APEA 3P ACTUAL EXAM 2026 150 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES PERFECT TO
PASS APEA 3P EXAM ALREADY GRADED A+
OVERVIEW
The APEA 3P exam assesses nursing students’ knowledge and clinical
judgment across medical-surgical, pharmacology, and patient care
topics. It covers cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, neurological,
gastrointestinal, renal, and infection-related conditions, emphasizing
prioritization, assessment, interventions, and rationale. The exam tests
the ability to recognize critical signs, interpret lab values, and choose
first-line treatments, focusing on safe, evidence-based patient care in
emergent and routine scenarios.
1. Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated with muscle cramps and
weakness?
A) Hypernatremia
B) Hyperkalemia ✓
C) Hypocalcemia
D) Hypomagnesemia
Rationale: Elevated potassium levels disrupt neuromuscular activity, causing cramps and
weakness.
2. A patient with COPD is receiving oxygen therapy. The priority is to monitor for:
A) Hypoxia
B) Hypercapnia ✓
C) Hypoglycemia
D) Hyperkalemia
Rationale: COPD patients rely on hypoxic drive; excessive O₂ can suppress respiration, leading
to CO₂ retention (hypercapnia).
3. Which medication is first-line for acute asthma exacerbation?
A) Salmeterol
B) Albuterol ✓
,C) Montelukast
D) Prednisone
Rationale: Short-acting beta-agonists like albuterol provide rapid bronchodilation.
4. The most appropriate nursing intervention for a client with Clostridium difficile
infection is:
A) Place on contact precautions ✓
B) Use standard precautions only
C) Encourage ambulation
D) Administer antidiarrheals
Rationale: C. difficile is highly contagious; contact precautions prevent spread.
5. Which lab finding indicates iron-deficiency anemia?
A) Increased MCV
B) Low hemoglobin and hematocrit ✓
C) High ferritin
D) Low TIBC
Rationale: Iron-deficiency anemia presents with microcytic, hypochromic anemia (low
hemoglobin, low hematocrit).
6. A patient on warfarin therapy should avoid:
A) Leafy green vegetables ✓
B) Dairy products
C) Citrus fruits
D) Whole grains
Rationale: Vitamin K-rich foods like spinach can counteract warfarin’s anticoagulant effect.
7. The expected heart sound in a patient with mitral stenosis is:
A) S3
B) S4
C) Opening snap ✓
D) Click
Rationale: Mitral stenosis causes a characteristic diastolic opening snap after S2.
,8. The correct order of donning PPE is:
A) Gloves → Gown → Mask
B) Gown → Mask → Gloves ✓
C) Mask → Gloves → Gown
D) Mask → Gown → Gloves
Rationale: Proper PPE sequence ensures no contamination occurs during donning.
9. A child with Kawasaki disease is at risk for:
A) Renal failure
B) Coronary artery aneurysm ✓
C) Pulmonary embolism
D) Seizures
Rationale: Kawasaki disease causes vasculitis affecting coronary arteries, leading to aneurysms.
10. Which intervention reduces the risk of neonatal hypoglycemia?
A) Delayed breastfeeding
B) Early and frequent feeding ✓
C) Limiting fluid intake
D) Administering glucose orally only when symptomatic
Rationale: Early feeding stabilizes blood glucose in newborns, especially high-risk infants.
11. A client receiving IV potassium requires:
A) Rapid push
B) Continuous ECG monitoring ✓
C) Administration without dilution
D) No monitoring
Rationale: IV potassium can cause arrhythmias; ECG monitoring ensures safety.
12. Which vaccine is live attenuated?
A) Influenza (injection)
B) MMR ✓
, C) Hepatitis B
D) Tdap
Rationale: MMR contains live attenuated viruses; injection flu and Hep B are inactivated.
13. Which electrolyte imbalance causes peaked T waves on ECG?
A) Hypokalemia
B) Hyperkalemia ✓
C) Hypocalcemia
D) Hypernatremia
Rationale: Hyperkalemia affects cardiac conduction, producing peaked T waves.
14. The drug of choice for Type 2 diabetes first-line therapy is:
A) Insulin
B) Metformin ✓
C) Glyburide
D) Sitagliptin
Rationale: Metformin improves insulin sensitivity and is first-line in Type 2 diabetes.
15. Which intervention prevents deep vein thrombosis in immobilized patients?
A) Encourage ambulation ✓
B) Bedrest only
C) Limit hydration
D) Restrict leg movement
Rationale: Early mobilization promotes venous return and reduces DVT risk.
16. A patient with hypothyroidism may exhibit:
A) Tachycardia
B) Bradycardia ✓
C) Hyperthermia
D) Weight loss
Rationale: Hypothyroidism slows metabolism, leading to bradycardia, weight gain, and cold
intolerance.
