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

November 8, 2023

An early sign of a malignant hyperthermia crisis is:

  1. skin flushing.
  2. profound fever.
  3. masseter muscle rigidity.
  4. pink-tinged urine.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: "Perianesthesia Monitoring and Intervention: Perianesthesia-specific emergencies" Major: 3 Minor: O

Reference: Drain's Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach pg 729, 766

Question of the Week

October 25, 2023

Visits by family or significant others to patients in the PACU has been shown to:

  1. increase length of stay.
  2. decrease staffing requirements.
  3. decrease anxiety level.
  4. increase anxiety level.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: "Professional Nursing Practice and Guidelines : Evidence-based practice" Major: 5 Minor: B

Reference: Perianesthesia Nursing Standards pg 72-75

Question of the Week

October 11, 2023

A perianesthesia nurse plans to remove the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) when the patient can:

  1. blink.
  2. open their eyes on command.
  3. open their mouth on command.
  4. swallow.

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 428

Question of the Week

September 27, 2023

The drug of choice for the treatment of malignant hyperthermia is:

  1. fentanyl.
  2. sodium bicarbonate.
  3. dantrolene.
  4. lidocaine.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

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

Reference: Drain's Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach pg 770 Critical Care Nursing Diagnosis and Management pg 1000

Question of the Week

September 13, 2023

A patient who has undergone a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) suddenly displays restlessness, tremors, and disorientation. The perianesthesia nurse anticipates administering:

  1. lactated Ringer's solution and midazolam IV.
  2. D5/W with potassium 20 mEq/L and diazepam IV.
  3. 3% sodium chloride and furosemide IV.
  4. normal saline and morphine sulfate IV.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: Physiology: Physical responses to procedures and anesthesia Major: 2 Minor: C

Reference: Drain's Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach pg413

Question of the Week

August 30, 2023

During the stir-up regimen, the most important element of lung volume enhancement is the:

  1. timing of the cough.
  2. expiratory effort.
  3. number of deep breaths.
  4. inspiratory hold.

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 389-390 Critical Care Nursing Diagnosis and Management pg 990-991

Question of the Week

August 16, 2023

The perianesthesia nurse is aware that according to ACLS guidelines, dopamine is the drug of choice for clinically significant hypotension when:

  1. hypokalemia is absent.
  2. hypovolemia is present.
  3. hypokalemia is present.
  4. hypovolemia is absent.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

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

Reference: ACLS Provider Manual, 2020: Pharmacology table

Question of the Week

August 2, 2023

During the administration of bupivacaine locally, some of the medication is accidentally administered IV. When the patient develops ventricular arrhythmias, the perianesthesia nurse anticipates the administration of:

  1. amiodarone.
  2. diphenhydramine.
  3. adenosine.
  4. lidocaine.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: "Perianesthesia Monitoring and Intervention: Perianesthesia-specific emergencies" Major: 3 Minor: O

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

Question of the Week

July 19, 2023

Parents visiting the PACU find that their 4-year-old child refuses to allow them to console or give care. The perianesthesia nurse explains that this behavior:

  1. results from the pain that the child is experiencing and will subside with medication.
  2. indicates that the child wants them to leave and return later.
  3. indicates that the parents need to be more firm with the child.
  4. is a normal response to the separation anxiety that the child is feeling.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

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

Reference: Perianesthesia Nursing Core Curriculum pg. 145

Question of the Week

July 5, 2023

When caring for a young child, an uncuffed endotracheal tube is preferred because:

  1. air turbulence is reduced.
  2. the larynx is cylinder shaped.
  3. less volume is delivered.
  4. the larynx is funnel shaped.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

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

Reference: Drain's Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach pg.423-424, 710-711

Question of the Week

June 21, 2023

During the administration of bupivacaine locally, some of the medication is accidentally administered IV. When the patient develops ventricular arrhythmias, the perianesthesia nurse anticipates the administration of:

  1. amiodarone.
  2. diphenhydramine.
  3. adenosine.
  4. lidocaine.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: "Perianesthesia Monitoring and Intervention: Perianesthesia-specific emergencies" Major: 3 Minor: O

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

Question of the Week

June 7, 2023

When caring for a young child, an uncuffed endotracheal tube is preferred because:

  1. air turbulence is reduced.
  2. the larynx is cylinder shaped.
  3. less volume is delivered.
  4. the larynx is funnel shaped.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

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

Reference: Drain's Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach 423-424, 710-711

Question of the Week

May 24, 2023

Which drug is considered a triggering agent for malignant hyperthermia?

