CPAN / CAPA – Perianesthesia Nursing exam 2026/2027
Complete Practice Questions And Answers (Verified
Answers) | Exam Prep | Comprehensive Exam Guide
2026&2027
1. A patient arrives in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) after general anesthesia. The
patient is difficult to arouse, has shallow respirations of 8/min, and an oxygen saturation of
86% on room air. Which action should the perianesthesia nurse take FIRST?
A. Administer an antiemetic
B. Assess and support the patient's airway and ventilation
C. Obtain a 12-lead ECG
D. Encourage the patient to take deep breaths
Answer: B
The priority is airway and ventilation because inadequate respirations and hypoxemia can
rapidly become life-threatening. Immediate assessment and support of airway patency and
ventilation take precedence over diagnostic or comfort interventions.
2. During emergence from general anesthesia, a patient becomes restless and repeatedly
reaches for the oxygen mask. The oxygen saturation is 97%, respiratory rate is 18/min, and
blood pressure is stable. Which assessment is most appropriate initially?
A. Assess for pain, hypoxemia, urinary retention, and other reversible causes of agitation
B. Apply physical restraints immediately
C. Administer a sedative without further assessment
D. Assume the behavior represents emergence delirium
Answer: A
Post-anesthesia agitation has multiple possible causes. The nurse should systematically assess
reversible physiologic and clinical causes before labeling the behavior as emergence delirium
or administering medication.
3. A patient receiving supplemental oxygen after surgery suddenly develops inspiratory
stridor. Which finding is most concerning?
,A. Mild postoperative nausea
B. Temperature of 37.1°C
C. Increasing work of breathing with suprasternal retractions
D. Incisional pain rated 6/10
Answer: C
Stridor indicates upper-airway obstruction. Increasing work of breathing and suprasternal
retractions suggest significant airway compromise requiring immediate intervention.
4. A patient develops laryngospasm immediately after removal of an airway device. Which
intervention should the nurse anticipate as an initial priority?
A. Encourage oral fluids
B. Administer an antiemetic
C. Place the patient in a flat supine position
D. Provide airway support with appropriate positive-pressure ventilation and oxygen
Answer: D
Laryngospasm can produce complete airway obstruction and severe hypoxemia. Immediate
airway support and oxygenation are priorities while additional treatment is initiated as
clinically indicated.
5. A patient who received opioids in the PACU becomes increasingly somnolent.
Respiratory rate is 7/min with shallow respirations. Which assessment finding most
strongly indicates opioid-induced respiratory depression?
A. Constricted pupils with decreased respiratory effort
B. Mild postoperative shivering
C. Incisional discomfort
D. Blood pressure of 142/86 mmHg
Answer: A
Opioids can suppress the central respiratory drive. Marked somnolence, bradypnea, shallow
breathing, and miosis are characteristic findings and require prompt intervention.
6. A patient has a history of obstructive sleep apnea and has undergone abdominal surgery.
Which postoperative nursing intervention is particularly important?
,A. Encourage uninterrupted sleep without monitoring
B. Avoid all supplemental oxygen
C. Maintain appropriate respiratory monitoring and use prescribed positive-airway-pressure
therapy
D. Administer additional opioids before assessing pain
Answer: C
Patients with obstructive sleep apnea are vulnerable to postoperative airway obstruction and
opioid-related respiratory compromise. Appropriate monitoring and prescribed positive-
airway-pressure therapy help reduce respiratory risk.
7. A patient becomes hypotensive shortly after arriving in the PACU. Which assessment
should receive immediate attention?
A. Last bowel movement
B. Airway, breathing, circulation, and possible bleeding
C. Dietary preference
D. Sleep history
Answer: B
Acute postoperative hypotension may reflect hypovolemia, hemorrhage, myocardial
dysfunction, vasodilation, or other serious conditions. Immediate assessment of ABCs and
surgical blood loss is essential.
8. A patient recovering from spinal anesthesia reports inability to move both legs. Which
nursing action is most appropriate?
A. Document permanent neurologic injury
B. Encourage the patient to walk immediately
C. Administer an opioid
D. Assess the expected regression of the block and monitor motor and sensory function
Answer: D
Motor and sensory impairment can be expected after spinal anesthesia. The nurse should
monitor regression of the block while assessing for unexpected or worsening neurologic
findings.
, 9. A patient develops severe hypotension and bradycardia following neuraxial anesthesia.
Which mechanism best explains these findings?
A. Sympathetic blockade
B. Increased circulating catecholamines
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Bronchoconstriction
Answer: A
Neuraxial anesthesia can block sympathetic outflow, resulting in vasodilation and decreased
venous return. Higher levels of sympathetic blockade may also produce significant
bradycardia and hypotension.
10. A patient reports severe pain shortly after surgery. The nurse notes a respiratory rate
of 9/min after repeated opioid doses. Which approach is most appropriate?
A. Continue escalating opioid doses until pain is zero
B. Ignore the respiratory rate because pain is severe
C. Reassess pain and respiratory status and prioritize safe ventilation
D. Discharge the patient immediately
Answer: C
Pain management must be balanced with respiratory safety. A respiratory rate of 9/min after
opioid administration warrants prompt reassessment and appropriate intervention before
further opioid escalation.
11. A patient is shivering intensely during recovery from anesthesia. Which complication
can result from significant postoperative shivering?
A. Reduced oxygen consumption
B. Increased oxygen consumption and metabolic demand
C. Permanent muscle paralysis
D. Immediate hypoglycemia
Answer: B
Shivering increases oxygen consumption and metabolic demand. This may be particularly
significant in patients with limited cardiopulmonary reserve.
