APEA 3P EXAM /ACTUAL APEA 3P EXAM 2026/2027 POST
UNIVERSITY MSN –FNP PROGRAM EXAM AND PRACTICE
QUESTIONS ACCURATE TEST APPROVED QUESTIONS
WITH WELL ELABORATED SOLUTIONS (100% CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS) CURRENTLY UPDATED VERSION 2026
EDITION |ALREADY GRADED A+ (BRAND NEW!) FULL
REVISED APEA 3P REAL EXAM
1. Which patient could be expected to have the highest systolic blood pressure?
A. A 21-year-old male
B. A 50-year-old perimenopausal female
C. A 35-year-old patient with Type 2 diabetes
D. A 75-year-old male
CORRECT ANSWER: D
Rationale: The greatest incidence of hypertension is in older adults due to age-
related changes in the intima of vessels and calcium deposition. Males of any age
are more likely to be hypertensive than females of the same age. The prevalence of
hypertension increases significantly with age, making an older adult the most
likely to have the highest systolic blood pressure among the options provided .
2. Mrs. Brandy is having contrast dye next week for a heart catheterization. What
drug does NOT need to be stopped prior to her catheterization?
A. Naproxen
B. Furosemide
C. Metformin
D. Losartan
,CORRECT ANSWER: D
Rationale: Naproxen and furosemide should be stopped for 24 hours prior to the
catheterization. Metformin should be stopped 48 hours prior to the catheterization
due to the risk of lactic acidosis when combined with contrast dye in an impaired
kidney. Furosemide is stopped because it contributes to volume depletion. NSAIDs
like naproxen are withheld because of the impact on renal prostaglandin
production. Losartan, an ARB, does not typically need to be stopped prior to
contrast administration .
3. In older adults, the three most common ailments are:
A. Hearing loss, vision loss, hypertension
B. Hearing loss, hypertension, arthritis
C. Depression, vision loss, hypertension
D. Arthritis, hearing loss, depression
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Hypertension and arthritis are the two most common ailments in older
adults. Hearing loss, known as presbycusis, occurs in half to nearly two-thirds of
older adults. While vision loss and depression are prevalent, the combination of
hypertension, arthritis, and hearing loss represents the most common triad of
ailments in this population .
4. An older adult who has hypertension and angina takes multiple medications.
Which one of the following decreases the likelihood of his having angina?
A. ACE inhibitor
B. Beta blocker
C. Diuretic
D. Angiotensin receptor blocker
,CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Beta blockers slow the heart rate, depress myocardial contractility, and
decrease sympathetic stimulation. These actions decrease myocardial oxygen
demand and improve angina symptoms. Beta blockers are an excellent drug class
to prevent symptoms of angina in patients with underlying coronary artery disease.
Calcium channel blockers are another class of medications that could be used to
improve symptoms of angina .
5. Orthostatic hypotension can be diagnosed in an older adult if the systolic blood
pressure decreases:
A. More than 20 points anytime after rising
B. More than 20 points within 3 minutes after rising
C. More than 20 points within 1 minute after rising
D. Any degree drop if the patient becomes weak or dizzy
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Orthostatic hypotension, also called postural hypotension, is diagnosed
in older adults when the systolic blood pressure drops 20 mm Hg or more within 3
minutes of moving to a more upright position. Additionally, if the systolic blood
pressure does not meet these criteria but the diastolic drops by 10 mm Hg or more
with a position change, orthostatic hypotension can be diagnosed. Patients become
symptomatic and often report lightheadedness, weakness, dizziness, blurred vision,
or decreased hearing .
6. Which hypertensive patient is most likely to have adverse blood pressure effects
from excessive sodium consumption?
A. 21-year-old Asian American male
B. 35-year-old menstruating female
C. 55-year-old postmenopausal female
, D. 70-year-old African American male
CORRECT ANSWER: D
Rationale: African Americans, particularly older adults, demonstrate a greater
sensitivity to dietary sodium and are more likely to have salt-sensitive
hypertension. This population shows a higher prevalence of hypertension and
greater cardiovascular risk associated with excessive sodium intake compared to
other demographic groups .
7. A 68-year-old man reports exertional chest pressure relieved by rest. ECG
shows ST-segment depression during treadmill testing. What is the most likely
diagnosis?
A. Unstable angina
B. Prinzmetal angina
C. Chronic stable angina
D. NSTEMI
CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale: Chronic stable angina is provoked by exertion and relieved by rest, with
ST-segment depression on stress testing being a classic finding. Unstable angina
occurs at rest or with minimal exertion and is a medical emergency. Prinzmetal
angina is caused by coronary artery spasm and is not typically exertion-related .
8. An obese 55-year-old female with hypertension and fatigue has a murmur: mid-
systolic click followed by late systolic murmur at apex. What is the best initial
diagnostic test?
