# Kaplan Nursing School Admission Test
(Version 3) – Practice Exam
## Random Length: 125 Questions
---
## Section 1: Reading Comprehension (Questions 1–20)
**Passage 1 (Questions 1–5):**
The nurse is caring for a client with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who is receiving hemodialysis three
times per week. The client's most recent lab results show: potassium 6.2 mEq/L, phosphorus 7.5
mg/dL, calcium 7.8 mg/dL, and hemoglobin 9.0 g/dL. The client reports muscle weakness and tingling
in the fingers.
**1.** The client's potassium level is:
A) Normal
B) Low (hypokalemia)
C) High (hyperkalemia)
D) Critical low
💡 RATIONALE – Normal potassium = 3.5–5.0 mEq/L; 6.2 is hyperkalemia.
✔️ ANSWER – C) High (hyperkalemia)
---
**2.** Muscle weakness and tingling are most likely due to:
A) Hypocalcemia
,B) Hyperkalemia
C) Anemia
D) Hyperphosphatemia
💡 RATIONALE – Hyperkalemia causes muscle weakness, paresthesias, and cardiac arrhythmias.
✔️ ANSWER – B) Hyperkalemia
---
**3.** The low calcium and high phosphorus levels are characteristic of:
A) Liver disease
B) Kidney disease (secondary hyperparathyroidism)
C) Thyroid disease
D) Pancreatitis
💡 RATIONALE – In ESRD, phosphate accumulates and calcium decreases (due to low vitamin D
activation).
✔️ ANSWER – B) Kidney disease (secondary hyperparathyroidism)
---
**4.** The hemoglobin of 9.0 g/dL indicates:
A) Polycythemia
B) Anemia
C) Dehydration
D) Normal finding
💡 RATIONALE – Normal Hgb = 12–16 g/dL (female) or 14–18 g/dL (male); 9.0 is anemia.
✔️ ANSWER – B) Anemia
,---
**5.** The nurse should prioritize:
A) Administering oral calcium supplements
B) Notifying the provider of hyperkalemia
C) Encouraging high-phosphorus foods
D) Administering iron supplements
💡 RATIONALE – Hyperkalemia (6.2) can cause cardiac arrest; immediate notification required.
✔️ ANSWER – B) Notifying the provider of hyperkalemia
---
**Passage 2 (Questions 6–10):**
A client is admitted with acute pancreatitis. The client reports severe epigastric pain radiating to the
back, nausea, and vomiting. The nurse notes a temperature of 101.2°F, heart rate 110 bpm, and blood
pressure 100/60. The client has a history of gallstones and heavy alcohol use.
**6.** The pain of acute pancreatitis often:
A) Radiates to the left arm
B) Radiates to the back
C) Is relieved by eating
D) Is located in the lower abdomen
💡 RATIONALE – Pancreatitis pain typically radiates to the back.
✔️ ANSWER – B) Radiates to the back
---
, **7.** The most common causes of acute pancreatitis are:
A) Trauma and infection
B) Gallstones and alcohol use
C) Medications and surgery
D) Autoimmune and genetic
💡 RATIONALE – Gallstones and alcohol account for >80% of cases.
✔️ ANSWER – B) Gallstones and alcohol use
---
**8.** Which laboratory finding would the nurse expect?
A) Elevated amylase and lipase
B) Elevated hemoglobin
C) Decreased white blood cell count
D) Normal liver enzymes
💡 RATIONALE – Amylase and lipase are elevated in acute pancreatitis.
✔️ ANSWER – A) Elevated amylase and lipase
---
**9.** The client's vital signs indicate:
A) Stable condition
B) Sepsis or hypovolemia (tachycardia, hypotension)
C) Normal findings
D) Heart failure
(Version 3) – Practice Exam
## Random Length: 125 Questions
---
## Section 1: Reading Comprehension (Questions 1–20)
**Passage 1 (Questions 1–5):**
The nurse is caring for a client with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who is receiving hemodialysis three
times per week. The client's most recent lab results show: potassium 6.2 mEq/L, phosphorus 7.5
mg/dL, calcium 7.8 mg/dL, and hemoglobin 9.0 g/dL. The client reports muscle weakness and tingling
in the fingers.
**1.** The client's potassium level is:
A) Normal
B) Low (hypokalemia)
C) High (hyperkalemia)
D) Critical low
💡 RATIONALE – Normal potassium = 3.5–5.0 mEq/L; 6.2 is hyperkalemia.
✔️ ANSWER – C) High (hyperkalemia)
---
**2.** Muscle weakness and tingling are most likely due to:
A) Hypocalcemia
,B) Hyperkalemia
C) Anemia
D) Hyperphosphatemia
💡 RATIONALE – Hyperkalemia causes muscle weakness, paresthesias, and cardiac arrhythmias.
✔️ ANSWER – B) Hyperkalemia
---
**3.** The low calcium and high phosphorus levels are characteristic of:
A) Liver disease
B) Kidney disease (secondary hyperparathyroidism)
C) Thyroid disease
D) Pancreatitis
💡 RATIONALE – In ESRD, phosphate accumulates and calcium decreases (due to low vitamin D
activation).
✔️ ANSWER – B) Kidney disease (secondary hyperparathyroidism)
---
**4.** The hemoglobin of 9.0 g/dL indicates:
A) Polycythemia
B) Anemia
C) Dehydration
D) Normal finding
💡 RATIONALE – Normal Hgb = 12–16 g/dL (female) or 14–18 g/dL (male); 9.0 is anemia.
✔️ ANSWER – B) Anemia
,---
**5.** The nurse should prioritize:
A) Administering oral calcium supplements
B) Notifying the provider of hyperkalemia
C) Encouraging high-phosphorus foods
D) Administering iron supplements
💡 RATIONALE – Hyperkalemia (6.2) can cause cardiac arrest; immediate notification required.
✔️ ANSWER – B) Notifying the provider of hyperkalemia
---
**Passage 2 (Questions 6–10):**
A client is admitted with acute pancreatitis. The client reports severe epigastric pain radiating to the
back, nausea, and vomiting. The nurse notes a temperature of 101.2°F, heart rate 110 bpm, and blood
pressure 100/60. The client has a history of gallstones and heavy alcohol use.
**6.** The pain of acute pancreatitis often:
A) Radiates to the left arm
B) Radiates to the back
C) Is relieved by eating
D) Is located in the lower abdomen
💡 RATIONALE – Pancreatitis pain typically radiates to the back.
✔️ ANSWER – B) Radiates to the back
---
, **7.** The most common causes of acute pancreatitis are:
A) Trauma and infection
B) Gallstones and alcohol use
C) Medications and surgery
D) Autoimmune and genetic
💡 RATIONALE – Gallstones and alcohol account for >80% of cases.
✔️ ANSWER – B) Gallstones and alcohol use
---
**8.** Which laboratory finding would the nurse expect?
A) Elevated amylase and lipase
B) Elevated hemoglobin
C) Decreased white blood cell count
D) Normal liver enzymes
💡 RATIONALE – Amylase and lipase are elevated in acute pancreatitis.
✔️ ANSWER – A) Elevated amylase and lipase
---
**9.** The client's vital signs indicate:
A) Stable condition
B) Sepsis or hypovolemia (tachycardia, hypotension)
C) Normal findings
D) Heart failure
