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

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.

Question of the Week

October 16, 2019

During a preoperative interview a patient admits to being allergic to avocados. The nurse is aware that this patient may be at risk for an allergic reaction to:

  1. propofol.
  2. midazolam.
  3. latex.
  4. gluten.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Safety Needs

Content Area: Protect the patient from harm and take preventive measures related to adverse environmental influences (including, but not limited to, latex and/or equipment failure

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

Question of the Week

October 02, 2019

Patient information about what to expect following a spinal anesthetic includes:

  1. remaining flat for 12 hours afterwards.
  2. anticipating a headache as a common complication.
  3. a loss of sensation of temperature in the legs.
  4. pain control for 12 hours.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Behavioral Health and Cognitive Needs

Content Area: Provide patient/family/significant other education

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

September 18, 2019

Preoperative instructions for oral fluid restriction for patients with no risk factors include NPO for clear liquids prior to surgery because emptying occurs within:

  1. 30 minutes.
  2. 1 hour.
  3. 90 minutes.
  4. 2 hours.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Physiological Needs

Content Area: Stability of the gastrointestinal 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

September 04, 2019

According to ACLS guidelines, the dosage of drugs administered via the endotracheal tube route is:

  1. half the normal IV dose.
  2. one time the normal IV dose.
  3. two times the normal IV dose.
  4. three times the normal IV dose.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Physiological Needs

Content Area: Stability of the fluid and electrolyte levels

Reference: American Heart Association. (2016). Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Provider Manual. AMA.

Question of the Week

August 21, 2019

Which of the following places the patient at the highest risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV)?

  1. Type of surgery.
  2. Smoking status.
  3. Duration of surgery.
  4. Female gender.

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

August 07, 2019

Anxious parents are at the bedside of a toddler who is crying, kicking, and thrashing following bilateral myringotomy with insertion of tympanostomy. The perianesthesia nurse informs the parents that this behavior is:

  1. the emergence excitement phase after anesthesia.
  2. a temper tantrum often seen in toddlers.
  3. associated with the surgical procedure.
  4. uncommon in children of this age.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Behavioral Health and Cognitive Needs

Content Area: Provide psychosocial support to patient/family/significant other

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

Question of the Week

July 24, 2019

Which of the following is an indicator of readiness for extubation in a post anesthesia patient weighing 60 kg?

  1. Respiratory rate of 30 breaths per minute
  2. Tidal volume of 300 ml and a vital capacity of 900 ml
  3. Ability to open eyes and move extremities on command
  4. Ability to sustain a head lift for 3 seconds

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.

Question of the Week

July 10, 2019

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: Odom-Forren, J. Drain’s PeriAnesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach. 6th Ed. Elsevier Saunders, 2013. Pg 579.

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.