Complete Practice Questions And Answers (Verified
Answers) | Exam Prep | Comprehensive Exam Guide
2026&2027
1. A patient arrives in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) after general anesthesia. The
patient is difficult to arouse, has shallow respirations of 8/min, and an oxygen saturation of
86% on room air. Which action should the perianesthesia nurse take FIRST?
A. Administer an antiemetic
B. Assess and support the patient's airway and ventilation
C. Obtain a 12-lead ECG
D. Encourage the patient to take deep breaths
Answer: B
The priority is airway and ventilation because inadequate respirations and hypoxemia can
rapidly become life-threatening. Immediate assessment and support of airway patency and
ventilation take precedence over diagnostic or comfort interventions.
2. During emergence from general anesthesia, a patient becomes restless and repeatedly
reaches for the oxygen mask. The oxygen saturation is 97%, respiratory rate is 18/min, and
blood pressure is stable. Which assessment is most appropriate initially?
A. Assess for pain, hypoxemia, urinary retention, and other reversible causes of agitation
B. Apply physical restraints immediately
C. Administer a sedative without further assessment
D. Assume the behavior represents emergence delirium
Answer: A
Post-anesthesia agitation has multiple possible causes. The nurse should systematically assess
reversible physiologic and clinical causes before labeling the behavior as emergence delirium
or administering medication.
3. A patient receiving supplemental oxygen after surgery suddenly develops inspiratory
stridor. Which finding is most concerning?
,A. Mild postoperative nausea
B. Temperature of 37.1°C
C. Increasing work of breathing with suprasternal retractions
D. Incisional pain rated 6/10
Answer: C
Stridor indicates upper-airway obstruction. Increasing work of breathing and suprasternal
retractions suggest significant airway compromise requiring immediate intervention.
4. A patient develops laryngospasm immediately after removal of an airway device. Which
intervention should the nurse anticipate as an initial priority?
A. Encourage oral fluids
B. Administer an antiemetic
C. Place the patient in a flat supine position
D. Provide airway support with appropriate positive-pressure ventilation and oxygen
Answer: D
Laryngospasm can produce complete airway obstruction and severe hypoxemia. Immediate
airway support and oxygenation are priorities while additional treatment is initiated as
clinically indicated.
5. A patient who received opioids in the PACU becomes increasingly somnolent.
Respiratory rate is 7/min with shallow respirations. Which assessment finding most
strongly indicates opioid-induced respiratory depression?
A. Constricted pupils with decreased respiratory effort
B. Mild postoperative shivering
C. Incisional discomfort
D. Blood pressure of 142/86 mmHg
Answer: A
Opioids can suppress the central respiratory drive. Marked somnolence, bradypnea, shallow
breathing, and miosis are characteristic findings and require prompt intervention.
6. A patient has a history of obstructive sleep apnea and has undergone abdominal surgery.
Which postoperative nursing intervention is particularly important?
,A. Encourage uninterrupted sleep without monitoring
B. Avoid all supplemental oxygen
C. Maintain appropriate respiratory monitoring and use prescribed positive-airway-pressure
therapy
D. Administer additional opioids before assessing pain
Answer: C
Patients with obstructive sleep apnea are vulnerable to postoperative airway obstruction and
opioid-related respiratory compromise. Appropriate monitoring and prescribed positive-
airway-pressure therapy help reduce respiratory risk.
7. A patient becomes hypotensive shortly after arriving in the PACU. Which assessment
should receive immediate attention?
A. Last bowel movement
B. Airway, breathing, circulation, and possible bleeding
C. Dietary preference
D. Sleep history
Answer: B
Acute postoperative hypotension may reflect hypovolemia, hemorrhage, myocardial
dysfunction, vasodilation, or other serious conditions. Immediate assessment of ABCs and
surgical blood loss is essential.
8. A patient recovering from spinal anesthesia reports inability to move both legs. Which
nursing action is most appropriate?
A. Document permanent neurologic injury
B. Encourage the patient to walk immediately
C. Administer an opioid
D. Assess the expected regression of the block and monitor motor and sensory function
Answer: D
Motor and sensory impairment can be expected after spinal anesthesia. The nurse should
monitor regression of the block while assessing for unexpected or worsening neurologic
findings.
, 9. A patient develops severe hypotension and bradycardia following neuraxial anesthesia.
Which mechanism best explains these findings?
A. Sympathetic blockade
B. Increased circulating catecholamines
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Bronchoconstriction
Answer: A
Neuraxial anesthesia can block sympathetic outflow, resulting in vasodilation and decreased
venous return. Higher levels of sympathetic blockade may also produce significant
bradycardia and hypotension.
10. A patient reports severe pain shortly after surgery. The nurse notes a respiratory rate
of 9/min after repeated opioid doses. Which approach is most appropriate?
A. Continue escalating opioid doses until pain is zero
B. Ignore the respiratory rate because pain is severe
C. Reassess pain and respiratory status and prioritize safe ventilation
D. Discharge the patient immediately
Answer: C
Pain management must be balanced with respiratory safety. A respiratory rate of 9/min after
opioid administration warrants prompt reassessment and appropriate intervention before
further opioid escalation.
11. A patient is shivering intensely during recovery from anesthesia. Which complication
can result from significant postoperative shivering?
A. Reduced oxygen consumption
B. Increased oxygen consumption and metabolic demand
C. Permanent muscle paralysis
D. Immediate hypoglycemia
Answer: B
Shivering increases oxygen consumption and metabolic demand. This may be particularly
significant in patients with limited cardiopulmonary reserve.
