CPAN questions and Answers Updated
2026
3AnswerWhen educating the patient on what to expect during the administration of spinal
anesthesia, the perianesthesia nurse understands that the progression of blockage occurs in the
following order:
1. sensory, motor, autonomic
2. motor, sensory, autonomic
3. autonomic, sensory, motor
4. motor, autonomic, sensory
3AnswerAfter extubation of a patient, which of the following would be considered most serious?
1. Sore throat
2. Impaired swallowing ability
3. Inspiratory stridor
4. Hoarseness
1AnswerWhich of the following interventions would be used first to maintain adequate perfusion
and oxygen supply to cardiac muscles following hepatic surgery in a patient with a history of
coronary artery disease:
1. Ensure a hemoglobin concentration ≥ 10 g.
2. Treat tachydysrhythmias and hypotension.
3. Monitor oxygen saturation via pulse oximetry.
4. Administer appropriate medications.
4AnswerThe use of the pulse oximeter has become a routine part of PACU care. The post anesthesia
nurse may decide that oximetry monitoring is indicated when the patient:
1. has had minor surgery.
2. has normal vital signs.
3. has had regional anesthesia.
,4. is severely hypothermic.
3AnswerThe perianesthesia nurse is aware that a dramatic decrease in the calcium may be cause by
removal of the:
1. pituitary gland.
2. thyroid gland.
3. parathyroid gland.
4. adrenal glands.
2AnswerTidal volume is most precisely defined as the amount of:
1. air exchange in one minute.
2. gas passing into or out of the lungs in each respiratory cycle.
3. gas remaining within the chest after maximal expiration.
4. air exchange with full inspiration and expiration.
4AnswerIn caring for a preschool-aged child, the perianesthesia nurse is aware that the child's
primary cause of anxiety prior to surgery is:
1. fear of the medical equipment.
2. striving for approval.
3. loss of privacy.
4. separation from parents.
1AnswerOne of the most frequent side effects of ketamine anesthesia is:
1. hallucination.
2. respiratory depression.
3. hypotension.
4. bradycardia.
,1AnswerIn providing preoperative teaching to a patient requesting spinal anesthesia, the
perianesthesia nurse is aware that an absolute contraindication for spinal anesthesia is:
1. patient refusal.
2. chronic back pain.
3. multiple sclerosis.
4. sickle cell anemia.
1AnswerIn administering flumazenil, the perianesthesia nurse is aware that it inhibits the central
effects of benzodiazepines by:
1. competing for the receptor sites.
2. stimulating the cerebral cortex.
3. occupying the mu receptor sites.
4. metabolizing the medications.
3AnswerA pathological process that can interfere with accurate measurements of SpO2 when using a
pulse oximeter is:
1. Cushing's disease.
2. hypoparathyroidism.
3. Raynaud's disease.
4. hyperthyroidism.
2AnswerIn the event that a pharmacologically paralyzed patient is inadvertently extubated, the first
priority of the PACU nurse is to:
1. administer a muscarinic anticholinergic drug immediately.
2. establish and maintain the airway and ventilation.
3. administer an anticholinesterase drug immediately.
4. assess for muscle recovery before reintubating.
, 2AnswerA PACU nurse identifies an increased number of postoperative infections and utilizes a
quality improvement tool to collect more data. When deficiencies are noted in the Phase I area, the
nurse next considers:
1. developing a poster board on commonly used antibiotics.
2. presenting staff with an in-service on infection control.
3. apprising the infectious disease service of the occurrences.
4. notifying the OR clinical specialist.
2AnswerA staff nurse denied a merit increase expresses vigorous support for management and its
policies instead of showing anger. The nurse's behavior is characterized as:
1. identification.
2. reaction formation.
3. sublimation.
4. rationalization.
2AnswerA standard of practice for post anesthesia nursing is established by which acceptable levels
of nursing action?
1. Promoting independent nursing judgment
2. Specifying the nursing goal while defining appropriate nursing measures
3. Identifying the nursing actions that meet JCAHO criteria
4. Prescribing the nursing intervention relative to standing orders
3AnswerA PACU education/research committee should have three commitments, which must include
all of the following except:
1. development of innovative thinking.
2. freedom of inquiry.
3. individual progress of each nurse.
