provides emergency interventions
D. Diagnoses medical conditions
Correct Answer: B. Ensures cost-effective and coordinated care
Rationale: Case managers coordinate care plans, communicate with insurance
providers, and ensure care is both effective and cost-efficient.
Question 11
When should discharge planning begin?
A. On discharge day
B. After surgery
C. Upon admission
D. After diagnosis confirmation
Correct Answer: C. Upon admission
