Certified Postanesthesia Nurse CPAN Exams Questions
and Answers 2022 [Forms 1 – 4]
Your Ultimate Guide!!
*The correct answers are highlighted in yellow*
A 60-year-old female is admitted to the PACU following a diagnostic dilation and curettage with general
anesthesia. Chart review reveals normal preoperative EKG-hemoglobin-hematocrit- and electrolyte
values. Past medical history is remarkable for rheumatic fever during childhood. Thirty minutes later the
patient develops the following EKG pattern --- A-fib---
The perianesthesia nurse interprets the rhythm strip as indicating
A. Occasional premature atrial contractions
B. First-degree heart block
C. Atrial flutter
D. *Atrial fibrillation *
A 60-year-old female is admitted to the PACU following a diagnostic dilation and curettage with general
anesthesia. Chart review reveals normal preoperative EKG-hemoglobin-hematocrit- and electrolyte
values. Past medical history is remarkable for rheumatic fever during childhood. Thirty minutes later the
patient develops the following EKG pattern --- A-fib---
If the defibrillator is not set on the synchronized mode during a cardioversion- which life threatening
arrhythmia could occur?
A. *Ventricular fibrillations*
B. Wenckebach's phenomenon
C. Premature ventricular contractions
D. Ventricular tachycardia
A 60-year-old female is admitted to the PACU following a diagnostic dilation and curettage with general
anesthesia. Chart review reveals normal preoperative EKG-hemoglobin-hematocrit- and electrolyte
values. Past medical history is remarkable for rheumatic fever during childhood. Thirty minutes later the
patient develops the following EKG pattern --- A-fib---
,The patient is transferred to a surgical nursing unit following successful cardioversion because the ICU
and monitored units are full. The PACU nurse should emphasize assessment for
A. Atrioventricular dissociation
B. Thermal incident
C. Sinus bradycardia
D. *Emboli
The perianesthesia nurse has given the patient instructions regarding taking medications on the day of
surgery. Which statement indicates that the patient understands the pre-op teaching
A. *"I will only have small amounts of water with the medications I take on the morning of surgery"*
B. "Since I have atrial fibrillation, I need to take my warfarin on the morning of surgery"
C. "I will take my vitamins and herbal supplements on the morning of surgery"
D. "Since I am diabetic, I need to take my insulin and eat breakfast every day"
A patient in Phase II is complaining of nausea and refusing any medication. Which essential oil may be
inhaled to treat post-operative nausea and vomiting?
A. Rose
B. Sandalwood
C. Lemongrass
D. Peppermint*
Which one of the following positions would be indicated for a left lower lobectomy?
A. Flat bed rest
B. Turned to operative side only
C. Turned to nonoperative side only
D. Semi-Fowler's position with turning to either side*
,A patient with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) arrives in the PACU with a magnet over the
generator. The perianesthesia nurse should:
A. *Remove the magnet so the ICD is activated
B. Remove the magnet so the ICD is deactivated
C. Educate the patient on the care of the magnet
D. Adjust the placement of the magnet
A patient with a subarachnoid hemorrhage is lethargic but arousable. The patient is taken to surgery for
an aneurysm clipping. ABG shows pH= 7.50 pCO2= 45 mm HG and HCO3-= 30 mEq/L. The perianesthesia
nurse interprets this as:
A. Respiratory alkalosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. *Metabolic alkalosis*
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:
A. Anesthesiologist of muscle paralysis
B. Operating room of the complications
C. Surgeon of the absence of sensation
D. *Surgeon of lack of motor ability
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. This indicates which of the following?
A. Ineffective regional block
B. Severe allergic reaction
C. *Successful therapeutic block
D. Extravasation of the medication
, The perianesthesia nurse receives a patient post total parathyroidectomy. The patient is awake and
oriented with a patent airway but complains of tingling around the mouth- slight hoarseness- and is
mildly apprehensive.
The perianesthesia nurse suspects:
A. Vocal cord irritation
B. Hypocalcemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Compromised airway
The perianesthesia nurse receives a patient post total parathyroidectomy. The patient is awake and
oriented with a patent airway but complains of tingling around the mouth- slight hoarseness- and is
mildly apprehensive.
The perianesthesia nurse's next action is to:
A. Instruct the patient to remain silent to rest the vocal cords
B. Have patient say "e" to check for nerve damage
C. Call surgeon and anticipate an order for a calcium level
D. Administer pain medication and look for signs of hemorrhage
A 3-year-old patient arrives in the PACU following general anesthesia. The patient has a croupy cough-
inspiratory stridor- and intercostal retractions are noted. Humidified oxygen is being administered at
8L/min via blow by.
Initially the perianesthesia nurse anticipates:
A. Administration of nebulized racemic epinephrine
B. Assisting the patient's breathing with BMV
C. Maintaining the patient's head in the sniff position
D. Suctioning the patient's oropharynx
A postoperative pediatric tympanoplasty patient is asked to wrinkle the forehead- pucker lips- smile-
and squeeze eyelids together. The PACU nurse is assessing the function of cranial nerve:
A. V
and Answers 2022 [Forms 1 – 4]
Your Ultimate Guide!!