4. excellence in practice.
2026
3AnswerWhen educating the patient on what to expect during the administration of spinal
anesthesia, the perianesthesia nurse understands that the progression of blockage occurs in the
following order:
1. sensory, motor, autonomic
2. motor, sensory, autonomic
3. autonomic, sensory, motor
4. motor, autonomic, sensory
3AnswerAfter extubation of a patient, which of the following would be considered most serious?
1. Sore throat
2. Impaired swallowing ability
3. Inspiratory stridor
4. Hoarseness
1AnswerWhich of the following interventions would be used first to maintain adequate perfusion
and oxygen supply to cardiac muscles following hepatic surgery in a patient with a history of
coronary artery disease:
1. Ensure a hemoglobin concentration ≥ 10 g.
2. Treat tachydysrhythmias and hypotension.
3. Monitor oxygen saturation via pulse oximetry.
4. Administer appropriate medications.
4AnswerThe use of the pulse oximeter has become a routine part of PACU care. The post anesthesia
nurse may decide that oximetry monitoring is indicated when the patient:
1. has had minor surgery.
2. has normal vital signs.
3. has had regional anesthesia.
,4. is severely hypothermic.
3AnswerThe perianesthesia nurse is aware that a dramatic decrease in the calcium may be cause by
removal of the:
1. pituitary gland.
2. thyroid gland.
3. parathyroid gland.
4. adrenal glands.
2AnswerTidal volume is most precisely defined as the amount of:
1. air exchange in one minute.
2. gas passing into or out of the lungs in each respiratory cycle.
3. gas remaining within the chest after maximal expiration.
4. air exchange with full inspiration and expiration.
4AnswerIn caring for a preschool-aged child, the perianesthesia nurse is aware that the child's
primary cause of anxiety prior to surgery is:
1. fear of the medical equipment.
2. striving for approval.
3. loss of privacy.
4. separation from parents.
1AnswerOne of the most frequent side effects of ketamine anesthesia is:
1. hallucination.
2. respiratory depression.
3. hypotension.
4. bradycardia.
,1AnswerIn providing preoperative teaching to a patient requesting spinal anesthesia, the
perianesthesia nurse is aware that an absolute contraindication for spinal anesthesia is:
1. patient refusal.
2. chronic back pain.
3. multiple sclerosis.
4. sickle cell anemia.
1AnswerIn administering flumazenil, the perianesthesia nurse is aware that it inhibits the central
effects of benzodiazepines by:
1. competing for the receptor sites.
2. stimulating the cerebral cortex.
3. occupying the mu receptor sites.
4. metabolizing the medications.
3AnswerA pathological process that can interfere with accurate measurements of SpO2 when using a
pulse oximeter is:
1. Cushing's disease.
2. hypoparathyroidism.
3. Raynaud's disease.
4. hyperthyroidism.
2AnswerIn the event that a pharmacologically paralyzed patient is inadvertently extubated, the first
priority of the PACU nurse is to:
1. administer a muscarinic anticholinergic drug immediately.
2. establish and maintain the airway and ventilation.
3. administer an anticholinesterase drug immediately.
4. assess for muscle recovery before reintubating.
, 2AnswerA PACU nurse identifies an increased number of postoperative infections and utilizes a
quality improvement tool to collect more data. When deficiencies are noted in the Phase I area, the
nurse next considers:
1. developing a poster board on commonly used antibiotics.
2. presenting staff with an in-service on infection control.
3. apprising the infectious disease service of the occurrences.
4. notifying the OR clinical specialist.
2AnswerA staff nurse denied a merit increase expresses vigorous support for management and its
policies instead of showing anger. The nurse's behavior is characterized as:
1. identification.
2. reaction formation.
3. sublimation.
4. rationalization.
2AnswerA standard of practice for post anesthesia nursing is established by which acceptable levels
of nursing action?
1. Promoting independent nursing judgment
2. Specifying the nursing goal while defining appropriate nursing measures
3. Identifying the nursing actions that meet JCAHO criteria
4. Prescribing the nursing intervention relative to standing orders
3AnswerA PACU education/research committee should have three commitments, which must include
all of the following except:
1. development of innovative thinking.
2. freedom of inquiry.
3. individual progress of each nurse.
4. excellence in practice.
