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 19, 2020

Care for a patient who receives a skin graft to the forearm includes:

  1. maintain dependent position of the extremity.
  2. changing the bandages if necessary.
  3. elevation of the affected extremity.
  4. ROM exercises for the affected extremity.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Physiological Needs

Content Area: G. Assess, diagnose, plan, intervene, and evaluate in order to promote stability of the integumentary system.

Reference:

Question of the Week

August 5, 2020

The perianesthesia nurse learns that the patient takes MAO inhibitor routinely. This information is documented because of the potential lethal interaction with:

  1. meperidine.
  2. midazolam.
  3. succinylcholine.
  4. morphine.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Physiological Needs

Content Area: L. Assess, diagnose, plan, intervene, and evaluate in order to promote stability of the fluid and electrolyte levels.

Reference:

Question of the Week

July 22, 2020

Prochlorperazine acts to treat postoperative nausea by affecting the:

  1. process of gastric emptying.
  2. chemoreceptor trigger zone.
  3. production of gastric acid.
  4. vestibular pathways.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Physiological Needs

Content Area: Assess, diagnose, plan, intervene, and evaluate in order to promote stability of the gastrointestinal system.

Reference:

Question of the Week

July 8, 2020

In a 3-year-old patient, postintubation croup is least likely to develop when the patient has:

  1. remained in a supine position for a 1-hour procedure.
  2. been in a supine position for 15 minutes, then in a lateral position for 45 minutes.
  3. coughed actively and strained prior to extubation.
  4. required two attempts prior to successful intubation.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Physiological Needs

Content Area: Assess, diagnose, plan, intervene, and evaluate in order to promote stability of the respiratory system.

Reference:

Question of the Week

June 10, 2020

The perianesthesia nurse should question the accuracy of the SpO2 measurement when caring for a patient with which of the underlying condition?

  1. Cushing's disease.
  2. hypothyroidism.
  3. Raynaud's disease.
  4. hyperthyroidism.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Physiological Needs

Content Area: Assess, diagnose, plan, intervene, and evaluate in order to promote stability of the cardiovascular and peripheral vascular systems.

Reference:

Question of the Week

May 27, 2020

A patient 7 months pregnant is admitted for repair of a lacerated Achilles tendon. During assessment, contractions of her abdomen are noted. Which of the following positions should this patient be placed?

  1. Right lateral tilt position
  2. Left lateral tilt position
  3. Supine
  4. Trendelenburg

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Physiological Needs

Content Area: Assess, diagnose, plan, intervene, and evaluate in order to promote maintenance of normothermia.

Reference:

Question of the Week

May 13, 2020

When preparing a patient for a brachial plexus nerve block for upper extremity surgery, the perianesthesia nurse is aware that the safest and easiest approach is:

  1. subclavicular.
  2. supraclavicular.
  3. interscalene.
  4. axillary.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Physiological Needs

Content Area: Assess, diagnose, plan, intervene, and evaluate in order to promote stability of the neurological system.

Reference:

Question of the Week

April 29, 2020

To decrease nausea, the perianesthesia nurse instructs the patient to:

  1. take deep breaths.
  2. take several quick breaths.
  3. turn their head to the side.
  4. utilize Reiki or imagery.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Physiological Needs

Content Area: Assess, diagnose, plan, intervene, and evaluate in order to promote maintenance of normothermia.

Reference:

Question of the Week

April 15, 2020

The perianesthesia nurse would expect a patient with COPD to have received which of the following anesthetic agents?

  1. Isoflurane
  2. Nitrous oxide
  3. Enflurane
  4. Halothane

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Physiological Needs

Content Area: Assess, diagnose, plan, intervene, and evaluate in order to promote stability of the fluid and electrolyte levels.

Reference:

Question of the Week

April 1, 2020

In a preoperative visit, information to be collected by the perianesthesia nurse includes:

  1. type of surgery to be performed, previous surgical history and verification of payment source.
  2. cardiac status, vaccination status, respiratory status, and location of patient's family postoperatively.
  3. surgical procedure, whether the patient has signed the consent form, and type of anesthesia to be used.
  4. preexisting diseases, laboratory values, neurological status, current medications, and allergies.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Behavioral Health and Cognitive Needs

Content Area: Provide patient/family/significant other education and evaluate understanding related to the perianesthesia/ procedural experience.

Reference:

Question of the Week

March 18, 2020

A patient calls the preoperative center asking whether to continue taking his daily dose of clonidine. The perianesthesia nurse is aware that clonidine should be:

  1. taken only if the surgeon deems it necessary.
  2. stopped at least 3 days preoperatively.
  3. stopped at least 5 days preoperatively.
  4. taken daily as prescribed.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Behavioral Health and Cognitive Needs

Content Area: Provide patient/family/significant other education and evaluate understanding related to the perianesthesia/ procedural experience.

Reference:

Question of the Week

March 4, 2020

Six hours postoperatively, a patient has not voided and his bladder is palpably distended. The patient refuses catheterization. If the nurse catheterizes the patient against his wishes, this is considered:

  1. tort.
  2. assault.
  3. malpractice.
  4. battery.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Safety Needs

Content Area: Deliver, document, and communicate care based on accepted national standards of perianesthesia nursing practice and applicable laws, guidelines, and regulations.

