CAPA

CAPA® Question of the Week

Each Wednesday at 6am ET, ABPANC will post a CPAN® and a CAPA® study question. Use these questions to test your knowledge, display in your unit and discuss with your colleagues. The answer, along with the next week’s question, will be posted the following Wednesday at 6am.

For each question, we will post the reference from ABPANC’s Study References List, as well as the domain and content area information from the Test Blueprint. For more questions and answers, you can purchase up to 4 Practice Exams.

View all CPAN questions below, or view all CPAN questions.

Question of the Week

April 2, 2025

Naloxone acts as:

  1. a benzodiazepine agonist.
  2. an opioid antagonist.
  3. an opioid agonist.
  4. a benzodiazepine antagonist.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: Major: 3 - Perianesthesia Monitoring and Intervention Minor: L - Pharmacology, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics

Reference: Wong's Nursing Care of Infants and Children 2023 p. e 140, table 5.5

Question of the Week

March 19, 2025

A patient arrives in the PACU awake and oriented but with difficulty breathing. The patient received a single dose of succinylcholine in the OR. What is the minimum timeframe for complete muscle recover to occur?

  1. 15 minutes
  2. 20 minutes
  3. 35 minutes
  4. 40 minutes

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: Major: 3 - Perianesthesia Monitoring and Intervention Minor: L - Pharmacology, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics

Reference: Perianesthesia Nursing Core Curriculum 2021 p. 280

Question of the Week

March 5, 2025

What intervention is best indicated for a patient with a potassium of 6.2?

  1. Infuse lactated Ringer's solution.
  2. Administer insulin and glucose.
  3. Provide a diuretic.
  4. Perform an EKG and notify the provider.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: Major: 3 - Perianesthesia Monitoring and Intervention Minor: A - Normal and abnormal diagnostic results

Reference: Critical Care Nursing Diagnosis and Management 2021 p. 276

Question of the Week

February 19, 2025

The drug of choice for a patient with ventricular dysrhythmias during a malignant hyperthermia crisis is:

  1. procainamide.
  2. nifedipine.
  3. diltiazem.
  4. physostigmine.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: Major: 5 - Professional Nursing Practice and Guidelines Minor: F - Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States (MHAUS) guidelines/protocol

Reference: Perianesthesia Nursing Core Curriculum 2021, p.298

Question of the Week

February 5, 2025

When provision of medical treatment is justified without informed consent in the preoperative area, which type of consent would apply?

  1. Express
  2. Emergency
  3. Proposed
  4. Samaritan

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: Major: 5 Minor: I

Reference: Perianesthesia Nursing Core Curriculum 2021 p. 21

Question of the Week

January 22, 2025

A scopolamine patch can trigger:

  1. a decrease in tissue perfusion.
  2. postoperative cognitive dysfunction.
  3. cerebral atrophy.
  4. a loss of neurons in the neocortex.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: Anesthesi: Anesthesia considerations for special populations: Patients with pre-existing conditions Major: 1 Minor: D Subtopic: 4

Reference: Perianesthesia Nursing Core Curriculum, p. 306

Question of the Week

January 8, 2025

A patient has become unresponsive and has a perfusing rhythm on the EKG. While waiting for anesthesia to arrive, the perianesthesia nurse starts to ventilate the patient with the bag valve mask every:

  1. 3-4 seconds.
  2. 5-6 seconds.
  3. 7-8 seconds.
  4. 9-10 seconds.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: Professional Nursing Practice and Guidelines: ACLS guidelines Major: 5 Minor: C

Reference: ACLS Provider Manual, 2020. Science Summary Table

Question of the Week

December 18, 2024

On admission to the PACU, the anesthesiologist states that the 3-year-old patient had a laryngospasm upon extubation. What medication should be immediately available if needed?

  1. Propofol
  2. Succinylcholine
  3. Dexamethasone
  4. Atropine

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: Anesthesia: Anesthesia considerations for special populations: Pediatric Major: 1 Minor: D Subtopic: 1

Reference: Perianesthesia Nursing Core Curriculum p.376

Question of the Week

December 4, 2024

When admitting a sedated 2-year-old patient from the OR, which finding requires immediate follow up?

  1. Thrashing upon emergence
  2. Heart rate of 70 beats per minute
  3. Respiratory rate of 24
  4. Systolic blood pressure of 95 mm Hg

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: Anesthesia: Anesthesia considerations for special populations: Pediatric Major: 1 Minor: D Subtopic: 1

Reference: Drain's Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach p. 723

Question of the Week

November 20, 2024

A patient who received an interscalene block is now experiencing tinnitus, muscle twitching, and confusion. The perianesthesia nurse anticipates treatment with:

  1. lipid infusion
  2. fluid bolus
  3. lidocaine
  4. propofol

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: Anesthesia: Anesthesia techniques: Regional Major: 1 Minor: A Subtopic: 2

Reference: Drain's Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach p. 327

Question of the Week

October 23, 2024

Following an episode of laryngeal edema in the PACU, the perianesthesia nurse's discharge teaching includes instructing the patient to:

  1. request a sedative from the provider.
  2. use home O2 at 2 L.
  3. encourage intake of warm, soft foods.
  4. use humidified air at home.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: Perianesthesia Care Considerations: Patient and family planning and education: Discharge instructions Major: 4 Minor: C Subtopic: 3

Reference: Drain's Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach p. 400-401

Question of the Week

October 9, 2024

When caring for a crying 18-month-old patient, the perianesthesia nurse's first nursing action is to:

