CPAN 2026 STUDY REVIEW
1. What intervention should be prioritized for a patient with obstructive sleep
apnea recovering from general anesthesia?
Answer√√ Applying continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) as prescribed.
2. What is the most critical preoperative laboratory value to evaluate for a
patient prescribed warfarin?
Answer√√ International Normalized Ratio (INR).
3. Which clinical finding in a PACU patient necessitates immediate interven-
tion?
Answer√√ Oxygen saturation of 89% on room air.
4. What is the most probable cause of hypotension and tachycardia in a PACU
patient shortly after surgery?
Answer√√ Hypovolemia.
5. What nursing intervention is most suitable for a patient experiencing post-
operative nausea and vomiting (PONV)?
Answer√√ Positioning the patient in a side-lying position.
,6. What should the nurse's initial course of action be for a patient with a
respiratory rate of 8 breaths per minute after moderate sedation?
Answer√√ Administer naloxone as prescribed.
7. What is the most important preoperative instruction for a diabetic patient
undergoing surgery?
Answer√√ Avoid eating or drinking for at least 8 hours before the procedure.
8. Which patient is most susceptible to postoperative delirium?
Answer√√ A 72-year-old patient with a history of dementia.
9. What assessment finding necessitates additional intervention prior to dis-
charging a patient after ambulatory surgery?
Answer√√ Patient is unable to void after receiving IV fluids.
10. What is the primary course of action for a patient in the PACU experiencing
increased respiratory effort and stridor after extubation?
Answer√√ Prepare for emergent rein-tubation.
11. Which factor elevates the likelihood of postoperative urinary retention?
Answer√√ Use of regional anesthesia.
,12. What should the nurse first assess for in a PACU patient with sudden
agitation, tachycardia, and increased respiratory rate?
Answer√√ Hypoxia.
13. Which patient is most susceptible to postoperative pulmonary complica-
tions?
Answer√√ A 60-year-old smoker with COPD.
14. What is the most efficient method of evaluating a patient's readiness for
discharge following ambulatory surgery?
Answer√√ All of the above: their ability to tolerate food and fluids, ambulate without assistance,
and level of pain control with oral analgesics.
, 15. What should the nurse anticipate using for a patient with a history of
malignant hyperthermia scheduled for surgery?
Answer√√ Dantrolene sodium.
16. What is the priority intervention for a patient in the PACU with respiratory
distress and stridor?
Answer√√ Administering racemic epinephrine.
17. Which medication is most likely to induce prolonged sedation in an elderly
postoperative patient?
Answer√√ Midazolam.
18. What is the optimal course of action for a patient experiencing dizziness
after recovering from general anesthesia?
Answer√√ Encourage slow position changes.
19. What should be done for a patient undergoing a minor procedure under
moderate sedation who experiences a sudden loss of consciousness?
Answer√√ Administer naloxone or flumazenil as prescribed.
1. What intervention should be prioritized for a patient with obstructive sleep
apnea recovering from general anesthesia?
Answer√√ Applying continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) as prescribed.
2. What is the most critical preoperative laboratory value to evaluate for a
patient prescribed warfarin?
Answer√√ International Normalized Ratio (INR).
3. Which clinical finding in a PACU patient necessitates immediate interven-
tion?
Answer√√ Oxygen saturation of 89% on room air.
4. What is the most probable cause of hypotension and tachycardia in a PACU
patient shortly after surgery?
Answer√√ Hypovolemia.
5. What nursing intervention is most suitable for a patient experiencing post-
operative nausea and vomiting (PONV)?
Answer√√ Positioning the patient in a side-lying position.
,6. What should the nurse's initial course of action be for a patient with a
respiratory rate of 8 breaths per minute after moderate sedation?
Answer√√ Administer naloxone as prescribed.
7. What is the most important preoperative instruction for a diabetic patient
undergoing surgery?
Answer√√ Avoid eating or drinking for at least 8 hours before the procedure.
8. Which patient is most susceptible to postoperative delirium?
Answer√√ A 72-year-old patient with a history of dementia.
9. What assessment finding necessitates additional intervention prior to dis-
charging a patient after ambulatory surgery?
Answer√√ Patient is unable to void after receiving IV fluids.
10. What is the primary course of action for a patient in the PACU experiencing
increased respiratory effort and stridor after extubation?
Answer√√ Prepare for emergent rein-tubation.
11. Which factor elevates the likelihood of postoperative urinary retention?
Answer√√ Use of regional anesthesia.
,12. What should the nurse first assess for in a PACU patient with sudden
agitation, tachycardia, and increased respiratory rate?
Answer√√ Hypoxia.
13. Which patient is most susceptible to postoperative pulmonary complica-
tions?
Answer√√ A 60-year-old smoker with COPD.
14. What is the most efficient method of evaluating a patient's readiness for
discharge following ambulatory surgery?
Answer√√ All of the above: their ability to tolerate food and fluids, ambulate without assistance,
and level of pain control with oral analgesics.
, 15. What should the nurse anticipate using for a patient with a history of
malignant hyperthermia scheduled for surgery?
Answer√√ Dantrolene sodium.
16. What is the priority intervention for a patient in the PACU with respiratory
distress and stridor?
Answer√√ Administering racemic epinephrine.
17. Which medication is most likely to induce prolonged sedation in an elderly
postoperative patient?
Answer√√ Midazolam.
18. What is the optimal course of action for a patient experiencing dizziness
after recovering from general anesthesia?
Answer√√ Encourage slow position changes.
19. What should be done for a patient undergoing a minor procedure under
moderate sedation who experiences a sudden loss of consciousness?
Answer√√ Administer naloxone or flumazenil as prescribed.