Reference:

Question of the Week

February 19, 2020

A preoperative patient is admitted to the holding area prior to joint surgery. The patient asks what the facility is doing to prevent postoperative surgical site infections. The perianesthesia nurse is aware that according to the surgical care improvement project (SCIP), preop antibiotics should be administered:

  1. within 60 minutes of incision time.
  2. prior to induction.
  3. prior to leaving the holding area.
  4. upon arrival to the facility.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Safety Needs

Content Area: Deliver, document, and communicate care based on accepted national standards of perianesthesia nursing practice and applicable laws, guidelines, and regulations.

Reference:

Question of the Week

February 05, 2020

The perianesthesia nurse is aware that a dramatic decrease in the serum calcium level may be caused by removal of the:

  1. parathyroid glands.
  2. pineal gland.
  3. adrenal glands.
  4. pituitary gland.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Physiological Needs

Content Area: Stability of the endocrine system

Reference:

Question of the Week

January 22, 2020

The perianesthesia nurse recognizes that upon a patient’s arrival to the PACU, a side effect of ketamine anesthesia is:

  1. decreased muscle tone.
  2. hypotension.
  3. marked salivation.
  4. nausea and vomiting.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Physiological Needs

Content Area: Physiological comfort (including, but not limited to, relief from pain, shivering, nausea, vomiting, temperature control and appropriate positioning.

Reference: ASPAN. Schick, L. and Windle, P., (Editors) Third Edition. Perianesthesia Nursing Core Curriculum – Preoperative, Phase I and Phase II PACU Nursing. WB Saunders, St. Louis, MO., 2015. Pp 216, 364-366.

Question of the Week

January 08, 2020

By asking a tympanoplasty patient to wrinkle the forehead, pucker lips, smile, and squeeze eyelids together, the PACU nurse is assessing the function of cranial nerve:

  1. V.
  2. VII.
  3. IX.
  4. XII.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Physiological Needs

Content Area: Stability of neurological system

Reference: Schick, L., & Windle, P. (2015). ASPAN Perianesthesia Nursing Core Curriculum: Preprocedure, phase I and phase II, PACU nursing (3rd ed.). Elsevier.

Question of the Week

December 25, 2019

The Faces Pain Rating Scale measurement tool is most appropriate for:

  1. a 2-year-old toddler.
  2. an 8-year-old child.
  3. a 15 year-old child.
  4. an infant.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Safety Needs

Content Area: Develop and implement effective multidisciplinary perianesthesia plan of care that addresses pain management

Reference: Hockenberry, M., & Wilson, D. (2015). Wong's Nursing Care of Infants and Children (10th ed.). Elsevier.

Question of the Week

December 11, 2019

A patient receives an intraoperative prophylactic dose of droperidol. The PACU nurse is aware that this drug has a potentiating action when administered:

  1. with narcotics and barbiturates.
  2. with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
  3. to a patient with increased ICP.
  4. to a hypertensive patient.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Physiological Needs

Content Area: Stability of the hematologic and immune systems

Reference: Drain, C. and Odom-Forren, J. (2018). Drain’s PeriAnesthesia Nursing: A critical care approach (7th ed.). Elsevier.

Question of the Week

November 27, 2019

The perianesthesia nurse should utilize which of the following screening tools to identify patients at risk for obstructive sleep apnea?

  1. STOP-Bang Questionnaire
  2. Aldrete Scoring Tool
  3. Ramsey Sedation Scale
  4. Pasero Opioid Induced Sedation Scale

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Safety Needs

Content Area: Deliver, document and communicate care based on accepted national standards of perianesthesia nursing practice and applicable laws, guidelines, and regulations

Reference: Schick, L., & Windle, P. (2015). ASPAN Perianesthesia Nursing Core Curriculum: Preprocedure, phase I and phase II, PACU nursing (3rd ed.). Elsevier.

Question of the Week

November 13, 2019

The perianesthesia nurse receives a call inquiring about a patient who is in surgery. The perianesthesia nurse's initial action is to:

  1. transfer the call to the O.R. desk.
  2. advise to call back later.
  3. provide the information.
  4. inform the family of the call.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Behavioral Health and Cognitive Needs

Content Area: Provide and maintain patient privacy and confidentiality

Reference: Schick, L., & Windle, P. (2015). ASPAN Perianesthesia Nursing Core Curriculum: Preprocedure, phase I and phase II, PACU nursing (3rd ed.). Elsevier.

Question of the Week

October 30, 2019

During a preoperative telephone interview, a 52-year-old patient states that he has been hospitalized twice in the past year for management of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The ASA status of this patient is:

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

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Physiological Needs

Content Area: Stability of the Respiratory system

Reference: Schick, L., & Windle, P. (2015). ASPAN Perianesthesia Nursing Core Curriculum: Preprocedure, phase I and phase II, PACU nursing (3rd ed.). Elsevier.

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.