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES PERFECT TO
PASS APEA 3P EXAM ALREADY GRADED A+
OVERVIEW
The APEA 3P exam assesses nursing students’ knowledge and clinical
judgment across medical-surgical, pharmacology, and patient care
topics. It covers cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, neurological,
gastrointestinal, renal, and infection-related conditions, emphasizing
prioritization, assessment, interventions, and rationale. The exam tests
the ability to recognize critical signs, interpret lab values, and choose
first-line treatments, focusing on safe, evidence-based patient care in
emergent and routine scenarios.
1. Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated with muscle cramps and
weakness?
A) Hypernatremia
B) Hyperkalemia ✓
C) Hypocalcemia
D) Hypomagnesemia
Rationale: Elevated potassium levels disrupt neuromuscular activity, causing cramps and
weakness.
2. A patient with COPD is receiving oxygen therapy. The priority is to monitor for:
A) Hypoxia
B) Hypercapnia ✓
C) Hypoglycemia
D) Hyperkalemia
Rationale: COPD patients rely on hypoxic drive; excessive O₂ can suppress respiration, leading
to CO₂ retention (hypercapnia).
3. Which medication is first-line for acute asthma exacerbation?
A) Salmeterol
B) Albuterol ✓
,C) Montelukast
D) Prednisone
Rationale: Short-acting beta-agonists like albuterol provide rapid bronchodilation.
4. The most appropriate nursing intervention for a client with Clostridium difficile
infection is:
A) Place on contact precautions ✓
B) Use standard precautions only
C) Encourage ambulation
D) Administer antidiarrheals
Rationale: C. difficile is highly contagious; contact precautions prevent spread.
5. Which lab finding indicates iron-deficiency anemia?
A) Increased MCV
B) Low hemoglobin and hematocrit ✓
C) High ferritin
D) Low TIBC
Rationale: Iron-deficiency anemia presents with microcytic, hypochromic anemia (low
hemoglobin, low hematocrit).
6. A patient on warfarin therapy should avoid:
A) Leafy green vegetables ✓
B) Dairy products
C) Citrus fruits
D) Whole grains
Rationale: Vitamin K-rich foods like spinach can counteract warfarin’s anticoagulant effect.
7. The expected heart sound in a patient with mitral stenosis is:
A) S3
B) S4
C) Opening snap ✓
D) Click
Rationale: Mitral stenosis causes a characteristic diastolic opening snap after S2.
,8. The correct order of donning PPE is:
A) Gloves → Gown → Mask
B) Gown → Mask → Gloves ✓
C) Mask → Gloves → Gown
D) Mask → Gown → Gloves
Rationale: Proper PPE sequence ensures no contamination occurs during donning.
9. A child with Kawasaki disease is at risk for:
A) Renal failure
B) Coronary artery aneurysm ✓
C) Pulmonary embolism
D) Seizures
Rationale: Kawasaki disease causes vasculitis affecting coronary arteries, leading to aneurysms.
10. Which intervention reduces the risk of neonatal hypoglycemia?
A) Delayed breastfeeding
B) Early and frequent feeding ✓
C) Limiting fluid intake
D) Administering glucose orally only when symptomatic
Rationale: Early feeding stabilizes blood glucose in newborns, especially high-risk infants.
11. A client receiving IV potassium requires:
A) Rapid push
B) Continuous ECG monitoring ✓
C) Administration without dilution
D) No monitoring
Rationale: IV potassium can cause arrhythmias; ECG monitoring ensures safety.
12. Which vaccine is live attenuated?
A) Influenza (injection)
B) MMR ✓
, C) Hepatitis B
D) Tdap
Rationale: MMR contains live attenuated viruses; injection flu and Hep B are inactivated.
13. Which electrolyte imbalance causes peaked T waves on ECG?
A) Hypokalemia
B) Hyperkalemia ✓
C) Hypocalcemia
D) Hypernatremia
Rationale: Hyperkalemia affects cardiac conduction, producing peaked T waves.
14. The drug of choice for Type 2 diabetes first-line therapy is:
A) Insulin
B) Metformin ✓
C) Glyburide
D) Sitagliptin
Rationale: Metformin improves insulin sensitivity and is first-line in Type 2 diabetes.
15. Which intervention prevents deep vein thrombosis in immobilized patients?
A) Encourage ambulation ✓
B) Bedrest only
C) Limit hydration
D) Restrict leg movement
Rationale: Early mobilization promotes venous return and reduces DVT risk.
16. A patient with hypothyroidism may exhibit:
A) Tachycardia
B) Bradycardia ✓
C) Hyperthermia
D) Weight loss
Rationale: Hypothyroidism slows metabolism, leading to bradycardia, weight gain, and cold
intolerance.
