Domain: Physiological Needs

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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

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 11, 2019

A patient in the PACU following hip arthroplasty complains of numbness to toes of affected extremity. The patient has most likely sustained an injury to the:

  1. peroneal nerve.
  2. femoral artery.
  3. Achilles tendon.
  4. sciatic nerve.

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

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

July 31, 2019

A potential negative side effect of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) is:

  1. alveolar collapse.
  2. decreased intrapulmonary shunting.
  3. increased cardiac output.
  4. hypertension.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Physiological Needs

Content Area: Stability of cardiovascular and peripheral vascular systems

Reference: Urden, L., Stacy, K., & Lough, M. (2017). Critical Care Nursing: Diagnosis and management (8th 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 17, 2019

A patient complains of dyspnea and chest pain after the insertion of a central-line catheter. The patient’s breath sounds are diminished. After physician notification, the priority nursing action is to:

  1. prepare for the insertion of a chest tube.
  2. obtain an order for analgesic.
  3. apply a positive-pressure airway ventilator.
  4. prepare for immediate removal of the central line.

CPAN/CAPA Test Blueprint

Domain: Physiological Needs

Content Area: Stability of respiratory system

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

Question of the Week

July 03, 2019

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

  1. antiarrhythmic.
  2. benzodiazepine.
  3. antagonist.
  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: 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, page 365-6.

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.