APEA Pre-Predictor 2026/2027 (Actual Exam) –
Questions with Correct Answers & Rationales |
Complete NP Board Exam Study Guide ||Complete
A+ Guide
, 1. Which of these instructions should a nurse include in the teaching plan for a
client who had removal of a cataract in the left eye?
a. “Forcefully cough and take deep breaths every two hours to keep your airway
clear.”
b. “Perform the prescribed eye exercises each day to strengthen your eye
muscles.”
c. “Rinse your eyes with saline each morning to prevent postoperative infection.”
d. “Take the prescribed stool softener to avoid increasing intraocular pressure.”
Correct Answer: d. “Take the prescribed stool softener to avoid increasing
intraocular pressure.”
Rationale: Straining during a bowel movement via the Valsalva maneuver
significantly increases intraocular pressure (IOP), which can compromise the
surgical incision and intraocular structures after cataract surgery. Preventing
constipation is a critical postoperative instruction. The other actions are not
standard; coughing forcefully can increase IOP, eye exercises are not prescribed,
and rinsing could introduce infection.
2. Which of these measures should a nurse include when planning care for a
school-aged child during a sickle cell crisis episode?
a. Monitoring for signs of bleeding.
b. Providing pain relief.
c. Administering cool sponge baths to reduce fevers.
d. Offering a high-calorie diet.
Correct Answer: b. Providing pain relief.
Rationale: The defining feature of a vaso-occlusive crisis (the most common type
of sickle cell crisis) is severe pain caused by ischemic injury from blocked
microcirculation. Therefore, aggressive analgesia is the cornerstone of
management. While monitoring for other complications (e.g., bleeding in a crisis is
Questions with Correct Answers & Rationales |
Complete NP Board Exam Study Guide ||Complete
A+ Guide
, 1. Which of these instructions should a nurse include in the teaching plan for a
client who had removal of a cataract in the left eye?
a. “Forcefully cough and take deep breaths every two hours to keep your airway
clear.”
b. “Perform the prescribed eye exercises each day to strengthen your eye
muscles.”
c. “Rinse your eyes with saline each morning to prevent postoperative infection.”
d. “Take the prescribed stool softener to avoid increasing intraocular pressure.”
Correct Answer: d. “Take the prescribed stool softener to avoid increasing
intraocular pressure.”
Rationale: Straining during a bowel movement via the Valsalva maneuver
significantly increases intraocular pressure (IOP), which can compromise the
surgical incision and intraocular structures after cataract surgery. Preventing
constipation is a critical postoperative instruction. The other actions are not
standard; coughing forcefully can increase IOP, eye exercises are not prescribed,
and rinsing could introduce infection.
2. Which of these measures should a nurse include when planning care for a
school-aged child during a sickle cell crisis episode?
a. Monitoring for signs of bleeding.
b. Providing pain relief.
c. Administering cool sponge baths to reduce fevers.
d. Offering a high-calorie diet.
Correct Answer: b. Providing pain relief.
Rationale: The defining feature of a vaso-occlusive crisis (the most common type
of sickle cell crisis) is severe pain caused by ischemic injury from blocked
microcirculation. Therefore, aggressive analgesia is the cornerstone of
management. While monitoring for other complications (e.g., bleeding in a crisis is
