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NURS APEA PREDICTOR EXAM WITH
STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
2025/26 UPATE A+
Question 1
An ischemic stroke is:
A. a transient episode of neurologic dysfunction by focal brain, spinal
cord, or retinal ischemia, without acute infarction. Incorrect
B. an infarction of the central nervous system tissue that may
be silent or symptomatic.
C. the abrupt onset of motor or sensory deficits.
D. focal or asymmetric weaknesses caused by central and peripheral nerve
damage. Explanation:
Ischemic stroke is “an infarction of central nervous system tissue” that may be
symptomatic or silent. TIA is now defined as “a transient episode of neurological
dysfunction caused by focal brain, spinal cord, or retinal ischemia, without acute
infarction.” The other terms are not related to the new definitions.
Question 2
During this type of seizure activity, the patient experiences partial seizures that
resemble tonic-clonic seizures. The patient may recall the aura and a unilateral
neurologic deficit is present during the postictal period. This type of seizure
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activity is referred to as a:
A. focal seizure with impairment of consciousness.
B. Jacksonian seizure.
C. focal seizure that becomes generalized.
D. grand mal seizure.
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Explanation:
Focal seizures that become generalized are partial seizures that resemble tonic-
clonic seizures. The patient may recall the aura and a unilateral neurologic deficit
is present during the postictal period. Focal seizures with impairment of
consciousness the person appears confused. Automatisms include automatic
motor behaviors such as chewing, smacking the lips, walking about, and
unbuttoning clothes. Tonic and then clonic movements that start unilaterally in
the hand, foot, or face and spread to other body parts on the same side with the
patient remaining conscious are known as Jacksonian seizures. During a grand
mal seizure the person loses consciousness suddenly, sometimes with a cry, and
the body stiffens into tonic extensor rigidity. Breathing stops, and the person
becomes cyanotic. A clonic phase of rhythmic muscular contraction follows.
Question 4
When assessing abdominal cutaneous reflexes, the nurse practitioner strokes
the lower abdomen, the localized twitch is absent. This finding could be
suggestive of a pathologic lesion in which segmented level of the spine?
A. Thoracic 8, 9, and 10
B. Thoracic 10, 11, and 12
C. Lumbar 5 and Sacral 1
D. Sacral 2, 3, and 4
Explanation:
Superficial (cutaneous) reflexes and their corresponding spinal segments include
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the following: Abdominal reflexes: upper thoracic 8, 9, 10 and lower thoracic 10,
11, 12;
Plantar: lumbar 5 and sacral 1; and Anal: sacral 2, 3, 4.
Question 5
An example of symmetric weakness is:
NURS APEA PREDICTOR EXAM WITH
STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
2025/26 UPATE A+
Question 1
An ischemic stroke is:
A. a transient episode of neurologic dysfunction by focal brain, spinal
cord, or retinal ischemia, without acute infarction. Incorrect
B. an infarction of the central nervous system tissue that may
be silent or symptomatic.
C. the abrupt onset of motor or sensory deficits.
D. focal or asymmetric weaknesses caused by central and peripheral nerve
damage. Explanation:
Ischemic stroke is “an infarction of central nervous system tissue” that may be
symptomatic or silent. TIA is now defined as “a transient episode of neurological
dysfunction caused by focal brain, spinal cord, or retinal ischemia, without acute
infarction.” The other terms are not related to the new definitions.
Question 2
During this type of seizure activity, the patient experiences partial seizures that
resemble tonic-clonic seizures. The patient may recall the aura and a unilateral
neurologic deficit is present during the postictal period. This type of seizure
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activity is referred to as a:
A. focal seizure with impairment of consciousness.
B. Jacksonian seizure.
C. focal seizure that becomes generalized.
D. grand mal seizure.
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Explanation:
Focal seizures that become generalized are partial seizures that resemble tonic-
clonic seizures. The patient may recall the aura and a unilateral neurologic deficit
is present during the postictal period. Focal seizures with impairment of
consciousness the person appears confused. Automatisms include automatic
motor behaviors such as chewing, smacking the lips, walking about, and
unbuttoning clothes. Tonic and then clonic movements that start unilaterally in
the hand, foot, or face and spread to other body parts on the same side with the
patient remaining conscious are known as Jacksonian seizures. During a grand
mal seizure the person loses consciousness suddenly, sometimes with a cry, and
the body stiffens into tonic extensor rigidity. Breathing stops, and the person
becomes cyanotic. A clonic phase of rhythmic muscular contraction follows.
Question 4
When assessing abdominal cutaneous reflexes, the nurse practitioner strokes
the lower abdomen, the localized twitch is absent. This finding could be
suggestive of a pathologic lesion in which segmented level of the spine?
A. Thoracic 8, 9, and 10
B. Thoracic 10, 11, and 12
C. Lumbar 5 and Sacral 1
D. Sacral 2, 3, and 4
Explanation:
Superficial (cutaneous) reflexes and their corresponding spinal segments include
, 4|Page
the following: Abdominal reflexes: upper thoracic 8, 9, 10 and lower thoracic 10,
11, 12;
Plantar: lumbar 5 and sacral 1; and Anal: sacral 2, 3, 4.
Question 5
An example of symmetric weakness is:
