CAPA CAPA Cardiovascular Assessment & Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which finding in a postanesthesia patient would MOST warrant immediate intervention by the CAPA nurse?
- Heart rate of 78 bpm
- Blood pressure of 88/50 mmHg with diaphoresis (Correct answer)
- SpO2 of 97% on room air
- Respiratory rate of 14 breaths/min
Correct answer: Blood pressure of 88/50 mmHg with diaphoresis
Hypotension with diaphoresis signals hemodynamic instability requiring immediate assessment and intervention.
Question 2: A patient in the PACU develops a new arrhythmia. The nurse's FIRST action should be to:
- Administer antiarrhythmic medication
- Assess the patient's hemodynamic status (Correct answer)
- Notify the anesthesia provider immediately
- Obtain a 12-lead ECG
Correct answer: Assess the patient's hemodynamic status
Patient assessment for hemodynamic stability must precede any intervention to determine urgency and appropriate response.
Question 3: Which postoperative finding is MOST consistent with uncompensated hemorrhagic shock?
- Bradycardia and hypertension
- Tachycardia and hypotension (Correct answer)
- Bradycardia and hypotension
- Tachycardia and hypertension
Correct answer: Tachycardia and hypotension
Uncompensated hemorrhagic shock typically presents with tachycardia and hypotension due to decreased circulating volume.
Question 4: A patient's ECG shows ST-segment elevation in the PACU. The nurse should:
- Continue monitoring and reassess in 30 minutes
- Administer aspirin and notify the physician stat (Correct answer)
- Reposition the patient and repeat the tracing
- Document the finding and notify at end of shift
Correct answer: Administer aspirin and notify the physician stat
ST-segment elevation may indicate acute myocardial infarction and requires immediate physician notification and aspirin administration.
Question 5: Which intervention is MOST appropriate for a postoperative patient with a systolic BP of 190 mmHg and headache?
- Reassure the patient and recheck in 1 hour
- Administer prescribed antihypertensive and notify the provider (Correct answer)
- Place patient in Trendelenburg position
- Administer an additional dose of opioid analgesic
Correct answer: Administer prescribed antihypertensive and notify the provider
Hypertension with headache post-operatively requires antihypertensive treatment per order and provider notification to prevent cerebrovascular complications.
Question 6: In the PACU, orthostatic hypotension is BEST detected by:
- Palpating peripheral pulses
- Measuring BP in supine and then sitting/standing positions (Correct answer)
- Monitoring continuous ECG
- Checking capillary refill time
Correct answer: Measuring BP in supine and then sitting/standing positions
Orthostatic hypotension is defined as a significant drop in blood pressure when moving from supine to upright, requiring positional BP measurements.
CAPA CAPA Cardiovascular Assessment & Management 1
Which finding in a postanesthesia patient would MOST warrant immediate intervention by the CAPA nurse?