CPAN

CPAN® 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 CAPA questions.

Question of the Week

August 26, 2020

Which of the following interventions would be used first to maintain adequate perfusion and oxygen supply to cardiac muscles following hepatic surgery in a patient with a history of coronary artery disease:

  1. Ensure a hemoglobin concentration ≥ 10 g.
  2. Treat tachydysrhythmias and hypotension.
  3. Monitor oxygen saturation via pulse oximetry.
  4. Administer appropriate medications.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Physiological Needs

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

Reference:

Question of the Week

August 12, 2020

The use of the pulse oximeter has become a routine part of PACU care. The post anesthesia nurse may decide that oximetry monitoring is indicated when the patient:

  1. has had minor surgery.
  2. has normal vital signs.
  3. has had regional anesthesia.
  4. is severely hypothermic.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Physiological Needs

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

Reference:

Question of the Week

July 15, 2020

Tidal volume is most precisely defined as the amount of:

  1. air exchange in one minute.
  2. gas passing into or out of the lungs in each respiratory cycle.
  3. gas remaining within the chest after maximal expiration.
  4. air exchange with full inspiration and expiration.

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

June 17, 2020

One of the most frequent side effects of ketamine anesthesia is:

  1. hallucination.
  2. respiratory depression.
  3. hypotension.
  4. bradycardia.

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 3, 2020

In providing preoperative teaching to a patient requesting spinal anesthesia, the perianesthesia nurse is aware that an absolute contraindication for spinal anesthesia is:

  1. patient refusal.
  2. chronic back pain.
  3. multiple sclerosis.
  4. sickle cell anemia.

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

May 20, 2020

In administering flumazenil, the perianesthesia nurse is aware that it inhibits the central effects of benzodiazepines by:

  1. competing for the receptor sites.
  2. stimulating the cerebral cortex.
  3. occupying the mu receptor sites.
  4. metabolizing the medications.

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

May 6, 2020

A pathological process that can interfere with accurate measurements of SpO2 when using a pulse oximeter is:

  1. Cushing's disease.
  2. hypoparathyroidism.
  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

April 22, 2020

In the event that a pharmacologically paralyzed patient is inadvertently extubated, the first priority of the PACU nurse is to:

  1. administer a muscarinic anticholinergic drug immediately.
  2. establish and maintain the airway and ventilation.
  3. administer an anticholinesterase drug immediately.
  4. assess for muscle recovery before reintubating.

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 8, 2020

A PACU nurse identifies an increased number of postoperative infections and utilizes a quality improvement tool to collect more data. When deficiencies are noted in the Phase I area, the nurse next considers:

  1. developing a poster board on commonly used antibiotics.
  2. presenting staff with an in-service on infection control.
  3. apprising the infectious disease service of the occurrences.
  4. notifying the OR clinical specialist.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Safety Needs

Content Area: Protect the patient from harm through the use of protective safety devices and equipment.

Reference:

Question of the Week

March 25, 2020

A staff nurse denied a merit increase expresses vigorous support for management and its policies instead of showing anger. The nurse’s behavior is characterized as:

  1. identification.
  2. reaction formation.
  3. sublimation.
  4. rationalization.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Behavioral Health and Cognitive Needs

Content Area: Provide and maintain patient privacy and confidentiality.

Reference:

Question of the Week

March 11, 2020

A standard of practice for post anesthesia nursing is established by which acceptable levels of nursing action?

  1. Promoting independent nursing judgment
  2. Specifying the nursing goal while defining appropriate nursing measures
  3. Identifying the nursing actions that meet JCAHO criteria
  4. Prescribing the nursing intervention relative to standing orders

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Behavioral Health and Cognitive Needs

Content Area: Recognize and respect patient/family/significant other diversity.

Reference:

Question of the Week

February 26, 2020

A PACU education/research committee should have three commitments, which must include all of the following except:

  1. development of innovative thinking.
  2. freedom of inquiry.
  3. individual progress of each nurse.
  4. excellence in practice.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Safety Needs

Content Area: Protect the patient from harm through the use of protective safety devices and equipment.

