1|Page
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)
PHARM 1 — What are the major first-line medication classes for
uncomplicated hypertension? ......ANSWER......Thiazide-type diuretics,
ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and long-acting dihydropyridine calcium channel
blockers.
PHARM 2 — What adverse effect is classically associated with ACE
inhibitors? ......ANSWER......Dry persistent cough caused by increased
bradykinin.
PHARM 3 — What serious adverse effects should be monitored with
ACE inhibitors? ......ANSWER......Hyperkalemia, increased
creatinine/renal dysfunction, and angioedema.
PHARM 4 — Which antihypertensive medications should generally be
avoided during pregnancy? ......ANSWER......ACE inhibitors and ARBs
because they can cause fetal renal injury.
PHARM 5 — What electrolyte abnormality commonly occurs with
thiazide diuretics? ......ANSWER......Hypokalemia; also monitor for
hyponatremia, hyperuricemia, and dehydration.
,2|Page
PHARM 6 — What major adverse effects are associated with loop
diuretics such as furosemide? ......ANSWER......Hypokalemia,
dehydration, hypotension, and ototoxicity.
PHARM 7 — What adverse effects are associated with spironolactone?
......ANSWER......Hyperkalemia and gynecomastia; monitor potassium
and renal function.
PHARM 8 — Which beta blockers are concerning in patients with
asthma? ......ANSWER......Nonselective beta blockers such as
propranolol because beta-2 blockade can cause bronchoconstriction.
PHARM 9 — What is an important adverse effect of verapamil and
diltiazem? ......ANSWER......Bradycardia and AV block; verapamil also
commonly causes constipation.
PHARM 10 — What should be monitored in a patient taking a statin?
......ANSWER......Muscle symptoms and clinically indicated liver
enzymes; severe muscle pain or weakness raises concern for
myopathy/rhabdomyolysis.
PHARM 11 — What is the first-line treatment for type 1 diabetes?
......ANSWER......Insulin because type 1 diabetes causes absolute insulin
deficiency.
,3|Page
PHARM 12 — What is a commonly used first-line medication for type 2
diabetes when appropriate? ......ANSWER......Metformin; treatment
should also be individualized according to cardiovascular, kidney,
weight, and other patient factors.
PHARM 13 — When is metformin contraindicated because of renal
function? ......ANSWER......eGFR below 30 mL/min/1.73 m².
PHARM 14 — What vitamin deficiency can occur with long-term
metformin use? ......ANSWER......Vitamin B12 deficiency.
PHARM 15 — Which diabetes medications have the greatest risk of
hypoglycemia? ......ANSWER......Insulin and sulfonylureas such as
glipizide.
PHARM 16 — Which diabetes drug classes can promote weight loss?
......ANSWER......GLP-1-based therapies and SGLT2 inhibitors.
PHARM 17 — What important adverse effects occur with SGLT2
inhibitors? ......ANSWER......Genital mycotic infections, volume
depletion, and possible euglycemic DKA.
PHARM 18 — What important adverse effects are associated with GLP-1
receptor agonists? ......ANSWER......Nausea, vomiting, slowed gastric
emptying, and gallbladder disease; pancreatitis is an important clinical
warning.
, 4|Page
PHARM 19 — What is the basic emergency treatment of diabetic
ketoacidosis? ......ANSWER......IV fluids, IV insulin, careful potassium
monitoring/replacement, and treatment of the precipitating cause.
PHARM 20 — What does albuterol do? ......ANSWER......It is a short-
acting beta-2 agonist that rapidly produces bronchodilation.
PHARM 21 — What medication type is central to long-term control of
persistent asthma? ......ANSWER......Inhaled corticosteroid-containing
therapy; adults and adolescents should receive ICS-containing
treatment rather than SABA-only therapy.
PHARM 22 — What teaching should be given for inhaled
corticosteroids? ......ANSWER......Rinse the mouth after use to reduce
oral candidiasis and dysphonia.
PHARM 23 — What medications are commonly used for COPD
maintenance therapy? ......ANSWER......Long-acting bronchodilators,
particularly LAMA and/or LABA therapy depending on symptoms and
exacerbation risk.
PHARM 24 — What is the first-line drug for anaphylaxis?
......ANSWER......IM epinephrine in the mid-anterolateral thigh.
