A 60-year-old female is admitted to the PACU following a diagnostic dilation and curettage with
general anesthesia. Chart review reveals normal preoperative EKG-hemoglobin-hematocrit- and
electrolyte values. Past medical history is remarkable for rheumatic fever during childhood. Thirty
minutes later the patient develops the following EKG pattern --- A-fib---
The perianesthesia nurse interprets the rhythm strip as indicating
A. Occasional premature atrial contractions
B. First-degree heart block
C. Atrial flutter
D. Atrial fibrillation - answer-A. Occasional premature atrial contractions
B. First-degree heart block
C. Atrial flutter
*D. Atrial fibrillation*
In evaluating the care of a patient with vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) the PACU nurse will
consider which of the following?
A. VRE can live for weeks on surfaces such as bed rails
B. The patient should be placed in a negative-pressure room
C. Transmission-based droplet precautions should be utilized
D. Gloves are a sufficient barrier device - answer-A. *VRE can live for weeks on surfaces such as
bed rails*
B. The patient should be placed in a negative-pressure room
C. Transmission-based droplet precautions should be utilized
D. Gloves are a sufficient barrier device
In the care of a conscious patient who has been admitted to the PACU following a thyroidectomy- the
position of choice is:
A. Supine with one pillow
B. Lying on one side with the head hyperextended
C. Sim's position
D. Semi-Fowler's position - answer-A. Supine with one pillow
B. Lying on one side with the head hyperextended
C. Sim's position
D. *Semi-Fowler's position*
,Postoperative discharge teaching for a patient who received an interscalene block with Ropivacaine
should include instructions for the patient to:
A. Notify surgeon for sudden pain or tingling of the arm
B. Perform full range of motion exercises every 2 hours
C. Contact surgeon if patient's hand is still numb 3 hours after surgery
D. Protect elbow to avoid damage to ulnar nerve until block resolves - answer-A. Notify surgeon for
sudden pain or tingling of the arm
B. Perform full range of motion exercises every 2 hours
C. Contact surgeon if patient's hand is still numb 3 hours after surgery
D. *Protect elbow to avoid damage to ulnar nerve until block resolves*
The presence of the family visitation in the PACU will:
A. Increase patient satisfaction
B. Extended PACU length of stay
C. Increase the infection rate
D. Decrease nursing interaction - answer-A. *Increase patient satisfaction*
B. Extended PACU length of stay
C. Increase the infection rate
D. Decrease nursing interaction
A patient who underwent a craniotomy for tumor removal is admitted to the PACU awake and alert.
30 minutes later the patient's level of consciousness decreases heart rate decreases to less than 60
and hypertension occurs. The PACU nurse notifies the neurosurgeon and anticipates the need for:
A. Phenytoin and mannitol
B. Atropine and furosemide
C. Analgesics and midazolam
D. Nitroprusside and labetolol - answer-A. *Phenytoin and mannitol*
B. Atropine and furosemide
C. Analgesics and midazolam
D. Nitroprusside and labetolol
,CPAN CERTIFICATION EXAM LATEST 2024/2025
170 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS GRADED A+
While drawing-up Versed into a syringe to use during a bedside procedure the perianesthesia nurse
must make certain the label identifies the:
A. Patient's full name the drug name and the expiration date
B. Patient's full name the hospital identifiers and expiration date
C. Medication name the solution strength and the hospital identifier
D. Medication name, the quantity, and the solution strength of the medication - answer-A.
Patient's full name the drug name and the expiration date
B. Patient's full name the hospital identifiers and expiration date
C. Medication name the solution strength and the hospital identifier
D. *Medication name, the quantity, and the solution strength of the medication*
When conducting a discharge phone call on a patient following a partial thyroidectomy which of the
following complaints should prompt the nurse to recommend immediate medical follow-up?
A. Tetany
B. Nausea
C. Headache
D. tinnitus - answer-A. *Tetany*
B. Nausea
C. Headache
D. tinnitus
According to the Safe Medical Device Act the perianesthesia nurse must report any serious event
that involves:
A. Oral medications
B. Restraint application
C. Computer programs
D. Family interactions - answer-A. Oral medications
, B. *Restraint application*
C. Computer programs
D. Family interactions
A perianesthesia nurse in Phase I PACU may care for which of the following patients?
A. One unconscious adult stable with artificial airway and one conscious adult stable free of
complications
B. One unconscious patient hemodynamically stable with a stable airway over the age of 8 and one
conscious patient stable free of complications
C. Two unconscious stable patients 5 and 8 years of age
D. One patient on mechanical life support and one stable patient - answer-A. One unconscious
adult stable with artificial airway and one conscious adult stable free of complications
B. *One unconscious patient hemodynamically stable with a stable airway over the age of 8 and one
conscious patient stable free of complications*
C. Two unconscious stable patients 5 and 8 years of age
D. One patient on mechanical life support and one stable patient
The ASPAN recommended staffing ratio for a patient in isolation upon arrival to PACU is:
A. One RN to one patient
B. Two RNs to one patient
C. One RN to two patients
D. One RN to three patients - answer-A. *One RN to one patient*
B. Two RNs to one patient
C. One RN to two patients
D. One RN to three patients
According to the ASPAN 2017-2018 Perianesthesia Nursing Standards Practice Recommendations and
Interpretive Statements the perianesthesia nurse administering moderate sedation to a patient
makes sure that an emergency cart with a defibrillator is:
A. Immediately available during the administrations
B. Available on the next floor, near the elevator
C. Unnecessary for a patient whose ASA score is 2 or less
general anesthesia. Chart review reveals normal preoperative EKG-hemoglobin-hematocrit- and
electrolyte values. Past medical history is remarkable for rheumatic fever during childhood. Thirty
minutes later the patient develops the following EKG pattern --- A-fib---
The perianesthesia nurse interprets the rhythm strip as indicating
A. Occasional premature atrial contractions
B. First-degree heart block
C. Atrial flutter
D. Atrial fibrillation - answer-A. Occasional premature atrial contractions
B. First-degree heart block
C. Atrial flutter
*D. Atrial fibrillation*
In evaluating the care of a patient with vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) the PACU nurse will
consider which of the following?