  1. Propofol
  2. Atracurium
  3. Succinylcholine
  4. Nitrous oxide

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

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

Reference: Perianesthesia Nursing Core Curriculum pg 296

Question of the Week

May 10, 2023

A patient post appendectomy suddenly goes into supraventricular tachycardia. Vital signs are BP = 125/75; HR = 168; and R = 16. The nurse anticipates administering:

  1. lidocaine.
  2. propranolol.
  3. esmolol.
  4. adenosine.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

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

Reference: Critical Care Nursing Diagnosis and Management pg 454-455

Question of the Week

April 26, 2023

A 20-kg child is admitted to the PACU following a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. After the child vomits, the anesthesiologist orders ondansetron. The proper IV dosage for this patient is:

  1. 0.15 mg/kg
  2. 0.25 mg/kg
  3. 0.5 mg/kg
  4. 1 mg/kg

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

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

Reference: Perianesthesia Nursing Core Curriculum pg 177

Question of the Week

April 12, 2023

While being cared for postoperatively, a patient confides, "I remember the entire surgery." After notifying the anesthesia provider, the perianesthesia nurse:

  1. discharges patient with postoperative instructions.
  2. apologizes and sympathizes.
  3. instructs the patient that it did not occur.
  4. discourages discussion of the event.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: "Professional Nursing Practice and Guidelines: Evidence-based practice" Major: 5 Minor: B

Reference: Drain's Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach pg. 406-407

Question of the Week

March 29, 2023

Following treatment of a malignant hyperthermia crisis, dysrhythmias persist despite the correction of hyperkalemia and acidosis. The perianesthesia nurse questions an order for:

  1. amiodarone.
  2. verapamil.
  3. procainamide.
  4. lidocaine.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

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

Reference: Drain's Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach pg 773

Question of the Week

March 15, 2023

A patient with a history of COPD, hypertension, alcoholism, and mitral valve regurgitation arrived in the PACU following surgery with spinal anesthesia. Vital signs are BP = 190/120, HR = 120, R = 18, and SpO2 = 80%. The perianesthesia nurse's first action is to:

  1. check the patient's capillary blood sugar.
  2. administer O2 at 3 L/min via nasal cannula.
  3. apply O2 via mask at 10 L/min.
  4. prepare the patient for intubation.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

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

Reference: Drain's Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach pg 692

Question of the Week

March 1, 2023

A patient who has severe cardiovascular disease and limited activity, but is not incapacitated, is considered:

  1. ASA I.
  2. ASA II.
  3. ASA III.
  4. ASA IV.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: "Professional Nursing Practice and Guidelines: American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) guidelines" Major: 5 Minor: H

Reference: Perianesthesia Nursing Core Curriculum pg. 51

Question of the Week

February 15, 2023

One of the earliest physical assessment findings in tension pneumothorax is:

  1. generalized cyanosis.
  2. a deviated point of maximal intensity (PMI).
  3. laryngeal stridor.
  4. a decrease in breath sounds.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

Content Area: "Physiology : Psysical Assessment" Major: 2 Minor: B

Reference: Drain's Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach pg402

Question of the Week

February 1, 2023

The most effective preoperative educational strategy for demonstrating the perioperative experience to a group of preschool-aged children is a:

  1. long slide show and a tour of the OR.
  2. puppet show and a short slide presentation of a child traveling through surgery.
  3. demonstration and lecture of the OR equipment.
  4. movie about surgery and expectations during a stay in the ambulatory center.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain:

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

Reference: Wong's Nursing Care of Infants and Children pg427

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.