CAPA Patient Safety & Monitoring 2

Question 1

A patient in the PACU develops sudden onset stridor after extubation. Which intervention should the nurse perform FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Apply jaw thrust and supplemental oxygen

Answer

Initial management of post-extubation stridor includes positioning, jaw thrust, and supplemental oxygen before escalating to pharmacologic or airway interventions.

Question 2

Which capnography waveform pattern indicates bronchospasm in a PACU patient?

Accepted Answer

Shark-fin or oblique upstroke pattern

Answer

A 'shark-fin' or slanted upstroke on the capnography waveform indicates obstructive airway disease such as bronchospasm due to uneven CO2 emptying.

Question 3

A patient's SpO2 reads 99% but the waveform is dampened and the patient appears cyanotic. What is the most appropriate action?

Accepted Answer

Correlate with arterial blood gas and assess perfusion

Answer

A poor pulse oximetry waveform suggests unreliable readings; clinical assessment and ABG correlation are required when SpO2 conflicts with clinical appearance.

Question 4

Which condition is MOST likely responsible for a PACU patient with a respiratory rate of 6 breaths per minute and miosis?

Accepted Answer

Opioid-induced respiratory depression

Answer

Slow respiratory rate combined with miosis (pinpoint pupils) is the classic presentation of opioid-induced respiratory depression.

Question 5

An ambulatory surgery patient is being monitored for PONV. Which Apfel score component is MOST strongly modifiable by nursing intervention?

Accepted Answer

Postoperative opioid use

Answer

Postoperative opioid use is the one Apfel risk factor most amenable to nursing intervention through multimodal analgesia and opioid-sparing techniques.

(CAPA) Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse Practice Test

(CAPA) Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse Practice Test

CAPA Patient Safety & Monitoring 2