CAPA Practice Exam Questions
A patient is admitted to the PACU following a laparoscopic Nissen !@#$%%%%%
fundoplication.
%%%%%%
Intraoperatively, the patient required chest tube placement for development of a tension
pneumothorax. The perianesthesia nurse understands that which of the following in the
patient's history could be problematic at this time?
Diabetes
COPD
Osteoporosis
Angina - (ANSWERS)COPD
After receiving an interscalene block, the patient complains of shortness of breath. The
perianesthesia nurse is aware that the block may have affected which nerve?
Transverse cervical
Supraclavicular
Phrenic
Recurrent laryngeal - (ANSWERS)Phrenic
While assisting an anesthesiologist performing a block for reflex sympathetic dystrophy, the
perianesthesia nurse observes that the affected arm becomes warm to the touch and flushed.
The patient reports a sensation of heaviness in the arm. The perianesthesia nurse knows that
this indicates which of the following?
Ineffective regional block
Severe allergic reaction
Successful therapeutic block
Extravasation of the medication - (ANSWERS)Successful therapeutic block
While caring for a patient after lumbar posterior nerve root rhizotomy, the perianesthesia nurse
notes the patient has no movement or sensation to the lower extremities. The priority nursing
action is to notify the:
Anesthesiologist of muscle paralysis.
Operating room of the complications.
Surgeon of the absence of sensation.
Surgeon of lack of motor ability. - (ANSWERS)surgeon of lack of motor ability.
According to ASPAN Standards of Perianesthesia Nursing Practice, care in the post anesthesia
Phase I focuses on:
Preparation of patient and family for home care.
Preparation of patient for extended care.
Transition of the patient from an anesthetized state to Phase II or an inpatient setting.
Transition of the patient from the preoperative to the intraoperative phase. -
(ANSWERS)transition of the patient from an anesthetized state to Phase II or an inpatient
setting.
,CAPA Practice Exam Questions
!@#$%%%%%
Twenty minutes after admission to the PACU, a 24-year-old patient exhibits a productive cough,
%%%%%%
dyspnea, and expectoration of pink, frothy sputum. In report, the nurse is told that the patient
experienced a post-extubation laryngospasm in the OR. The PACU nurse suspects that the
patient has developed:
A tracheal hemorrhage.
Acute respiratory failure.
Noncardiogenic pulmonary edema.
A pulmonary embolism. - (ANSWERS)noncardiogenic pulmonary edema.
The perianesthesia nurse is titrating pain medications for a postoperative patient in Phase I
PACU. Pain medication orders have changed from IV fentanyl to IV morphine. The
perianesthesia nurse knows that an equivalent analgesic of fentanyl 0.1 mg is:
Methadone 20 mg.
Morphine 10 mg.
Butorphanol 10 mg.
Meperidine 125 mg. - (ANSWERS)Morphine 10mg
The perianesthesia nurse caring for a 60-kg patient who is n.p.o. Should maintain IV fluid hourly
maintenance rate at:
45 ml/hr
55 ml/hr
65 ml/hr
100 ml/hr - (ANSWERS)100 ml/hr
A patient is admitted to the PACU with a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) in place. The
perianesthesia nurse understands that a properly placed LMA:
Conforms to the hypopharynx.
Passes through the glottic opening.
Prevents aspiration.
Prevents laryngospasm. - (ANSWERS)conforms to the hypopharynx.
In postoperative patients with a history of end-stage renal disease, the administration of IV
glucose and regular insulin is used to correct the complication of:
Hyponatremia.
Hypokalemia.
Hypernatremia.
Hyperkalemia. - (ANSWERS)Hyperkalemia
The perianesthesia nurse would be immediately concerned when a postoperative cataract
patient awaiting discharge complains of:
Irritation or "something in my eye".
Sudden onset of sharp ocular pain.
Dizziness and tinnitus.
, CAPA Practice Exam Questions
Blurred vision and headache. - (ANSWERS)sudden onset of sharp ocular pain.!@#$%%%%%
%%%%%%
An 80-year-old patient who is hearing-impaired is being discharged home following cataract
removal. In planning the discharge, the perianesthesia nurse should:
Avoid low lighting and noisy teaching environments.
Avoid using written instructions.
Provide small print discharge material.
Provide audiovisual aids in a teaching packet. - (ANSWERS)avoid low lighting and noisy
teaching environments.
A patient is admitted to the PACU following an L4-5 laminectomy with fusion. Thirty minutes
after admission, drainage from the surgically placed drain is 500 ml of blood. Vital signs are: BP
= 96/40, HR = 116, R = 30, and spo2 93%. Hemoglobin is 8.5 and hematocrit is 28. The
perianesthesia nurse anticipates administering:
Crystalloid solution.
Red blood cells.
Dextran 40.
Albumin. - (ANSWERS)crystalloid solution.
The perianesthesia nurse demonstrates understanding that language and readable
instructions are important to patient safety after discharge, by ensuring patient discharge
instructions are written in the vocabulary of grade level:
3
5
9
12 - (ANSWERS)5
Parents visiting the PACU find that their 4-year-old child refuses to allow them to console or give
care. The perianesthesia nurse explains that this behavior:
Results from the pain that the child is experiencing and will subside with medication.
Indicates that the child wants them to leave and return later.
Indicates that the parents need to be more firm with the child.
Is a normal response to the separation anxiety that the child is feeling. - (ANSWERS)is a normal
response to the separation anxiety that the child is feeling.
A patient has received Vecuronium as part of the anesthesia regimen. The perianesthesia nurse
anticipates which of the following IV to be given for reversal of the effects?