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)
PHARM 1 — What are the major first-line medication classes for
uncomplicated hypertension? ......ANSWER......Thiazide-type diuretics,
ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and long-acting dihydropyridine calcium channel
blockers.
PHARM 2 — What adverse effect is classically associated with ACE
inhibitors? ......ANSWER......Dry persistent cough caused by increased
bradykinin.
PHARM 3 — What serious adverse effects should be monitored with
ACE inhibitors? ......ANSWER......Hyperkalemia, increased
creatinine/renal dysfunction, and angioedema.
PHARM 4 — Which antihypertensive medications should generally be
avoided during pregnancy? ......ANSWER......ACE inhibitors and ARBs
because they can cause fetal renal injury.
PHARM 5 — What electrolyte abnormality commonly occurs with
thiazide diuretics? ......ANSWER......Hypokalemia; also monitor for
hyponatremia, hyperuricemia, and dehydration.
,2|Page
PHARM 6 — What major adverse effects are associated with loop
diuretics such as furosemide? ......ANSWER......Hypokalemia,
dehydration, hypotension, and ototoxicity.
PHARM 7 — What adverse effects are associated with spironolactone?
......ANSWER......Hyperkalemia and gynecomastia; monitor potassium
and renal function.
PHARM 8 — Which beta blockers are concerning in patients with
asthma? ......ANSWER......Nonselective beta blockers such as
propranolol because beta-2 blockade can cause bronchoconstriction.
PHARM 9 — What is an important adverse effect of verapamil and
diltiazem? ......ANSWER......Bradycardia and AV block; verapamil also
commonly causes constipation.
PHARM 10 — What should be monitored in a patient taking a statin?
......ANSWER......Muscle symptoms and clinically indicated liver
enzymes; severe muscle pain or weakness raises concern for
myopathy/rhabdomyolysis.
PHARM 11 — What is the first-line treatment for type 1 diabetes?
......ANSWER......Insulin because type 1 diabetes causes absolute insulin
deficiency.
,3|Page
PHARM 12 — What is a commonly used first-line medication for type 2
diabetes when appropriate? ......ANSWER......Metformin; treatment
should also be individualized according to cardiovascular, kidney,
weight, and other patient factors.
PHARM 13 — When is metformin contraindicated because of renal
function? ......ANSWER......eGFR below 30 mL/min/1.73 m².
PHARM 14 — What vitamin deficiency can occur with long-term
metformin use? ......ANSWER......Vitamin B12 deficiency.
PHARM 15 — Which diabetes medications have the greatest risk of
hypoglycemia? ......ANSWER......Insulin and sulfonylureas such as
glipizide.
PHARM 16 — Which diabetes drug classes can promote weight loss?
......ANSWER......GLP-1-based therapies and SGLT2 inhibitors.
PHARM 17 — What important adverse effects occur with SGLT2
inhibitors? ......ANSWER......Genital mycotic infections, volume
depletion, and possible euglycemic DKA.
PHARM 18 — What important adverse effects are associated with GLP-1
receptor agonists? ......ANSWER......Nausea, vomiting, slowed gastric
emptying, and gallbladder disease; pancreatitis is an important clinical
warning.
, 4|Page
PHARM 19 — What is the basic emergency treatment of diabetic
ketoacidosis? ......ANSWER......IV fluids, IV insulin, careful potassium
monitoring/replacement, and treatment of the precipitating cause.
PHARM 20 — What does albuterol do? ......ANSWER......It is a short-
acting beta-2 agonist that rapidly produces bronchodilation.
PHARM 21 — What medication type is central to long-term control of
persistent asthma? ......ANSWER......Inhaled corticosteroid-containing
therapy; adults and adolescents should receive ICS-containing
treatment rather than SABA-only therapy.
PHARM 22 — What teaching should be given for inhaled
corticosteroids? ......ANSWER......Rinse the mouth after use to reduce
oral candidiasis and dysphonia.
PHARM 23 — What medications are commonly used for COPD
maintenance therapy? ......ANSWER......Long-acting bronchodilators,
particularly LAMA and/or LABA therapy depending on symptoms and
exacerbation risk.
PHARM 24 — What is the first-line drug for anaphylaxis?
......ANSWER......IM epinephrine in the mid-anterolateral thigh.
