CPAN STUDY GUIDE EXAM| CPAN PRACTICE
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
NEW MODIFIED
According to ASPAN Standards of Perianesthesia Nursing Practice, care in the
post anesthesia Phase I focuses on:
preparation of patient and family for home care.
preparation of patient for extended care.
transition of the patient from an anesthetized state to Phase II or an inpatient
setting.
transition of the patient from the preoperative to the intraoperative phase. --
CORRECT ANSWER--transition of the patient from an anesthetized state to
Phase II or an inpatient setting.
Twenty minutes after admission to the PACU, a 24-year-old patient exhibits a
productive cough, dyspnea, and expectoration of pink, frothy sputum. In report,
the nurse is told that the patient experienced a post-extubation laryngospasm in
the OR. The PACU nurse suspects that the patient has developed:
a tracheal hemorrhage.
acute respiratory failure.
noncardiogenic pulmonary edema.
a pulmonary embolism. --CORRECT ANSWER--noncardiogenic pulmonary
edema.
Page 1 of 135
,The perianesthesia nurse is titrating pain medications for a postoperative patient
in Phase I PACU. Pain medication orders have changed from IV fentanyl to IV
morphine. The perianesthesia nurse knows that an equivalent analgesic of
fentanyl 0.1 mg is:
methadone 20 mg.
morphine 10 mg.
butorphanol 10 mg.
meperidine 125 mg. --CORRECT ANSWER--Morphine 10mg
The perianesthesia nurse caring for a 60-kg patient who is n.p.o. should
maintain IV fluid hourly maintenance rate at:
45 mL/hr
55 mL/hr
65 mL/hr
100 mL/hr --CORRECT ANSWER--100 mL/hr
A patient is admitted to the PACU with a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) in
place. The perianesthesia nurse understands that a properly placed LMA:
conforms to the hypopharynx.
passes through the glottic opening.
prevents aspiration.
prevents laryngospasm. --CORRECT ANSWER--conforms to the hypopharynx.
Page 2 of 135
,In postoperative patients with a history of end-stage renal disease, the
administration of IV glucose and regular insulin is used to correct the
complication of:
hyponatremia.
hypokalemia.
hypernatremia.
hyperkalemia. --CORRECT ANSWER--Hyperkalemia
The perianesthesia nurse would be immediately concerned when a postoperative
cataract patient awaiting discharge complains of:
irritation or "something in my eye".
sudden onset of sharp ocular pain.
dizziness and tinnitus.
blurred vision and headache. --CORRECT ANSWER--sudden onset of sharp
ocular pain.
An 80-year-old patient who is hearing-impaired is being discharged home
following cataract removal. In planning the discharge, the perianesthesia nurse
should:
avoid low lighting and noisy teaching environments.
avoid using written instructions.
provide small print discharge material.
Page 3 of 135
, provide audiovisual aids in a teaching packet. --CORRECT ANSWER--avoid
low lighting and noisy teaching environments.
A patient is admitted to the PACU following a laparoscopic Nissen
fundoplication. Intraoperatively, the patient required chest tube placement for
development of a tension pneumothorax. The perianesthesia nurse understands
that which of the following in the patient's history could be problematic at this
time?
Diabetes
COPD
Osteoporosis
Angina --CORRECT ANSWER--COPD
After receiving an interscalene block, the patient complains of shortness of
breath. The perianesthesia nurse is aware that the block may have affected
which nerve?
Transverse cervical
Supraclavicular
Phrenic
Recurrent laryngeal --CORRECT ANSWER--Phrenic
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
Page 4 of 135
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
NEW MODIFIED
According to ASPAN Standards of Perianesthesia Nursing Practice, care in the
post anesthesia Phase I focuses on:
preparation of patient and family for home care.
preparation of patient for extended care.
transition of the patient from an anesthetized state to Phase II or an inpatient
setting.
transition of the patient from the preoperative to the intraoperative phase. --
CORRECT ANSWER--transition of the patient from an anesthetized state to
Phase II or an inpatient setting.
Twenty minutes after admission to the PACU, a 24-year-old patient exhibits a
productive cough, dyspnea, and expectoration of pink, frothy sputum. In report,
the nurse is told that the patient experienced a post-extubation laryngospasm in
the OR. The PACU nurse suspects that the patient has developed:
a tracheal hemorrhage.
acute respiratory failure.
noncardiogenic pulmonary edema.
a pulmonary embolism. --CORRECT ANSWER--noncardiogenic pulmonary
edema.
Page 1 of 135
,The perianesthesia nurse is titrating pain medications for a postoperative patient
in Phase I PACU. Pain medication orders have changed from IV fentanyl to IV
morphine. The perianesthesia nurse knows that an equivalent analgesic of
fentanyl 0.1 mg is:
methadone 20 mg.
morphine 10 mg.
butorphanol 10 mg.
meperidine 125 mg. --CORRECT ANSWER--Morphine 10mg
The perianesthesia nurse caring for a 60-kg patient who is n.p.o. should
maintain IV fluid hourly maintenance rate at:
45 mL/hr
55 mL/hr
65 mL/hr
100 mL/hr --CORRECT ANSWER--100 mL/hr
A patient is admitted to the PACU with a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) in
place. The perianesthesia nurse understands that a properly placed LMA:
conforms to the hypopharynx.
passes through the glottic opening.
prevents aspiration.
prevents laryngospasm. --CORRECT ANSWER--conforms to the hypopharynx.
Page 2 of 135
,In postoperative patients with a history of end-stage renal disease, the
administration of IV glucose and regular insulin is used to correct the
complication of:
hyponatremia.
hypokalemia.
hypernatremia.
hyperkalemia. --CORRECT ANSWER--Hyperkalemia
The perianesthesia nurse would be immediately concerned when a postoperative
cataract patient awaiting discharge complains of:
irritation or "something in my eye".
sudden onset of sharp ocular pain.
dizziness and tinnitus.
blurred vision and headache. --CORRECT ANSWER--sudden onset of sharp
ocular pain.
An 80-year-old patient who is hearing-impaired is being discharged home
following cataract removal. In planning the discharge, the perianesthesia nurse
should:
avoid low lighting and noisy teaching environments.
avoid using written instructions.
provide small print discharge material.
Page 3 of 135
, provide audiovisual aids in a teaching packet. --CORRECT ANSWER--avoid
low lighting and noisy teaching environments.
A patient is admitted to the PACU following a laparoscopic Nissen
fundoplication. Intraoperatively, the patient required chest tube placement for
development of a tension pneumothorax. The perianesthesia nurse understands
that which of the following in the patient's history could be problematic at this
time?
Diabetes
COPD
Osteoporosis
Angina --CORRECT ANSWER--COPD
After receiving an interscalene block, the patient complains of shortness of
breath. The perianesthesia nurse is aware that the block may have affected
which nerve?
Transverse cervical
Supraclavicular
Phrenic
Recurrent laryngeal --CORRECT ANSWER--Phrenic
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
Page 4 of 135