A. ECG
B. Chest X-ray
C. Echocardiogram
UNIVERSITY MSN –FNP PROGRAM EXAM AND PRACTICE
QUESTIONS ACCURATE TEST APPROVED QUESTIONS
WITH WELL ELABORATED SOLUTIONS (100% CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS) CURRENTLY UPDATED VERSION 2026
EDITION |ALREADY GRADED A+ (BRAND NEW!) FULL
REVISED APEA 3P REAL EXAM
1. Which patient could be expected to have the highest systolic blood pressure?
A. A 21-year-old male
B. A 50-year-old perimenopausal female
C. A 35-year-old patient with Type 2 diabetes
D. A 75-year-old male
CORRECT ANSWER: D
Rationale: The greatest incidence of hypertension is in older adults due to age-
related changes in the intima of vessels and calcium deposition. Males of any age
are more likely to be hypertensive than females of the same age. The prevalence of
hypertension increases significantly with age, making an older adult the most
likely to have the highest systolic blood pressure among the options provided .
2. Mrs. Brandy is having contrast dye next week for a heart catheterization. What
drug does NOT need to be stopped prior to her catheterization?
A. Naproxen
B. Furosemide
C. Metformin
D. Losartan
,CORRECT ANSWER: D
Rationale: Naproxen and furosemide should be stopped for 24 hours prior to the
catheterization. Metformin should be stopped 48 hours prior to the catheterization
due to the risk of lactic acidosis when combined with contrast dye in an impaired
kidney. Furosemide is stopped because it contributes to volume depletion. NSAIDs
like naproxen are withheld because of the impact on renal prostaglandin
production. Losartan, an ARB, does not typically need to be stopped prior to
contrast administration .
3. In older adults, the three most common ailments are:
A. Hearing loss, vision loss, hypertension
B. Hearing loss, hypertension, arthritis
C. Depression, vision loss, hypertension
D. Arthritis, hearing loss, depression
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Hypertension and arthritis are the two most common ailments in older
adults. Hearing loss, known as presbycusis, occurs in half to nearly two-thirds of
older adults. While vision loss and depression are prevalent, the combination of
hypertension, arthritis, and hearing loss represents the most common triad of
ailments in this population .
4. An older adult who has hypertension and angina takes multiple medications.
Which one of the following decreases the likelihood of his having angina?
A. ACE inhibitor
B. Beta blocker
C. Diuretic
D. Angiotensin receptor blocker
,CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Beta blockers slow the heart rate, depress myocardial contractility, and
decrease sympathetic stimulation. These actions decrease myocardial oxygen
demand and improve angina symptoms. Beta blockers are an excellent drug class
to prevent symptoms of angina in patients with underlying coronary artery disease.
Calcium channel blockers are another class of medications that could be used to
improve symptoms of angina .
5. Orthostatic hypotension can be diagnosed in an older adult if the systolic blood
pressure decreases:
A. More than 20 points anytime after rising
B. More than 20 points within 3 minutes after rising
C. More than 20 points within 1 minute after rising
D. Any degree drop if the patient becomes weak or dizzy
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Orthostatic hypotension, also called postural hypotension, is diagnosed
in older adults when the systolic blood pressure drops 20 mm Hg or more within 3
minutes of moving to a more upright position. Additionally, if the systolic blood
pressure does not meet these criteria but the diastolic drops by 10 mm Hg or more
with a position change, orthostatic hypotension can be diagnosed. Patients become
symptomatic and often report lightheadedness, weakness, dizziness, blurred vision,
or decreased hearing .
6. Which hypertensive patient is most likely to have adverse blood pressure effects
from excessive sodium consumption?
A. 21-year-old Asian American male
B. 35-year-old menstruating female
C. 55-year-old postmenopausal female
, D. 70-year-old African American male
CORRECT ANSWER: D
Rationale: African Americans, particularly older adults, demonstrate a greater
sensitivity to dietary sodium and are more likely to have salt-sensitive
hypertension. This population shows a higher prevalence of hypertension and
greater cardiovascular risk associated with excessive sodium intake compared to
other demographic groups .
7. A 68-year-old man reports exertional chest pressure relieved by rest. ECG
shows ST-segment depression during treadmill testing. What is the most likely
diagnosis?
A. Unstable angina
B. Prinzmetal angina
C. Chronic stable angina
D. NSTEMI
CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale: Chronic stable angina is provoked by exertion and relieved by rest, with
ST-segment depression on stress testing being a classic finding. Unstable angina
occurs at rest or with minimal exertion and is a medical emergency. Prinzmetal
angina is caused by coronary artery spasm and is not typically exertion-related .
8. An obese 55-year-old female with hypertension and fatigue has a murmur: mid-
systolic click followed by late systolic murmur at apex. What is the best initial
diagnostic test?
A. ECG
B. Chest X-ray
C. Echocardiogram
