1|Page
2025/2026 CPAN EXAM BANK CURRENTLY
TESTING QUESTIONS AND DETAILED CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED) GUARANTEED PASS
ALREADY TOP-RATED A+.
CPAN
Excel on your CPAN (Certified Post-Anesthesia Nurse) exam with this
targeted certification guide, specifically designed for perianesthesia
nursing professionals. This resource provides essential practice
questions and evidence-based rationales covering all phases of post-
anesthesia care, from emergence to discharge. Validate your
specialized expertise, enhance patient safety, and achieve certification
confidence by mastering this high-yield material.
A patient in Phase II is experiencing nausea and refusing any
medication. Which essential oil may be inhaled to treat post-
operative nausea and vomiting?
Rose
Sandalwood
Lemongrass
Peppermint ...... ANSWER ....... Peppermint
A perianesthesia nurse explains to a patient that pulse
oximetry is used:
as a noninvasive way to determine O2 saturation.
,2|Page
because it is not affected by peripheral vascular disease.
as a replacement for the need for other indices of
oxygenation.
because it is unaffected by hemoglobin and hematocrit levels.
...... ANSWER ....... as a noninvasive way to determine
O2 saturation.
Based on the Surgical Care Improvement Project protocol,
perioperative use of which class of medication is associated
with decreased morbidity and mortality in vascular surgery
patients?
Calcium channel blockers
Diuretics
Anxiolytics
Beta blockers ...... ANSWER ....... Beta Blockers
A patient in the PACU develops acute anaphylactic shock. In
addition to initiating O2, the perianesthesia nurse anticipates
administering:
fluids and epinephrine.
steroids and dobutamine.
norepinephrine and fluids.
,3|Page
plasma protein fraction and beta blockers. ...... ANSWER
....... fluids and epi
Which of the following pre-existing conditions is associated
with the highest risk of postoperative pulmonary
complications?
Obesity
Diabetes
Malnutrition
COPD ...... ANSWER ....... COPD
Which of the following suggests the presence of a hematoma
following rhytidectomy?
Deficit in cranial nerve 3, 4, or 6
Excessive serosanguinous discharge
Unilateral facial pain
Facial numbness ...... ANSWER ....... unilateral face
pain
face lift
One hour after initiation of continuous epidural morphine at
6 mL/hr, the catheter dressing has become saturated with a
clear fluid and the patient is very somnolent, with BP =
, 4|Page
92/56, HR = 62, R = 6 to 8, and SpO2 = 89%. The
appropriate intervention is to:
decrease the infusion rate to 2 mL/hr and assess motor and
sensory levels.
stop the infusion and call anesthesia to assess possible
catheter migration into the subarachnoid space.
decrease the infusion rate to 4 mL/hr and administer
naloxone.
continue the infusion and call anesthesia to assess the need to
change the infusion settings. ...... ANSWER ....... stop
the infusion and call anesthesia to assess possible catheter
migration into the subarachnoid space.
A patient who underwent an inguinal hernia repair with
spinal anesthesia reports a severe headache that worsens with
sitting or standing. The perianesthesia nurse understands the
patient is most likely experiencing a:
post spinal syndrome headache.
postdural puncture headache.
post subdural puncture headache.
postepidural syndrome headache. ...... ANSWER .......
postdural puncture headache.
2025/2026 CPAN EXAM BANK CURRENTLY
TESTING QUESTIONS AND DETAILED CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED) GUARANTEED PASS
ALREADY TOP-RATED A+.
CPAN
Excel on your CPAN (Certified Post-Anesthesia Nurse) exam with this
targeted certification guide, specifically designed for perianesthesia
nursing professionals. This resource provides essential practice
questions and evidence-based rationales covering all phases of post-
anesthesia care, from emergence to discharge. Validate your
specialized expertise, enhance patient safety, and achieve certification
confidence by mastering this high-yield material.
A patient in Phase II is experiencing nausea and refusing any
medication. Which essential oil may be inhaled to treat post-
operative nausea and vomiting?
Rose
Sandalwood
Lemongrass
Peppermint ...... ANSWER ....... Peppermint
A perianesthesia nurse explains to a patient that pulse
oximetry is used:
as a noninvasive way to determine O2 saturation.
,2|Page
because it is not affected by peripheral vascular disease.
as a replacement for the need for other indices of
oxygenation.
because it is unaffected by hemoglobin and hematocrit levels.
...... ANSWER ....... as a noninvasive way to determine
O2 saturation.
Based on the Surgical Care Improvement Project protocol,
perioperative use of which class of medication is associated
with decreased morbidity and mortality in vascular surgery
patients?
Calcium channel blockers
Diuretics
Anxiolytics
Beta blockers ...... ANSWER ....... Beta Blockers
A patient in the PACU develops acute anaphylactic shock. In
addition to initiating O2, the perianesthesia nurse anticipates
administering:
fluids and epinephrine.
steroids and dobutamine.
norepinephrine and fluids.
,3|Page
plasma protein fraction and beta blockers. ...... ANSWER
....... fluids and epi
Which of the following pre-existing conditions is associated
with the highest risk of postoperative pulmonary
complications?
Obesity
Diabetes
Malnutrition
COPD ...... ANSWER ....... COPD
Which of the following suggests the presence of a hematoma
following rhytidectomy?
Deficit in cranial nerve 3, 4, or 6
Excessive serosanguinous discharge
Unilateral facial pain
Facial numbness ...... ANSWER ....... unilateral face
pain
face lift
One hour after initiation of continuous epidural morphine at
6 mL/hr, the catheter dressing has become saturated with a
clear fluid and the patient is very somnolent, with BP =
, 4|Page
92/56, HR = 62, R = 6 to 8, and SpO2 = 89%. The
appropriate intervention is to:
decrease the infusion rate to 2 mL/hr and assess motor and
sensory levels.
stop the infusion and call anesthesia to assess possible
catheter migration into the subarachnoid space.
decrease the infusion rate to 4 mL/hr and administer
naloxone.
continue the infusion and call anesthesia to assess the need to
change the infusion settings. ...... ANSWER ....... stop
the infusion and call anesthesia to assess possible catheter
migration into the subarachnoid space.
A patient who underwent an inguinal hernia repair with
spinal anesthesia reports a severe headache that worsens with
sitting or standing. The perianesthesia nurse understands the
patient is most likely experiencing a:
post spinal syndrome headache.
postdural puncture headache.
post subdural puncture headache.
postepidural syndrome headache. ...... ANSWER .......
postdural puncture headache.
