CAPA PRACTICE QUESTIONS FORM 1 2026/2027 | COMPLETE
CERTIFICATION EXAM PREP | HIGH-YIELD QUESTIONS & CORRECT
ANSWERS | LATEST UPDATE
1. If a patient expresses anxiety about postoperative pain during the
preoperative assessment, what should the perianesthesia nurse do?
Discuss pain management options and reassure the patient.
Refer the patient to a pain specialist immediately.
Tell the patient to wait until after surgery to address pain concerns.
Ignore the concerns and focus on other preoperative instructions.
2. If a perianesthesia nurse observes a toddler exhibiting emergence
excitement after surgery, what is the best immediate action to ensure the
child's safety?
Isolate the child from the parents to reduce stimulation.
Monitor the child closely and provide reassurance to the parents.
Administer sedative medication immediately.
Ignore the behavior as it is normal and will pass.
3. Describe the significance of the T4 sympathetic level in relation to sensory
deficits observed in patients after epidural anesthesia.
The T4 sympathetic level is unrelated to sensory deficits in the thoracic
region.
The T4 sympathetic level corresponds to the area around the nipple,
indicating that sensory deficits at this level suggest the effects of
epidural anesthesia.
The T4 sympathetic level indicates a complete loss of motor function
in the upper extremities.
, The T4 sympathetic level is responsible for lower limb sensation, which
is not affected by epidural anesthesia.
4. Which cranial nerve is assessed by asking a patient to frown, smile, and raise
their eyebrows?
Cranial nerve III
Cranial nerve VII
Cranial nerve V
Cranial nerve IX
5. The client is diagnosed with abrupt onset of supraventricular tachycardia
(SVT). The nurse prepares which medication to administer to the client?
Lidocaine
Propafal
Adenosine
Epinephrine
6. What does ASPAN recommend regarding staffing ratios for perianesthesia
nursing?
On-call schedules are augmented with ICU staff
On-call schedules are augmented with OR staff
On-call schedules are not longer than 24 hours
Minimum staffing ratios are maintained
7. A patient post appendectomy suddenly goes into supraventricular
tachycardia. Vital signs are BP = 125/75; HR = 168; and R = 16. The nurse
anticipates administering:
, adenosine.
esmolol.
propranolol.
lidocaine.
8. Metochlopramide may be given as a preoperative medication in order to:
Relieve discomfort
To control secretions
Reduce risk of aspiration
Relieve apprehension
9. What is the primary concern for patients undergoing emergency surgery
regarding anesthesia?
Awareness under anesthesia
Increased pain sensitivity
Delayed recovery
Higher risk of infection
10. The nurse plans to teach a patient how to use imagery to manage pain.
Which statement by the nurse would be appropriate?
"Listen to music to divert your attention away from the pain."
"Tell me what you hear, smell, or feel in a place that is special to
you."
"Place your pain in the image of a form you can destroy."
"Visualize the distress until you feel more calm and relaxed."
, 11. You are performing a preoperative assessment on a patient scheduled for
surgery in one week. You ask the patient if she is currently taking any herbal
supplements. The patient responds that she is taking Gingko Biloba because
she read that it can help improve memory. You instruct the patient that
Gingko Biloba:
Increases the risk of bleeding during and after surgery.
Decreases the risk of bleeding during and after surgery.
Increases the risk of blood clots during and after surgery.
Has not been proven to improve memory.
12. According to the Safe Medical Devices Act of 1990, to whom should a
healthcare facility report an incident of a tourniquet malfunction during
surgery that contributed to a surgical complication causing injury to the
patient?
Manufacturer of the tourniquet and bioengineering department
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Manufacturer of the tourniquet
Manufacturer of the tourniquet and U.S. Food and Drug
Administration
13. A patient on thiazide diuretics presents with muscle weakness and fatigue.
What should the nurse assess for in this patient?
