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

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

Question of the Week

May 22, 2024

According to the ASPAN Standards of Perianesthesia Nursing Practice, family visitation in the PACU:

  1. increases patient satisfaction.
  2. decreases patient privacy.
  3. increases cardiovascular complications.
  4. decreases pain management effectiveness.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

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

Reference: Perianesthesia Nursing Standards pg 80-81

Question of the Week

May 8, 2024

A patient arrives in the PACU following liver biopsy. The patient is lying on the left side and is complaining of pain. The perianesthesia nurse's first action is to:

  1. cover the patient with a blanket.
  2. notify the physician for an IV pain medication order.
  3. quickly connect the patient to the monitors.
  4. reposition the patient on the right side.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: Perianesthesia Monitoring and Intervention: Injury prevention Major: 3 Minor: E

Reference: Drain's Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach p. 603 Critical Care Nursing Diagnosis and Management p. 679

Question of the Week

April 24, 2024

When transferring a patient, a standardized approach to the hand-off report includes an opportunity for the receiving nurse to:

  1. obtain patient valuables from the transferring nurse.
  2. ask questions from the transferring nurse.
  3. view the patient's past medical records.
  4. ask questions of the patient regarding their care.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: Professional Nursing Practice and Guidelines: Healthcare quality and patient safety principles Major: 5 Minor: E

Reference: Perianesthesia Nursing Standards p.62

Question of the Week

April 10, 2024

While a 55-year-old patient is being interviewed for elective surgery, the patient reports taking no medications, except for echinacea. The perianesthesia nurse is aware that teaching instructions include:

  1. continuing all herbal supplements up to the day of surgery.
  2. discontinuing all herbal supplements 2 weeks prior to surgery.
  3. knowing that 60% of all modern drugs are derived from plants.
  4. discontinuing all herbal supplements 2 days prior to surgery.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: "Perianesthesia Care Considerations: Continuum and transfer of care: Pre-admission" Major: 4 Minor: A

Reference: Drain's Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach pg. 256-257

Question of the Week

March 27, 2024

A 3-year-old patient with a history of spina bifida is received postoperatively with audible wheezes and retractions. The perianesthesia nurse observes blisters under an adhesive bandage and suspects:

  1. a latex allergy or sensitivity.
  2. a spinal cord lesion.
  3. Sturge-Weber syndrome.
  4. Horner's syndrome.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: "Physiology: Potential complications to pre-existing conditions" Major: 2 Minor: D

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

Question of the Week

March 13, 2024

Following spinal anesthesia, the best indicator of complete return of function is the ability to:

  1. differentiate sensations of cold and heat.
  2. lift lower extremities off the bed.
  3. urinate.
  4. ambulate.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: "Anesthesia: Anesthesia techniques: Regional" Major: 1 Minor: A

Reference: Drain's Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach pg 332-334

Question of the Week

February 28, 2024

Upon a patient's arrival to the PACU, the perianesthesia nurse assesses the correct placement of the endotracheal tube by:

  1. evaluating the respiratory effort.
  2. checking the cuff inflation.
  3. measuring residual tidal volume.
  4. auscultating the chest bilaterally.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: "Perianesthesia Monitoring and Intervention: Airway management" Major: 3 Minor: G

Reference: Drain's Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach pg 425

Question of the Week

February 14, 2024

The purpose of administering metoclopramide during the preoperative period is to:

  1. control intraoperative anesthesia requirements.
  2. potentiate the effects of benzodiazepines.
  3. promote gastric emptying.
  4. increase gastric pH.

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 411

Question of the Week

January 31, 2024

For a 9-year-old patient, the most appropriate preoperative teaching approach focuses on:

  1. audiovisual material that explains what to expect.
  2. avoiding unnecessary separation from the parent.
  3. verbal explanations of what will happen.
  4. instructions relayed to the parents.

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 388

Question of the Week

January 17, 2024

The major symptom of compartment syndrome is:

  1. hypertension.
  2. diminished pulse pressure.
  3. excessive pain.
  4. spasticity.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

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

Reference: Critical Care Nursing Diagnosis and Management pg 794

Question of the Week

January 3, 2024

When caring for an elderly patient after spinal anesthesia, resolution may be prolonged because:

  1. the lean-to-fat ratio is altered.
  2. drug elimination is delayed.
  3. nerve transmission is impaired.
  4. more anesthetic is required.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: "Anesthesia: Anesthesia considerations for special populations: Geriatric" Major: 1 Minor: D

Reference: Drain's Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach pg 738

Question of the Week

December 20, 2023

The major symptom of compartment syndrome is:

  1. hypertension.
  2. diminished pulse pressure.
  3. excessive pain.
  4. spasticity.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

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

Reference: Critical Care Nursing Diagnosis and Management pg 794

Question of the Week

December 6, 2023

When caring for an elderly patient after spinal anesthesia, resolution may be prolonged because:

  1. the lean-to-fat ratio is altered.
  2. drug elimination is delayed.
  3. nerve transmission is impaired.
  4. more anesthetic is required.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

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

Reference: Drain's Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach pg 738

Question of the Week

November 22, 2023

To lessen vertigo, nausea, and vomiting immediately following tympanoplasty, the perianesthesia nurse places the patient in which optimal position?

  1. Semi-Fowler's at 45 degrees
  2. Lateral on the operated side
  3. Position of comfort
  4. Lateral on the unoperated side

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: "Perianesthesia Monitoring and Intervention: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV)" Major: 3 Minor: N

Reference: Drain's Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach pg 459

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.