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CAPA STUDY PRACTICE EXAM Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse
Practice Questions | Answers & Rationales
1. Which phase of perianesthesia care begins immediately
after anesthesia and continues until the patient meets Phase I
discharge criteria?
A. Preoperative phase
B. Phase I
C. Phase II
D. Phase III
Answer: B
Rationale: Phase I begins with admission to the PACU and
continues until the patient is hemodynamically stable and
meets Phase I discharge criteria.
2. Which scoring tool is most commonly used to determine
readiness for discharge from Phase I?
A. Aldrete score
B. Glasgow Coma Scale
C. Braden Scale
D. Morse Fall Scale
Answer: A
Rationale: The Aldrete score evaluates activity, respiration,
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circulation, consciousness, and oxygen saturation; a score of 9–
10 is typically required for Phase I discharge.
3. Which medication is a reversal agent for opioids?
A. Flumazenil
B. Naloxone
C. Protamine
D. Sugammadex
Answer: B
Rationale: Naloxone reverses opioid-induced respiratory
depression and sedation.
4. Which medication is a reversal agent for benzodiazepines?
A. Naloxone
B. Flumazenil
C. Atropine
D. Sugammadex
Answer: B
Rationale: Flumazenil reverses benzodiazepine effects.
5. Malignant hyperthermia is triggered by which agents?
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A. Propofol and fentanyl
B. Succinylcholine and volatile anesthetics
C. Midazolam and ketamine
D. Lidocaine and bupivacaine
Answer: B
Rationale: MH is triggered by succinylcholine and volatile
inhalation anesthetics (e.g., sevoflurane, desflurane).
6. Which medication is the antidote for malignant
hyperthermia?
A. Dantrolene
B. Naloxone
C. Flumazenil
D. Calcium gluconate
Answer: A
Rationale: Dantrolene sodium is the specific treatment for MH;
it reduces calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
7. A patient in the PACU has a respiratory rate of 8 and is
difficult to arouse after receiving fentanyl. The priority action
is to:
A. Administer naloxone as prescribed
B. Administer flumazenil
CAPA STUDY PRACTICE EXAM Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse
Practice Questions | Answers & Rationales
1. Which phase of perianesthesia care begins immediately
after anesthesia and continues until the patient meets Phase I
discharge criteria?
A. Preoperative phase
B. Phase I
C. Phase II
D. Phase III
Answer: B
Rationale: Phase I begins with admission to the PACU and
continues until the patient is hemodynamically stable and
meets Phase I discharge criteria.
2. Which scoring tool is most commonly used to determine
readiness for discharge from Phase I?
A. Aldrete score
B. Glasgow Coma Scale
C. Braden Scale
D. Morse Fall Scale
Answer: A
Rationale: The Aldrete score evaluates activity, respiration,
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circulation, consciousness, and oxygen saturation; a score of 9–
10 is typically required for Phase I discharge.
3. Which medication is a reversal agent for opioids?
A. Flumazenil
B. Naloxone
C. Protamine
D. Sugammadex
Answer: B
Rationale: Naloxone reverses opioid-induced respiratory
depression and sedation.
4. Which medication is a reversal agent for benzodiazepines?
A. Naloxone
B. Flumazenil
C. Atropine
D. Sugammadex
Answer: B
Rationale: Flumazenil reverses benzodiazepine effects.
5. Malignant hyperthermia is triggered by which agents?
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A. Propofol and fentanyl
B. Succinylcholine and volatile anesthetics
C. Midazolam and ketamine
D. Lidocaine and bupivacaine
Answer: B
Rationale: MH is triggered by succinylcholine and volatile
inhalation anesthetics (e.g., sevoflurane, desflurane).
6. Which medication is the antidote for malignant
hyperthermia?
A. Dantrolene
B. Naloxone
C. Flumazenil
D. Calcium gluconate
Answer: A
Rationale: Dantrolene sodium is the specific treatment for MH;
it reduces calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
7. A patient in the PACU has a respiratory rate of 8 and is
difficult to arouse after receiving fentanyl. The priority action
is to:
A. Administer naloxone as prescribed
B. Administer flumazenil