*The correct answers are highlighted in yellow*
A 60-year-old female is admitted to the PACU following a diagnostic dilation and curettage with general
anesthesia. Chart review reveals normal preoperative EKG-hemoglobin-hematocrit- and electrolyte
values. Past medical history is remarkable for rheumatic fever during childhood. Thirty minutes later the
patient develops the following EKG pattern --- A-fib---
The perianesthesia nurse interprets the rhythm strip as indicating
A. Occasional premature atrial contractions
B. First-degree heart block
C. Atrial flutter
D. *Atrial fibrillation *
A 60-year-old female is admitted to the PACU following a diagnostic dilation and curettage with general
anesthesia. Chart review reveals normal preoperative EKG-hemoglobin-hematocrit- and electrolyte
values. Past medical history is remarkable for rheumatic fever during childhood. Thirty minutes later the
patient develops the following EKG pattern --- A-fib---
If the defibrillator is not set on the synchronized mode during a cardioversion- which life threatening
arrhythmia could occur?
A. *Ventricular fibrillations*
B. Wenckebach's phenomenon
C. Premature ventricular contractions
D. Ventricular tachycardia
A 60-year-old female is admitted to the PACU following a diagnostic dilation and curettage with general
anesthesia. Chart review reveals normal preoperative EKG-hemoglobin-hematocrit- and electrolyte
values. Past medical history is remarkable for rheumatic fever during childhood. Thirty minutes later the
patient develops the following EKG pattern --- A-fib---
,The patient is transferred to a surgical nursing unit following successful cardioversion because the ICU
and monitored units are full. The PACU nurse should emphasize assessment for
A. Atrioventricular dissociation
B. Thermal incident
C. Sinus bradycardia
D. *Emboli
The perianesthesia nurse has given the patient instructions regarding taking medications on the day of
surgery. Which statement indicates that the patient understands the pre-op teaching
A. *"I will only have small amounts of water with the medications I take on the morning of surgery"*
B. "Since I have atrial fibrillation, I need to take my warfarin on the morning of surgery"
C. "I will take my vitamins and herbal supplements on the morning of surgery"
D. "Since I am diabetic, I need to take my insulin and eat breakfast every day"
A patient in Phase II is complaining of nausea and refusing any medication. Which essential oil may be
inhaled to treat post-operative nausea and vomiting?
A. Rose
B. Sandalwood
C. Lemongrass
D. Peppermint*
Which one of the following positions would be indicated for a left lower lobectomy?
A. Flat bed rest
B. Turned to operative side only
C. Turned to nonoperative side only
D. Semi-Fowler's position with turning to either side*
,A patient with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) arrives in the PACU with a magnet over the
generator. The perianesthesia nurse should:
A. *Remove the magnet so the ICD is activated
B. Remove the magnet so the ICD is deactivated
C. Educate the patient on the care of the magnet
D. Adjust the placement of the magnet
A patient with a subarachnoid hemorrhage is lethargic but arousable. The patient is taken to surgery for
an aneurysm clipping. ABG shows pH= 7.50 pCO2= 45 mm HG and HCO3-= 30 mEq/L. The perianesthesia
nurse interprets this as:
A. Respiratory alkalosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. *Metabolic alkalosis*
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:
A. Anesthesiologist of muscle paralysis
B. Operating room of the complications
C. Surgeon of the absence of sensation
D. *Surgeon of lack of motor ability
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. This indicates which of the following?
A. Ineffective regional block
B. Severe allergic reaction
C. *Successful therapeutic block
D. Extravasation of the medication
, The perianesthesia nurse receives a patient post total parathyroidectomy. The patient is awake and
oriented with a patent airway but complains of tingling around the mouth- slight hoarseness- and is
mildly apprehensive.
The perianesthesia nurse suspects:
A. Vocal cord irritation
B. Hypocalcemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Compromised airway
The perianesthesia nurse receives a patient post total parathyroidectomy. The patient is awake and
oriented with a patent airway but complains of tingling around the mouth- slight hoarseness- and is
mildly apprehensive.
The perianesthesia nurse's next action is to:
A. Instruct the patient to remain silent to rest the vocal cords
B. Have patient say "e" to check for nerve damage
C. Call surgeon and anticipate an order for a calcium level
D. Administer pain medication and look for signs of hemorrhage
A 3-year-old patient arrives in the PACU following general anesthesia. The patient has a croupy cough-
inspiratory stridor- and intercostal retractions are noted. Humidified oxygen is being administered at
8L/min via blow by.
Initially the perianesthesia nurse anticipates:
A. Administration of nebulized racemic epinephrine
B. Assisting the patient's breathing with BMV
C. Maintaining the patient's head in the sniff position
D. Suctioning the patient's oropharynx
A postoperative pediatric tympanoplasty patient is asked to wrinkle the forehead- pucker lips- smile-
and squeeze eyelids together. The PACU nurse is assessing the function of cranial nerve:
A. V
