PACU RN A V1 EXAMPREP 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A+
●● What are the main goals of PACU care? Answer: Maintain safety,
identify actual or potential problems, and intervene early.
●● What is the biggest immediate risk in PACU patients? Answer:
Airway and ventilation compromise.
●● What assessment framework always takes priority in PACU?
Answer: ABCs — airway, breathing, circulation.
●● When is pain addressed in PACU priorities? Answer: After airway,
breathing, and circulation are stable.
●● Where should unstable postoperative patients go? Answer: Directly
to ICU or critical care, not routine PACU progression.
●● What is Phase I PACU care? Answer: Immediate post-anesthesia
care focused on stabilization.
,●● What are the primary focus areas in Phase I PACU? Answer:
Airway/ventilation, hemodynamics, neurologic status, temperature, and
pain.
●● What monitoring is required in Phase I PACU? Answer: ECG and
enhanced monitoring such as arterial BP or ventilatory support if
indicated.
●● What determines whether a patient goes to Phase II, inpatient unit, or
ICU? Answer: Patient acuity.
●● What procedural information must be included in PACU handoff?
Answer: Procedure performed and indication.
●● What anesthesia information is essential during PACU handoff?
Answer: Type of anesthesia, airway status (intubated/extubated), and
regional anesthesia level.
●● What intraoperative data must be reported to PACU? Answer:
Estimated blood loss (EBL/EDL), fluids and blood products, urine
output, and complications.
●● Why are medications and reversal agents important in PACU report?
Answer: Reversal agents may wear off and cause re-sedation or
respiratory decline.
, ●● What opioid reversal agent is commonly used? Answer: Naloxone
(Narcan).
●● What neuromuscular blockade reversal agent may be reported?
Answer: Sugammadex.
●● What airway assessments are performed in PACU? Answer: Airway
patency, need for oral/nasal airway, and aspiration risk.
●● What breathing assessments are essential in PACU? Answer:
Respiratory rate and effort, lung sounds, SpO₂, capnography if available,
and oxygen delivery.
●● What circulatory assessments are required? Answer: ECG rhythm,
BP trends, pulses, capillary refill, and skin perfusion.
●● What neurologic assessments are required postoperatively? Answer:
LOC, orientation, pupils, and motor/sensory function (especially with
regional anesthesia).
●● What should be assessed at the surgical site? Answer: Dressing
condition, drain output, IV sites, and infusions.
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A+
●● What are the main goals of PACU care? Answer: Maintain safety,
identify actual or potential problems, and intervene early.
●● What is the biggest immediate risk in PACU patients? Answer:
Airway and ventilation compromise.
●● What assessment framework always takes priority in PACU?
Answer: ABCs — airway, breathing, circulation.
●● When is pain addressed in PACU priorities? Answer: After airway,
breathing, and circulation are stable.
●● Where should unstable postoperative patients go? Answer: Directly
to ICU or critical care, not routine PACU progression.
●● What is Phase I PACU care? Answer: Immediate post-anesthesia
care focused on stabilization.
,●● What are the primary focus areas in Phase I PACU? Answer:
Airway/ventilation, hemodynamics, neurologic status, temperature, and
pain.
●● What monitoring is required in Phase I PACU? Answer: ECG and
enhanced monitoring such as arterial BP or ventilatory support if
indicated.
●● What determines whether a patient goes to Phase II, inpatient unit, or
ICU? Answer: Patient acuity.
●● What procedural information must be included in PACU handoff?
Answer: Procedure performed and indication.
●● What anesthesia information is essential during PACU handoff?
Answer: Type of anesthesia, airway status (intubated/extubated), and
regional anesthesia level.
●● What intraoperative data must be reported to PACU? Answer:
Estimated blood loss (EBL/EDL), fluids and blood products, urine
output, and complications.
●● Why are medications and reversal agents important in PACU report?
Answer: Reversal agents may wear off and cause re-sedation or
respiratory decline.
, ●● What opioid reversal agent is commonly used? Answer: Naloxone
(Narcan).
●● What neuromuscular blockade reversal agent may be reported?
Answer: Sugammadex.
●● What airway assessments are performed in PACU? Answer: Airway
patency, need for oral/nasal airway, and aspiration risk.
●● What breathing assessments are essential in PACU? Answer:
Respiratory rate and effort, lung sounds, SpO₂, capnography if available,
and oxygen delivery.
●● What circulatory assessments are required? Answer: ECG rhythm,
BP trends, pulses, capillary refill, and skin perfusion.
●● What neurologic assessments are required postoperatively? Answer:
LOC, orientation, pupils, and motor/sensory function (especially with
regional anesthesia).
●● What should be assessed at the surgical site? Answer: Dressing
condition, drain output, IV sites, and infusions.