Magnesium levels
Potassium levels
Sodium levels
Calcium levels
CERTIFICATION EXAM PREP | HIGH-YIELD QUESTIONS & CORRECT
ANSWERS | LATEST UPDATE
1. If a patient expresses anxiety about postoperative pain during the
preoperative assessment, what should the perianesthesia nurse do?
Discuss pain management options and reassure the patient.
Refer the patient to a pain specialist immediately.
Tell the patient to wait until after surgery to address pain concerns.
Ignore the concerns and focus on other preoperative instructions.
2. If a perianesthesia nurse observes a toddler exhibiting emergence
excitement after surgery, what is the best immediate action to ensure the
child's safety?
Isolate the child from the parents to reduce stimulation.
Monitor the child closely and provide reassurance to the parents.
Administer sedative medication immediately.
Ignore the behavior as it is normal and will pass.
3. Describe the significance of the T4 sympathetic level in relation to sensory
deficits observed in patients after epidural anesthesia.
The T4 sympathetic level is unrelated to sensory deficits in the thoracic
region.
The T4 sympathetic level corresponds to the area around the nipple,
indicating that sensory deficits at this level suggest the effects of
epidural anesthesia.
The T4 sympathetic level indicates a complete loss of motor function
in the upper extremities.
, The T4 sympathetic level is responsible for lower limb sensation, which
is not affected by epidural anesthesia.
4. Which cranial nerve is assessed by asking a patient to frown, smile, and raise
their eyebrows?
Cranial nerve III
Cranial nerve VII
Cranial nerve V
Cranial nerve IX
5. The client is diagnosed with abrupt onset of supraventricular tachycardia
(SVT). The nurse prepares which medication to administer to the client?
Lidocaine
Propafal
Adenosine
Epinephrine
6. What does ASPAN recommend regarding staffing ratios for perianesthesia
nursing?
On-call schedules are augmented with ICU staff
On-call schedules are augmented with OR staff
On-call schedules are not longer than 24 hours
Minimum staffing ratios are maintained
7. A patient post appendectomy suddenly goes into supraventricular
tachycardia. Vital signs are BP = 125/75; HR = 168; and R = 16. The nurse
anticipates administering:
, adenosine.
esmolol.
propranolol.
lidocaine.
8. Metochlopramide may be given as a preoperative medication in order to:
Relieve discomfort
To control secretions
Reduce risk of aspiration
Relieve apprehension
9. What is the primary concern for patients undergoing emergency surgery
regarding anesthesia?
Awareness under anesthesia
Increased pain sensitivity
Delayed recovery
Higher risk of infection
10. The nurse plans to teach a patient how to use imagery to manage pain.
Which statement by the nurse would be appropriate?
"Listen to music to divert your attention away from the pain."
"Tell me what you hear, smell, or feel in a place that is special to
you."
"Place your pain in the image of a form you can destroy."
"Visualize the distress until you feel more calm and relaxed."
, 11. You are performing a preoperative assessment on a patient scheduled for
surgery in one week. You ask the patient if she is currently taking any herbal
supplements. The patient responds that she is taking Gingko Biloba because
she read that it can help improve memory. You instruct the patient that
Gingko Biloba:
Increases the risk of bleeding during and after surgery.
Decreases the risk of bleeding during and after surgery.
Increases the risk of blood clots during and after surgery.
Has not been proven to improve memory.
12. According to the Safe Medical Devices Act of 1990, to whom should a
healthcare facility report an incident of a tourniquet malfunction during
surgery that contributed to a surgical complication causing injury to the
patient?
Manufacturer of the tourniquet and bioengineering department
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Manufacturer of the tourniquet
Manufacturer of the tourniquet and U.S. Food and Drug
Administration
13. A patient on thiazide diuretics presents with muscle weakness and fatigue.
What should the nurse assess for in this patient?
Magnesium levels
Potassium levels
Sodium levels
Calcium levels
