CAPA CERTIFICATION STUDY GUIDE BOOK
REVIEWED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST
2025/2026 GRADED A+
1. Preanesthesia phase
*Answer√√ - Focused on preparation for surgery
- Assessment of pts physical, mental, and spiritual needs to completed to identify issues needing to be addressed
- May also include education on what to expect in the following phases of care and possibly discharge teaching
- Staflng depends on pt acuity, age of pts and if needed, sedation for preoperative nerve blocks
2. Postanesthesia Phase 1
*Answer√√ - Immediate post-operative area
- Pt may need assistance with breathing or other life saving measures
- Requires constant attention
- New admissions should be closely monitored until critical needs are met, such as airway and VS are stable, the initial
assessment is completed, and the pt is calm without competitiveness or agitation
- VS every 15min
3. Postanesthesia Phase 1 staffing
, CAPA CERTIFICATION STUDY GUIDE BOOK
REVIEWED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST
2025/2026 GRADED A+
*Answer√√ - Staflng should be 1:1 or 2:1
- There should be at least 2 nurses in the unit, 1 who is carding for the pt and one is immediately available to provide
assistance as needed
- 1 nurse in the unit must be competent in phase 1
- The nurse may have 2 pts if both are hemodynamically stable, conscious, over age 8, or under 8 with family/caregiver
at bedside
- The nurse may have 1 pt if under 8 years old and unconscious
- The nurse may have 1 pt who is not conscious but hemodynamically stable, with a stable airway over the age of 8
and 1 pt who is conscious and stable
- Occasionally 1 pt who is critical and unstable may require 2 nurses
4. Postanesthesia phase 2
*Answer√√ - The pts in this area are preparing to go home
- Here pt receives discharge instructions
- Still requires monitoring for complications related to surgery or medications
, CAPA CERTIFICATION STUDY GUIDE BOOK
REVIEWED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST
2025/2026 GRADED A+
- VS every 30-60min (at arrival and discharge)
5. Postanesthesia phase 2 staffing
*Answer√√ - 1:3 if over the age of 8 or under 8 with family present
- if the pt is under 8 w/out family, ration should be 1:2
- 2 statt members are required to be in the unit at all times (1 RN competent in phase 2)
- Staflng will be 1 nurse to 1 pt if pt becomes unstable and requires transfer to higher level of care
6. Extended care
*Answer√√ - Area where pts require extended observation after discharge from phase 2
- Staflng should be 1:3-5
, CAPA CERTIFICATION STUDY GUIDE BOOK
REVIEWED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST
2025/2026 GRADED A+
- These pts are typically waiting for transport home/inpt bed
- 2 statt members should be in the unit at all times (1 RN who is competent in caring for pt population)
7. Blended care
*Answer√√ - Care of pts who belong in multiple phases of care
- Clinical judgement is required to determine safe staflng
- Pts in ditterent levels may share same physical space
- An ettort must be made to ensure privacy and confidentiality
8. Recommendations to combat alarm fatigue
*Answer√√ - Identify important alarms
- Develop policies that identify when alarms can be disabled
- Use alarms that change back to default settings when the pt is discharged from device
- Adjust the alarms to the pt needs
9. Capnography
REVIEWED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST
2025/2026 GRADED A+
1. Preanesthesia phase
*Answer√√ - Focused on preparation for surgery
- Assessment of pts physical, mental, and spiritual needs to completed to identify issues needing to be addressed
- May also include education on what to expect in the following phases of care and possibly discharge teaching
- Staflng depends on pt acuity, age of pts and if needed, sedation for preoperative nerve blocks
2. Postanesthesia Phase 1
*Answer√√ - Immediate post-operative area
- Pt may need assistance with breathing or other life saving measures
- Requires constant attention
- New admissions should be closely monitored until critical needs are met, such as airway and VS are stable, the initial
assessment is completed, and the pt is calm without competitiveness or agitation
- VS every 15min
3. Postanesthesia Phase 1 staffing
, CAPA CERTIFICATION STUDY GUIDE BOOK
REVIEWED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST
2025/2026 GRADED A+
*Answer√√ - Staflng should be 1:1 or 2:1
- There should be at least 2 nurses in the unit, 1 who is carding for the pt and one is immediately available to provide
assistance as needed
- 1 nurse in the unit must be competent in phase 1
- The nurse may have 2 pts if both are hemodynamically stable, conscious, over age 8, or under 8 with family/caregiver
at bedside
- The nurse may have 1 pt if under 8 years old and unconscious
- The nurse may have 1 pt who is not conscious but hemodynamically stable, with a stable airway over the age of 8
and 1 pt who is conscious and stable
- Occasionally 1 pt who is critical and unstable may require 2 nurses
4. Postanesthesia phase 2
*Answer√√ - The pts in this area are preparing to go home
- Here pt receives discharge instructions
- Still requires monitoring for complications related to surgery or medications
, CAPA CERTIFICATION STUDY GUIDE BOOK
REVIEWED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST
2025/2026 GRADED A+
- VS every 30-60min (at arrival and discharge)
5. Postanesthesia phase 2 staffing
*Answer√√ - 1:3 if over the age of 8 or under 8 with family present
- if the pt is under 8 w/out family, ration should be 1:2
- 2 statt members are required to be in the unit at all times (1 RN competent in phase 2)
- Staflng will be 1 nurse to 1 pt if pt becomes unstable and requires transfer to higher level of care
6. Extended care
*Answer√√ - Area where pts require extended observation after discharge from phase 2
- Staflng should be 1:3-5
, CAPA CERTIFICATION STUDY GUIDE BOOK
REVIEWED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST
2025/2026 GRADED A+
- These pts are typically waiting for transport home/inpt bed
- 2 statt members should be in the unit at all times (1 RN who is competent in caring for pt population)
7. Blended care
*Answer√√ - Care of pts who belong in multiple phases of care
- Clinical judgement is required to determine safe staflng
- Pts in ditterent levels may share same physical space
- An ettort must be made to ensure privacy and confidentiality
8. Recommendations to combat alarm fatigue
*Answer√√ - Identify important alarms
- Develop policies that identify when alarms can be disabled
- Use alarms that change back to default settings when the pt is discharged from device
- Adjust the alarms to the pt needs
9. Capnography