Reference:

Question of the Week

February 12, 2020

The dissociative state attributed to ketamine anesthesia can be modified by the administration of a/an:

  1. antiarrhythmic.
  2. benzodiazepine.
  3. narcotic.
  4. anticonvulsant.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Physiological Needs

Content Area: An appropriate medication regimen (including, but not limited to, minimal interruption of normal medication regimen and preemptive interventions)

Reference:

Question of the Week

January 29, 2020

Following a hernia repair, a 3-month-old is admitted to the PACU positioned on his side with a pacifier in his mouth. The airway becomes obstructed by the tongue. The obstruction can be alleviated by:

  1. removing the pacifier.
  2. pinching the cheeks.
  3. turning him on his back.
  4. jaw thrust or chin lift

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Physiological Needs

Content Area: Stability of the respiratory system.

Reference: American Heart Association, PALS Provider Manual. 2016. Pg 37.

Question of the Week

January 15, 2020

A post-op patient awaiting transport to a surgical floor is awake and responds appropriately to commands. The perioperative nurse instructs the patient to flex and extend his/ her lower extremities; the purpose of this is to:

  1. ensure that the patient follows commands.
  2. prevent the complication of venous stasis.
  3. accelerate emergence from anesthesia.
  4. assess if patient is ready for discharge.

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: Urden, L., et al. Thelan’s Critical Care Nursing, Diagnosis and Management, 7th Ed. Elsevier, 2014. Pg 354.

Question of the Week

January 01, 2020

A geriatric patient's advanced age puts them at an increased risk for post-operative:

  1. anorexia.
  2. hypothermia.
  3. nausea.
  4. pain.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Safety Needs

Content Area: Develop and implement effective multidisciplinary perianesthesia plan of care that addresses: measures to prevent complications

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

Question of the Week

December 18, 2019

During emergence from general anesthesia, a patient exhibits rapidly increasing symptoms of asthma. Vital signs are: BP = 190/100, HR = 144, R = 36, and SaO2 = 86%. The perianesthesia nurse anticipates giving which of the following medications initially?

  1. Dexamethasone
  2. Nebulized epinephrine
  3. Nebulized albuterol
  4. Isoproterenol

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Physiological Needs

Content Area: Appropriate medication regimen (including, but not limited to, minimal interruption of normal medication regimen and preemptive interventions)

Reference: Hodgson, K. and Kizior, R. (2017). Saunders Nursing Drug Handbook 2017. Elsevier.

Question of the Week

December 04, 2019

A patient with streptococcal group A pharyngitis arrives in Phase I PACU. The perianesthesia nurse plans that the nurse to patient ratio should be:

  1. two nurses to one patient.
  2. one nurse to two patients.
  3. one nurse to one patient.
  4. one nurse to three patients.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Safety Needs

Content Area: Protect the patient from harm and take preventive measures related to exposure to infectious diseases

Reference: ASPAN. (2017). 2017-2018 PeriAnesthesia Nursing Standards, Practice Recommendations and Interpretive Statements. ASPAN.

Question of the Week

November 20, 2019

A 35-year-old patient arrives in the Phase I PACU crying and repeatedly asks, “Can’t my mother come in here with me?” The perianesthesia nurse:

  1. informs the patient that visitation is prohibited in the PACU.
  2. reassures the patient and administers an analgesic.
  3. allows a brief visit at a time appropriate for patient, visitors, and staff.
  4. sedates the patient secondary to postanesthetic confusion.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Behavioral Health and Cognitive Needs

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

Reference: ASPAN. (2018). 2019-2020 PeriAnesthesia Nursing Standards, Practice Recommendations and Interpretive Statements. ASPAN.

Question of the Week

November 06, 2019

In a patient status post thyroidectomy, the perianesthesia nurse would anticipate postoperative signs of thyrotoxic crisis to include:

  1. hyponatremia.
  2. hypothermia.
  3. tachycardia.
  4. bradycardia.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Physiological Needs

Content Area: Stability of the endocrine system

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

Question of the Week

October 23, 2019

Which of the following nursing interventions is most effective for a patient with a history of postoperative nausea and vomiting?

  1. Providing ice chips
  2. Administering ranitidine
  3. Prevention
  4. Avoiding administration of analgesics

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Physiological Needs

Content Area: Stability of the gastrointestinal system

Reference: Urden, L., Stacy, K., & Lough, M. (2017). Critical Care Nursing: Diagnosis and management (8th 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.