A. VRE can live for weeks on surfaces such as bed rails
B. The patient should be placed in a negative-pressure room
C. Transmission-based droplet precautions should be utilized
D. Gloves are a sufficient barrier device - answer-A. *VRE can live for weeks on surfaces such as
bed rails*
B. The patient should be placed in a negative-pressure room
C. Transmission-based droplet precautions should be utilized
D. Gloves are a sufficient barrier device
In the care of a conscious patient who has been admitted to the PACU following a thyroidectomy- the
position of choice is:
A. Supine with one pillow
B. Lying on one side with the head hyperextended
C. Sim's position
D. Semi-Fowler's position - answer-A. Supine with one pillow
B. Lying on one side with the head hyperextended
C. Sim's position
D. *Semi-Fowler's position*
,Postoperative discharge teaching for a patient who received an interscalene block with Ropivacaine
should include instructions for the patient to:
A. Notify surgeon for sudden pain or tingling of the arm
B. Perform full range of motion exercises every 2 hours
C. Contact surgeon if patient's hand is still numb 3 hours after surgery
D. Protect elbow to avoid damage to ulnar nerve until block resolves - answer-A. Notify surgeon for
sudden pain or tingling of the arm
B. Perform full range of motion exercises every 2 hours
C. Contact surgeon if patient's hand is still numb 3 hours after surgery
D. *Protect elbow to avoid damage to ulnar nerve until block resolves*
The presence of the family visitation in the PACU will:
A. Increase patient satisfaction
B. Extended PACU length of stay
C. Increase the infection rate
D. Decrease nursing interaction - answer-A. *Increase patient satisfaction*
B. Extended PACU length of stay
C. Increase the infection rate
D. Decrease nursing interaction
A patient who underwent a craniotomy for tumor removal is admitted to the PACU awake and alert.
30 minutes later the patient's level of consciousness decreases heart rate decreases to less than 60
and hypertension occurs. The PACU nurse notifies the neurosurgeon and anticipates the need for:
A. Phenytoin and mannitol
B. Atropine and furosemide
C. Analgesics and midazolam
D. Nitroprusside and labetolol - answer-A. *Phenytoin and mannitol*
B. Atropine and furosemide
C. Analgesics and midazolam
D. Nitroprusside and labetolol
,CPAN CERTIFICATION EXAM LATEST 2024/2025
170 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS GRADED A+
While drawing-up Versed into a syringe to use during a bedside procedure the perianesthesia nurse
must make certain the label identifies the:
A. Patient's full name the drug name and the expiration date
B. Patient's full name the hospital identifiers and expiration date
C. Medication name the solution strength and the hospital identifier
D. Medication name, the quantity, and the solution strength of the medication - answer-A.
Patient's full name the drug name and the expiration date
B. Patient's full name the hospital identifiers and expiration date
C. Medication name the solution strength and the hospital identifier
D. *Medication name, the quantity, and the solution strength of the medication*
When conducting a discharge phone call on a patient following a partial thyroidectomy which of the
following complaints should prompt the nurse to recommend immediate medical follow-up?
A. Tetany
B. Nausea
C. Headache
D. tinnitus - answer-A. *Tetany*
B. Nausea
C. Headache
D. tinnitus
According to the Safe Medical Device Act the perianesthesia nurse must report any serious event
that involves:
A. Oral medications
B. Restraint application
C. Computer programs
D. Family interactions - answer-A. Oral medications
, B. *Restraint application*
C. Computer programs
D. Family interactions
A perianesthesia nurse in Phase I PACU may care for which of the following patients?
A. One unconscious adult stable with artificial airway and one conscious adult stable free of
complications
B. One unconscious patient hemodynamically stable with a stable airway over the age of 8 and one
conscious patient stable free of complications
C. Two unconscious stable patients 5 and 8 years of age
D. One patient on mechanical life support and one stable patient - answer-A. One unconscious
adult stable with artificial airway and one conscious adult stable free of complications
B. *One unconscious patient hemodynamically stable with a stable airway over the age of 8 and one
conscious patient stable free of complications*
C. Two unconscious stable patients 5 and 8 years of age
D. One patient on mechanical life support and one stable patient
The ASPAN recommended staffing ratio for a patient in isolation upon arrival to PACU is:
A. One RN to one patient
B. Two RNs to one patient
C. One RN to two patients
D. One RN to three patients - answer-A. *One RN to one patient*
B. Two RNs to one patient
C. One RN to two patients
D. One RN to three patients
According to the ASPAN 2017-2018 Perianesthesia Nursing Standards Practice Recommendations and
Interpretive Statements the perianesthesia nurse administering moderate sedation to a patient
makes sure that an emergency cart with a defibrillator is:
A. Immediately available during the administrations
B. Available on the next floor, near the elevator
C. Unnecessary for a patient whose ASA score is 2 or less
