CPAN QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
3 - Correct Answers -When 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
3 - Correct Answers -After 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
1 - Correct Answers -Which 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.
4 - Correct Answers -The 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.
,3 - Correct Answers -The 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.
3 - Correct Answers -A patient with streptococcal group A pharyngitis arrives in Phase I
PACU. The perianesthesia nurse plans that the nurse to patient ratio should be:
1. two nurses to one patient.
2. one nurse to two patients.
3. one nurse to one patient.
4. one nurse to three patients.
3 - Correct Answers -A 35-year-old patient arrives in the Phase I PACU crying and
repeatedly asks, "Can't my mother come in here with me?" The perianesthesia nurse:
1. informs the patient that visitation is prohibited in the PACU.
2. reassures the patient and administers an analgesic.
3. allows a brief visit at a time appropriate for patient, visitors, and staff.
4. sedates the patient secondary to postanesthetic confusion.
3 - Correct Answers -In a patient status post thyroidectomy, the perianesthesia nurse
would anticipate postoperative signs of thyrotoxic crisis to include:
1. hyponatremia.
2. hypothermia.
3. tachycardia.
4. bradycardia.
2 - Correct Answers -Tidal 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.
4 - Correct Answers -In 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.
,1 - Correct Answers -One of the most frequent side effects of ketamine anesthesia is:
1. hallucination.
2. respiratory depression.
3. hypotension.
4. bradycardia.
1 - Correct Answers -In 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.
1 - Correct Answers -In 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.
3 - Correct Answers -A 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.
2 - Correct Answers -In 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.
2 - Correct Answers -A 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.
2 - Correct Answers -A 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.
2 - Correct Answers -A 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
3 - Correct Answers -A 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.
2 - Correct Answers -The dissociative state attributed to ketamine anesthesia can be
modified by the administration of a/an:
1. antiarrhythmic.
2. benzodiazepine.
3. narcotic.
4. anticonvulsant.
4 - Correct Answers -Following a hernia repair, a 3-month-old is admitted to the PACU
positioned on his side with a pacifier in his mouth. The airway becomes obstructed by
the tongue. The obstruction can be alleviated by:
1. removing the pacifier.
2. pinching the cheeks.
3. turning him on his back.
4. jaw thrust or chin lift
SOLUTIONS
3 - Correct Answers -When 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
3 - Correct Answers -After 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
1 - Correct Answers -Which 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.
4 - Correct Answers -The 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.
,3 - Correct Answers -The 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.
3 - Correct Answers -A patient with streptococcal group A pharyngitis arrives in Phase I
PACU. The perianesthesia nurse plans that the nurse to patient ratio should be:
1. two nurses to one patient.
2. one nurse to two patients.
3. one nurse to one patient.
4. one nurse to three patients.
3 - Correct Answers -A 35-year-old patient arrives in the Phase I PACU crying and
repeatedly asks, "Can't my mother come in here with me?" The perianesthesia nurse:
1. informs the patient that visitation is prohibited in the PACU.
2. reassures the patient and administers an analgesic.
3. allows a brief visit at a time appropriate for patient, visitors, and staff.
4. sedates the patient secondary to postanesthetic confusion.
3 - Correct Answers -In a patient status post thyroidectomy, the perianesthesia nurse
would anticipate postoperative signs of thyrotoxic crisis to include:
1. hyponatremia.
2. hypothermia.
3. tachycardia.
4. bradycardia.
2 - Correct Answers -Tidal 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.
4 - Correct Answers -In 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.
,1 - Correct Answers -One of the most frequent side effects of ketamine anesthesia is:
1. hallucination.
2. respiratory depression.
3. hypotension.
4. bradycardia.
1 - Correct Answers -In 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.
1 - Correct Answers -In 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.
3 - Correct Answers -A 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.
2 - Correct Answers -In 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.
2 - Correct Answers -A 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.
2 - Correct Answers -A 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.
2 - Correct Answers -A 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
3 - Correct Answers -A 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.
2 - Correct Answers -The dissociative state attributed to ketamine anesthesia can be
modified by the administration of a/an:
1. antiarrhythmic.
2. benzodiazepine.
3. narcotic.
4. anticonvulsant.
4 - Correct Answers -Following a hernia repair, a 3-month-old is admitted to the PACU
positioned on his side with a pacifier in his mouth. The airway becomes obstructed by
the tongue. The obstruction can be alleviated by:
1. removing the pacifier.
2. pinching the cheeks.
3. turning him on his back.
4. jaw thrust or chin lift
