10 free, exam-style Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN) practice questions with answers and explanations. No signup required. Work through them below, then take the full free CPAN practice test to study every exam domain.
A patient is recovering in Phase I after a spinal anesthetic. Blood pressure is 82/48 mm Hg and heart rate is 50 beats/min, and the sensory block remains at the T4 level. The MOST likely cause of these findings is:
Correct answer: A - Sympathetic blockade from the residual high spinal level
During the preoperative review, a patient reports taking an herbal supplement daily. Which supplement should MOST concern the nurse for increased perioperative bleeding risk?
Correct answer: C - Ginkgo biloba
A patient who received intraoperative opioids is somnolent in Phase I with a respiratory rate of 7 breaths/min. An arterial blood gas shows pH 7.29, PaCO2 58 mm Hg, and HCO3 25 mEq/L. These results indicate:
Correct answer: B - Respiratory acidosis
A patient arrives in Phase I with a core temperature of 35.1 C (95.2 F). The nurse recognizes that this degree of hypothermia places the patient at increased risk for:
Correct answer: D - Impaired coagulation and increased bleeding
Thirty minutes into a general anesthetic that included sevoflurane and succinylcholine, a patient develops tachycardia and a rapidly rising end-tidal CO2 that does not improve with increased ventilation. The nurse recognizes these as the EARLIEST signs of:
Correct answer: A - Malignant hyperthermia
A recently extubated patient develops a high-pitched crowing sound that progresses to silent, paradoxical chest movements with falling oxygen saturation. After calling for help, the nurse's PRIORITY intervention is to:
Correct answer: B - Apply positive-pressure ventilation with 100% oxygen and a jaw thrust
A patient who received rocuronium during surgery is in Phase I with shallow respirations, a weak hand grip, and an inability to sustain a 5-second head lift. The nurse anticipates which agent to provide rapid, complete reversal of the residual neuromuscular blockade?
Correct answer: D - Sugammadex
A patient received ondansetron for PONV prophylaxis but is now vomiting in Phase I. To treat the breakthrough nausea and vomiting, the nurse should anticipate a rescue antiemetic that:
Correct answer: C - Belongs to a different pharmacologic class than the prophylactic agent
A patient in Phase I has a Modified Aldrete score of 7. Which action is MOST appropriate?
Correct answer: B - Continue recovery interventions and reassess before transfer
Just before transport to the OR, a patient tells the perianesthesia nurse, "I'm not really sure what they're going to remove during this surgery." The nurse's MOST appropriate action is to:
Correct answer: C - Notify the surgeon so consent can be clarified before proceeding
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