CAPA TEST BANK 2026 –
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE
EXAM OVERVIEW
| Component | Details |
|--||
| Exam | Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA) |
| Issuing Body | American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification (ABPANC) |
| Format | 185 multiple-choice questions |
| Key Content Areas | Preoperative assessment, Phase I & II PACU recovery, anesthesia
complications, pharmacology, discharge criteria, patient/family teaching |
| Eligibility | Minimum 1 year of perianesthesia nursing experience |
| Blueprint | Based on ASPAN Standards of Perianesthesia Nursing Practice |
KEY CONTENT AREAS
The CAPA exam covers the following domains as outlined by the ABPANC exam blueprint:
| Domain | Focus Areas |
|--|-|
| Patient Assessment | Preoperative evaluation, risk stratification, physical assessment |
| Anesthesia Care | Regional blocks, general anesthesia, sedation, monitoring |
| Perianesthesia Nursing | Phase I recovery (ABCs), Phase II recovery (discharge readiness) |
| Pain Management | Opioid and non-opioid analgesia, multimodal approaches |
| Safety & Pharmacology | Medication administration, malignant hyperthermia, emergency
protocols |
| Professional Practice | ASPAN standards, legal/ethical issues, patient education |
PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
SECTION 1: PREOPERATIVE CARE & ASSESSMENT
,Q1. When giving preoperative instructions for an adult, the nurse instructs that clear liquids may
be ingested 2 hours before induction of anesthesia. In most patients, this will:
A) Decrease peristalsis of the intestines
B) Create an alkaline pH
C) Have no effect on gastric acidity
D) Reduce the residual gastric volume
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Clear liquids taken 2 hours before anesthesia help reduce residual gastric volume,
decreasing the risk of aspiration. Current guidelines allow clear liquids up to 2 hours before
induction.
Q2. A Spanish-speaking patient arrives for a pre-operative admission interview accompanied by
a bilingual companion. The patient understands English but speaks only Spanish. What action
should the perianesthesia nurse take regarding the preoperative NPO instructions?
A) Request that the friend interpret the written instructions
B) Provide written instructions in Spanish
C) Determine the friend's ability to understand instructions
D) Delay instructions until a certified interpreter can be located
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A certified medical interpreter should be used to ensure accurate communication.
Family members or friends may not provide accurate interpretation and may compromise
confidentiality.
Q3. When preparing a 3-year-old patient for surgery, the perianesthesia nurse should say:
A) "If you are good, you will see your parents when you wake up."
B) "You will be put to sleep."
C) "You will fall asleep."
D) "After the procedure, you will feel much better."
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: For children, using the phrase "you will fall asleep" is developmentally appropriate
and less frightening than "you will be put to sleep." Avoid terms that may be misinterpreted or
cause fear.
Q4. The perianesthesia nurse is aware that the purpose of administering metoclopramide during
the preoperative period is to:
A) Control intraoperative anesthesia requirements
B) Potentiate the effects of benzodiazepines
C) Promote gastric emptying
D) Increase gastric pH
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Metoclopramide (Reglan) promotes gastric emptying by increasing gastrointestinal
motility. It is often given preoperatively to reduce the risk of aspiration. It can also have
extrapyramidal side effects like tardive dyskinesia.
Q5. A perianesthesia nurse instructs a patient who routinely takes Ginkgo biloba to discontinue
this preoperatively because it could cause:
A) Hypertension
B) Increased bleeding risk
C) Prolonged sedation
D) Allergic reaction
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Ginkgo biloba has anticoagulant properties and increases bleeding risk. Herbal
supplements should be reviewed preoperatively and discontinued as appropriate.
Q6. The perianesthesia nurse knows that serious injury from a medical product must be
reported within 10 days to the:
A) American Medical Association
B) Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
C) Joint Commission
D) State Board of Nursing
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE
EXAM OVERVIEW
| Component | Details |
|--||
| Exam | Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA) |
| Issuing Body | American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification (ABPANC) |
| Format | 185 multiple-choice questions |
| Key Content Areas | Preoperative assessment, Phase I & II PACU recovery, anesthesia
complications, pharmacology, discharge criteria, patient/family teaching |
| Eligibility | Minimum 1 year of perianesthesia nursing experience |
| Blueprint | Based on ASPAN Standards of Perianesthesia Nursing Practice |
KEY CONTENT AREAS
The CAPA exam covers the following domains as outlined by the ABPANC exam blueprint:
| Domain | Focus Areas |
|--|-|
| Patient Assessment | Preoperative evaluation, risk stratification, physical assessment |
| Anesthesia Care | Regional blocks, general anesthesia, sedation, monitoring |
| Perianesthesia Nursing | Phase I recovery (ABCs), Phase II recovery (discharge readiness) |
| Pain Management | Opioid and non-opioid analgesia, multimodal approaches |
| Safety & Pharmacology | Medication administration, malignant hyperthermia, emergency
protocols |
| Professional Practice | ASPAN standards, legal/ethical issues, patient education |
PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
SECTION 1: PREOPERATIVE CARE & ASSESSMENT
,Q1. When giving preoperative instructions for an adult, the nurse instructs that clear liquids may
be ingested 2 hours before induction of anesthesia. In most patients, this will:
A) Decrease peristalsis of the intestines
B) Create an alkaline pH
C) Have no effect on gastric acidity
D) Reduce the residual gastric volume
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Clear liquids taken 2 hours before anesthesia help reduce residual gastric volume,
decreasing the risk of aspiration. Current guidelines allow clear liquids up to 2 hours before
induction.
Q2. A Spanish-speaking patient arrives for a pre-operative admission interview accompanied by
a bilingual companion. The patient understands English but speaks only Spanish. What action
should the perianesthesia nurse take regarding the preoperative NPO instructions?
A) Request that the friend interpret the written instructions
B) Provide written instructions in Spanish
C) Determine the friend's ability to understand instructions
D) Delay instructions until a certified interpreter can be located
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A certified medical interpreter should be used to ensure accurate communication.
Family members or friends may not provide accurate interpretation and may compromise
confidentiality.
Q3. When preparing a 3-year-old patient for surgery, the perianesthesia nurse should say:
A) "If you are good, you will see your parents when you wake up."
B) "You will be put to sleep."
C) "You will fall asleep."
D) "After the procedure, you will feel much better."
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: For children, using the phrase "you will fall asleep" is developmentally appropriate
and less frightening than "you will be put to sleep." Avoid terms that may be misinterpreted or
cause fear.
Q4. The perianesthesia nurse is aware that the purpose of administering metoclopramide during
the preoperative period is to:
A) Control intraoperative anesthesia requirements
B) Potentiate the effects of benzodiazepines
C) Promote gastric emptying
D) Increase gastric pH
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Metoclopramide (Reglan) promotes gastric emptying by increasing gastrointestinal
motility. It is often given preoperatively to reduce the risk of aspiration. It can also have
extrapyramidal side effects like tardive dyskinesia.
Q5. A perianesthesia nurse instructs a patient who routinely takes Ginkgo biloba to discontinue
this preoperatively because it could cause:
A) Hypertension
B) Increased bleeding risk
C) Prolonged sedation
D) Allergic reaction
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Ginkgo biloba has anticoagulant properties and increases bleeding risk. Herbal
supplements should be reviewed preoperatively and discontinued as appropriate.
Q6. The perianesthesia nurse knows that serious injury from a medical product must be
reported within 10 days to the:
A) American Medical Association
B) Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
C) Joint Commission
D) State Board of Nursing
