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APEA 3P Predictor Exam
Practice Questions and
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NP 3P Review
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During inspection of the neck, a patient's trachea is Tracheal deviation may indicate a serious thoracic condition such as tension
deviated to the left. What is the most concerning pneumothorax, pleural effusion, or large atelectasis. Deviation away from the
interpretation? affected side commonly occurs with tension pneumothorax or large pleural
effusion.
What is the normal adult respiratory rate during The normal adult respiratory rate is 12-20 breaths per minute. Rates outside this
physical assessment? range may indicate respiratory distress, metabolic imbalance, anxiety, or
neurologic impairment.
A patient has bilateral +2 pitting edema in the lower Bilateral pitting edema often suggests systemic causes such as congestive
extremities. What does this finding suggest? heart failure, renal disease, liver disease, or venous insufficiency rather than
localized injury.
Define "clubbing" of the fingers. Clubbing is bulbous enlargement of the distal fingers associated with chronic
hypoxia, lung disease, congenital heart disease, or inflammatory bowel
disease.
The bell of the stethoscope is best used to hear ______ Low-frequency sounds. The bell is ideal for murmurs such as mitral stenosis
frequency sounds. and extra heart sounds like S3 and S4.
What is the significance of an S3 heart sound in an An S3 in older adults may indicate heart failure or volume overload. It is
adult over age 40? produced during rapid ventricular filling.
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A nurse practitioner palpates a thyroid gland that Yes. The thyroid gland normally elevates during swallowing because it is
moves upward when the patient swallows. Is this attached to the trachea and laryngeal structures.
expected?
Which cranial nerve is assessed when testing shoulder Cranial nerve XI (spinal accessory nerve). Weakness may indicate nerve injury
shrug strength? or neurologic disease.
A patient cannot distinguish sharp from dull sensations The spinothalamic tract may be impaired because it transmits pain and
on the feet. Which neurologic pathway may be temperature sensations.
impaired?
What is the normal finding when assessing capillary Capillary refill should be less than 2 seconds. Delayed refill may indicate poor
refill? perfusion, dehydration, or shock.
A patient's pupils constrict when exposed to light. Cranial nerves II (optic) and III (oculomotor) are involved in the pupillary light
What cranial nerves are involved? reflex.
Define orthopnea. Orthopnea is shortness of breath that occurs when lying flat and improves
when sitting upright, commonly associated with heart failure.
Vesicular breath sounds are normally heard over the False. Vesicular sounds are heard over peripheral lung fields. Bronchial sounds
trachea. Explain. are normally heard over the trachea.
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What is tactile fremitus? Tactile fremitus refers to palpable vibrations transmitted through the
bronchopulmonary system when a patient speaks. Increased fremitus may
indicate consolidation.
A patient has absent bowel sounds after abdominal Postoperative ileus commonly causes temporary absence of bowel sounds
surgery. What is the likely explanation? due to decreased intestinal motility.
What abdominal assessment sequence is correct? Inspection, auscultation, percussion, and palpation. Palpation before
auscultation may alter bowel sounds.
The liver is primarily located in the ______ upper Right upper quadrant (RUQ).
quadrant.
A patient demonstrates positive Murphy sign. What Acute cholecystitis. Pain occurs when the inflamed gallbladder contacts the
condition is suspected? examiner's hand during inspiration.
What does a positive Romberg test indicate? Loss of balance with eyes closed suggests proprioceptive dysfunction or
vestibular abnormalities.
What is the purpose of percussion during lung Percussion evaluates underlying tissue density. Resonance is normal; dullness
assessment? may indicate consolidation or fluid.
Which pulse is commonly used during The carotid pulse because it reflects central circulation.
cardiopulmonary resuscitation in adults?
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APEA 3P Predictor Exam
Practice Questions and
Answers | Comprehensive
NP 3P Review
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During inspection of the neck, a patient's trachea is Tracheal deviation may indicate a serious thoracic condition such as tension
deviated to the left. What is the most concerning pneumothorax, pleural effusion, or large atelectasis. Deviation away from the
interpretation? affected side commonly occurs with tension pneumothorax or large pleural
effusion.
What is the normal adult respiratory rate during The normal adult respiratory rate is 12-20 breaths per minute. Rates outside this
physical assessment? range may indicate respiratory distress, metabolic imbalance, anxiety, or
neurologic impairment.
A patient has bilateral +2 pitting edema in the lower Bilateral pitting edema often suggests systemic causes such as congestive
extremities. What does this finding suggest? heart failure, renal disease, liver disease, or venous insufficiency rather than
localized injury.
Define "clubbing" of the fingers. Clubbing is bulbous enlargement of the distal fingers associated with chronic
hypoxia, lung disease, congenital heart disease, or inflammatory bowel
disease.
The bell of the stethoscope is best used to hear ______ Low-frequency sounds. The bell is ideal for murmurs such as mitral stenosis
frequency sounds. and extra heart sounds like S3 and S4.
What is the significance of an S3 heart sound in an An S3 in older adults may indicate heart failure or volume overload. It is
adult over age 40? produced during rapid ventricular filling.
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A nurse practitioner palpates a thyroid gland that Yes. The thyroid gland normally elevates during swallowing because it is
moves upward when the patient swallows. Is this attached to the trachea and laryngeal structures.
expected?
Which cranial nerve is assessed when testing shoulder Cranial nerve XI (spinal accessory nerve). Weakness may indicate nerve injury
shrug strength? or neurologic disease.
A patient cannot distinguish sharp from dull sensations The spinothalamic tract may be impaired because it transmits pain and
on the feet. Which neurologic pathway may be temperature sensations.
impaired?
What is the normal finding when assessing capillary Capillary refill should be less than 2 seconds. Delayed refill may indicate poor
refill? perfusion, dehydration, or shock.
A patient's pupils constrict when exposed to light. Cranial nerves II (optic) and III (oculomotor) are involved in the pupillary light
What cranial nerves are involved? reflex.
Define orthopnea. Orthopnea is shortness of breath that occurs when lying flat and improves
when sitting upright, commonly associated with heart failure.
Vesicular breath sounds are normally heard over the False. Vesicular sounds are heard over peripheral lung fields. Bronchial sounds
trachea. Explain. are normally heard over the trachea.
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What is tactile fremitus? Tactile fremitus refers to palpable vibrations transmitted through the
bronchopulmonary system when a patient speaks. Increased fremitus may
indicate consolidation.
A patient has absent bowel sounds after abdominal Postoperative ileus commonly causes temporary absence of bowel sounds
surgery. What is the likely explanation? due to decreased intestinal motility.
What abdominal assessment sequence is correct? Inspection, auscultation, percussion, and palpation. Palpation before
auscultation may alter bowel sounds.
The liver is primarily located in the ______ upper Right upper quadrant (RUQ).
quadrant.
A patient demonstrates positive Murphy sign. What Acute cholecystitis. Pain occurs when the inflamed gallbladder contacts the
condition is suspected? examiner's hand during inspiration.
What does a positive Romberg test indicate? Loss of balance with eyes closed suggests proprioceptive dysfunction or
vestibular abnormalities.
What is the purpose of percussion during lung Percussion evaluates underlying tissue density. Resonance is normal; dullness
assessment? may indicate consolidation or fluid.
Which pulse is commonly used during The carotid pulse because it reflects central circulation.
cardiopulmonary resuscitation in adults?
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