  1. assess for antiemetic needs.
  2. reunite the child with a parent.
  3. assess analgesic needs.
  4. distract the child with a toy.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: Perianesthesia Care Considerations: Individualized patient care: Psychosocial factors Major: 4 Minor: B Subtopic: 2

Reference: Drain's Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach p.399-400

Question of the Week

September 25, 2024

Discharge instructions to a patient following a shoulder arthroscopy with a preoperative interscalene block should include that the:

  1. surgeon should be notified of any changes in voice quality.
  2. contralateral pupil will be constricted for 24 hours.
  3. operative side will have decreased motor function.
  4. range-of-motion exercises may begin on the operative extremity.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: Perianesthesia Care Considerations: Patient and family planning and education: Discharge instructions Major: 4 Minor: C Subtopic: 3

Reference: Drain's Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach pg. 340

Question of the Week

September 11, 2024

When questioning a 15-year-old patient regarding NPO status, the perianesthesia nurse is aware that adolescents may be at particular risk for non-compliance because of their:

  1. distortion of reality.
  2. ritualistic behavior.
  3. acceptance of responsibility.
  4. sense of immortality.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: Perianesthesia Care Considerations: Individualized patient care: Psychosocial factors Major: 4 Minor: B Subtopic: 2

Reference: Drain's Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach, p. 710

Question of the Week

August 28, 2024

In Phase II of the PACU, there are four stable adult patients who are awake, two stable pediatric patients who are awake and under the age of 5 with parents present, and two pediatric patients under the age of 5 with parents present who are ready for discharge. According to the ASPAN Standards of Perianesthesia Nursing Practice, what is the minimum number of nurses needed to staff appropriately?

  1. 3
  2. 4
  3. 5
  4. 6

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: Professional Nursing Practice and Guidelines: ASPAN standards Major: 5 Minor: G

Reference: Perianesthesia Nursing Standards, pg. 41-44

Question of the Week

August 14, 2024

The most appropriate communication approach with a 10-year-old patient is to:

  1. be concise and limit the length of explanations to less than 5 minutes.
  2. encourage questions and use detailed explanations.
  3. seek opportunities to offer choices.
  4. speak in simple sentences and explore relative concepts.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: Perianesthesia Care Considerations: Individualized patient care: Psychosocial factors Major: 4 Minor: B Subtopic: 2

Reference: Wong's Nursing Care of Infants and Children, pg. 84

Question of the Week

July 31, 2024

When preparing a patient for discharge, the perianesthesia nurse reviews instructions with the patient and the caregiver. The nurse notes a strong smell of alcohol coming from the caregiver and knows the next priority is to:

  1. admit the patient to inpatient status.
  2. send the patient home by public transportation.
  3. arrange for alternate caregiver support.
  4. report suspicions to law enforcement.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: Perianesthesia Care Considerations - Continuum and transfer of care: Post-anesthesia Phase II Major: 4 Minor: A

Reference: Perianesthesia Nursing Standards, page 68

Question of the Week

July 17, 2024

After a detailed discussion with the primary healthcare provider and the surgeon, a patient decides to maintain a Do Not Resuscitate order in surgery and during the postanesthesia phase of recovery. If the patient arrests, the perioperative nurse must:

  1. proceed with resuscitation and inform the family of the order.
  2. maintain patient autonomy and the right to self-directed health care.
  3. notify the hospital's ethics committee.
  4. assist the family in making informed decisions regarding continuation of treatment.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: Professional Nursing Practice and Guidelines: Regulatory, legal, and ethical guidelines Major: 5 Minor: I

Reference: Drain's Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach, pp: 89-91, 93-95

Question of the Week

July 3, 2024

Which of the following is the recommended initial dosage of IV ketorolac for a patient who is over 65 years of age?

  1. 15 mg IV
  2. 30 mg IV
  3. 45 mg IV
  4. 60 mg IV

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: "Perianesthesia Monitoring and Intervention: Pharmacology, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics" Major: 3 Minor: L

Reference: Drain's Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach pg 280

Question of the Week

June 19, 2024

The immediate intervention for a patient experiencing an acute type I latex allergy reaction is administration of:

  1. epinephrine.
  2. diphenhydramine.
  3. norepinephrine.
  4. dimenhydrinate.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: "Perianesthesia Monitoring and Intervention: Abnormal physiological conditions" Major: 3 Minor: D

Reference: Drain's Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach pg 239-240

Question of the Week

June 5, 2024

An elderly patient who is being discharged home after outpatient surgery refuses assistance and has no family members or friends to contact. The perianesthesia nurse's primary responsibility is to:

  1. ensure appropriate home support.
  2. make a postoperative discharge phone call.
  3. provide medication management.
  4. contact adult protective services.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: "Perianesthesia Care Considerations: Individualized patient care: Psychosocial factors" Major: 4 Minor: B

Reference: Drain's Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach pg 741-742 Perianesthesia Nursing Standards pg 46, 112

The CPAN® and CAPA® Practice Exams and Question of the Week Program are study tools only. ABPANC’s practice examinations should be regarded as a tool to assess strengths and weaknesses. They are not intended to serve as a study guide nor should they be used as a substitute for studying. While content may be representative of the type of knowledge and skills tested on the CPAN® and CAPA® certification examinations, these materials are not identical to the content of the examinations. A passing score on a practice examination does not in any way guarantee a passing score on any ABPANC certification examination. Use of a practice examination or Question of the Week is not a requirement for eligibility or for success in passing any ABPANC certification examination.

The Practice Exams and Questions of the Week are copyrighted materials owned by ABPANC. Requests to reproduce or otherwise use these materials should be directed to: abpanc@cpancapa.org
© 2019 American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification, Inc. All rights reserved.