Droperidol
Diphenhydramine
Naloxone
Sugammadex - (ANSWERS)Sugammadex
A patient is admitted to the PACU following a laparoscopic Nissen !@#$%%%%%
fundoplication.
%%%%%%
Intraoperatively, the patient required chest tube placement for development of a tension
pneumothorax. The perianesthesia nurse understands that which of the following in the
patient's history could be problematic at this time?
Diabetes
COPD
Osteoporosis
Angina - (ANSWERS)COPD
After receiving an interscalene block, the patient complains of shortness of breath. The
perianesthesia nurse is aware that the block may have affected which nerve?
Transverse cervical
Supraclavicular
Phrenic
Recurrent laryngeal - (ANSWERS)Phrenic
While assisting an anesthesiologist performing a block for reflex sympathetic dystrophy, the
perianesthesia nurse observes that the affected arm becomes warm to the touch and flushed.
The patient reports a sensation of heaviness in the arm. The perianesthesia nurse knows that
this indicates which of the following?
Ineffective regional block
Severe allergic reaction
Successful therapeutic block
Extravasation of the medication - (ANSWERS)Successful therapeutic block
While caring for a patient after lumbar posterior nerve root rhizotomy, the perianesthesia nurse
notes the patient has no movement or sensation to the lower extremities. The priority nursing
action is to notify the:
Anesthesiologist of muscle paralysis.
Operating room of the complications.
Surgeon of the absence of sensation.
Surgeon of lack of motor ability. - (ANSWERS)surgeon of lack of motor ability.
According to ASPAN Standards of Perianesthesia Nursing Practice, care in the post anesthesia
Phase I focuses on:
Preparation of patient and family for home care.
Preparation of patient for extended care.
Transition of the patient from an anesthetized state to Phase II or an inpatient setting.
Transition of the patient from the preoperative to the intraoperative phase. -
(ANSWERS)transition of the patient from an anesthetized state to Phase II or an inpatient
setting.
,CAPA Practice Exam Questions
!@#$%%%%%
Twenty minutes after admission to the PACU, a 24-year-old patient exhibits a productive cough,
%%%%%%
dyspnea, and expectoration of pink, frothy sputum. In report, the nurse is told that the patient
experienced a post-extubation laryngospasm in the OR. The PACU nurse suspects that the
patient has developed:
A tracheal hemorrhage.
Acute respiratory failure.
Noncardiogenic pulmonary edema.
A pulmonary embolism. - (ANSWERS)noncardiogenic pulmonary edema.
The perianesthesia nurse is titrating pain medications for a postoperative patient in Phase I
PACU. Pain medication orders have changed from IV fentanyl to IV morphine. The
perianesthesia nurse knows that an equivalent analgesic of fentanyl 0.1 mg is:
Methadone 20 mg.
Morphine 10 mg.
Butorphanol 10 mg.
Meperidine 125 mg. - (ANSWERS)Morphine 10mg
The perianesthesia nurse caring for a 60-kg patient who is n.p.o. Should maintain IV fluid hourly
maintenance rate at:
45 ml/hr
55 ml/hr
65 ml/hr
100 ml/hr - (ANSWERS)100 ml/hr
A patient is admitted to the PACU with a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) in place. The
perianesthesia nurse understands that a properly placed LMA:
Conforms to the hypopharynx.
Passes through the glottic opening.
Prevents aspiration.
Prevents laryngospasm. - (ANSWERS)conforms to the hypopharynx.
In postoperative patients with a history of end-stage renal disease, the administration of IV
glucose and regular insulin is used to correct the complication of:
Hyponatremia.
Hypokalemia.
Hypernatremia.
Hyperkalemia. - (ANSWERS)Hyperkalemia
The perianesthesia nurse would be immediately concerned when a postoperative cataract
patient awaiting discharge complains of:
Irritation or "something in my eye".
Sudden onset of sharp ocular pain.
Dizziness and tinnitus.
, CAPA Practice Exam Questions
Blurred vision and headache. - (ANSWERS)sudden onset of sharp ocular pain.!@#$%%%%%
%%%%%%
An 80-year-old patient who is hearing-impaired is being discharged home following cataract
removal. In planning the discharge, the perianesthesia nurse should:
Avoid low lighting and noisy teaching environments.
Avoid using written instructions.
Provide small print discharge material.
Provide audiovisual aids in a teaching packet. - (ANSWERS)avoid low lighting and noisy
teaching environments.
A patient is admitted to the PACU following an L4-5 laminectomy with fusion. Thirty minutes
after admission, drainage from the surgically placed drain is 500 ml of blood. Vital signs are: BP
= 96/40, HR = 116, R = 30, and spo2 93%. Hemoglobin is 8.5 and hematocrit is 28. The
perianesthesia nurse anticipates administering:
Crystalloid solution.
Red blood cells.
Dextran 40.
Albumin. - (ANSWERS)crystalloid solution.
The perianesthesia nurse demonstrates understanding that language and readable
instructions are important to patient safety after discharge, by ensuring patient discharge
instructions are written in the vocabulary of grade level:
3
5
9
12 - (ANSWERS)5
Parents visiting the PACU find that their 4-year-old child refuses to allow them to console or give
care. The perianesthesia nurse explains that this behavior:
Results from the pain that the child is experiencing and will subside with medication.
Indicates that the child wants them to leave and return later.
Indicates that the parents need to be more firm with the child.
Is a normal response to the separation anxiety that the child is feeling. - (ANSWERS)is a normal
response to the separation anxiety that the child is feeling.
A patient has received Vecuronium as part of the anesthesia regimen. The perianesthesia nurse
anticipates which of the following IV to be given for reversal of the effects?
Droperidol
Diphenhydramine
Naloxone
Sugammadex - (ANSWERS)Sugammadex
