CPAN EXAM ACTUAL EXAM 2026 | CERTIFIED POST
ANESTHESIA NURSE EXAM | ALL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
EXPLANATIONS | JUST RELEASED
A patient 7 months pregnant is admitted for repair of a lacerated
Achilles tendon. During assessment, contractions of her abdomen are
noted. Which of the following positions should this patient be placed?
1. Right lateral tilt position
2. Left lateral tilt position
3. Supine
4. Trendelenburg ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------2
Because your liver is on the right side of your abdomen, lying on your
left side helps keep the uterus off that large organ. Sleeping on the
left side also improves circulation to the heart and allows for the best
blood flow to the fetus, uterus, and kidneys.
When preparing a patient for a brachial plexus nerve block for upper
extremity surgery, the perianesthesia nurse is aware that the safest and
easiest approach is:
,1. subclavicular.
2. supraclavicular.
3. interscalene.
4. axillary. ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------4
The axillary approach to the brachial plexus is considered the safest of
the four approaches because of reduced risk to surrounding structures
such as the risk of phrenic nerve blockade and/or pneumothorax, but
the general risks of accidental intravascular and intraneural injection
still exists.
To decrease nausea, the perianesthesia nurse instructs the patient to:
1. take deep breaths.
2. take several quick breaths.
3. turn their head to the side.
4. utilize Reiki or imagery. ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------1
The perianesthesia nurse would expect a patient with COPD to have
received which of the following anesthetic agents?
,1. Isoflurane
2. Nitrous oxide
3. Enflurane
4. Halothane ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------4.
Halothane also has excellent bronchodilatory properties and remains
an acceptable alternative for induction
Isoflurane - Isoflurane is a good bronchodilator, but it is not ideal for
induction of anesthesia since it is more pungent than sevoflurane and
halothane and has a slower onset than sevoflurane.
Sevoflurane - We prefer sevoflurane for inhalation induction since it
has the most pronounced bronchodilatory properties of the available
agents.
Desflurane - We avoid desflurane during induction of anesthesia in
patients with COPD. Because of its extreme pungency, desflurane may
increase secretions and cause coughing, laryngospasm, and/or
bronchospasm during induction, particularly in current smokers, and
it may increase airway resistance.
In a preoperative visit, information to be collected by the
perianesthesia nurse includes:
, 1. type of surgery to be performed, previous surgical history and
verification of payment source.
2. cardiac status, vaccination status, respiratory status, and location of
patient's family postoperatively.
3. surgical procedure, whether the patient has signed the consent form,
and type of anesthesia to be used.
4. preexisting diseases, laboratory values, neurological status, current
medications, and allergies. ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------4
A patient calls the preoperative center asking whether to continue
taking his daily dose of clonidine. The perianesthesia nurse is aware
that clonidine should be:
1. taken only if the surgeon deems it necessary.
2. stopped at least 3 days preoperatively.
3. stopped at least 5 days preoperatively.
4. taken daily as prescribed. ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------4
Six hours postoperatively, a patient has not voided and his bladder is
palpably distended. The patient refuses catheterization. If the nurse
catheterizes the patient against his wishes, this is considered:
ANESTHESIA NURSE EXAM | ALL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
EXPLANATIONS | JUST RELEASED
A patient 7 months pregnant is admitted for repair of a lacerated
Achilles tendon. During assessment, contractions of her abdomen are
noted. Which of the following positions should this patient be placed?
1. Right lateral tilt position
2. Left lateral tilt position
3. Supine
4. Trendelenburg ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------2
Because your liver is on the right side of your abdomen, lying on your
left side helps keep the uterus off that large organ. Sleeping on the
left side also improves circulation to the heart and allows for the best
blood flow to the fetus, uterus, and kidneys.
When preparing a patient for a brachial plexus nerve block for upper
extremity surgery, the perianesthesia nurse is aware that the safest and
easiest approach is:
,1. subclavicular.
2. supraclavicular.
3. interscalene.
4. axillary. ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------4
The axillary approach to the brachial plexus is considered the safest of
the four approaches because of reduced risk to surrounding structures
such as the risk of phrenic nerve blockade and/or pneumothorax, but
the general risks of accidental intravascular and intraneural injection
still exists.
To decrease nausea, the perianesthesia nurse instructs the patient to:
1. take deep breaths.
2. take several quick breaths.
3. turn their head to the side.
4. utilize Reiki or imagery. ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------1
The perianesthesia nurse would expect a patient with COPD to have
received which of the following anesthetic agents?
,1. Isoflurane
2. Nitrous oxide
3. Enflurane
4. Halothane ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------4.
Halothane also has excellent bronchodilatory properties and remains
an acceptable alternative for induction
Isoflurane - Isoflurane is a good bronchodilator, but it is not ideal for
induction of anesthesia since it is more pungent than sevoflurane and
halothane and has a slower onset than sevoflurane.
Sevoflurane - We prefer sevoflurane for inhalation induction since it
has the most pronounced bronchodilatory properties of the available
agents.
Desflurane - We avoid desflurane during induction of anesthesia in
patients with COPD. Because of its extreme pungency, desflurane may
increase secretions and cause coughing, laryngospasm, and/or
bronchospasm during induction, particularly in current smokers, and
it may increase airway resistance.
In a preoperative visit, information to be collected by the
perianesthesia nurse includes:
, 1. type of surgery to be performed, previous surgical history and
verification of payment source.
2. cardiac status, vaccination status, respiratory status, and location of
patient's family postoperatively.
3. surgical procedure, whether the patient has signed the consent form,
and type of anesthesia to be used.
4. preexisting diseases, laboratory values, neurological status, current
medications, and allergies. ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------4
A patient calls the preoperative center asking whether to continue
taking his daily dose of clonidine. The perianesthesia nurse is aware
that clonidine should be:
1. taken only if the surgeon deems it necessary.
2. stopped at least 3 days preoperatively.
3. stopped at least 5 days preoperatively.
4. taken daily as prescribed. ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------4
Six hours postoperatively, a patient has not voided and his bladder is
palpably distended. The patient refuses catheterization. If the nurse
catheterizes the patient against his wishes, this is considered:
