Practice Test Geeks(CPAN) Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse Practice Test
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CPAN Pain Management Flashcards

6 cards from real CPAN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 6 CPAN Pain Management flashcards as text

  1. What is the primary pain assessment tool recommended for use in post-anesthesia care units (PACUs)?

    Answer: Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)

    The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) is widely used in PACUs as it allows patients to rate pain intensity from 0 to 10.

  2. Which medication reverses opioid-induced respiratory depression in PACU patients?

    Answer: Naloxone

    Naloxone (Narcan) is the opioid antagonist used to reverse opioid-induced respiratory depression in the PACU.

  3. What is multimodal analgesia in the post-anesthesia setting?

    Answer: Combining different analgesic medications targeting different pain pathways

    Multimodal analgesia combines different analgesic classes targeting different pain mechanisms to improve pain control while reducing opioid requirements.

  4. Which non-pharmacologic intervention is appropriate for mild to moderate pain in the PACU?

    Answer: Patient positioning and cold therapy

    Non-pharmacologic interventions such as proper positioning and cold or heat therapy can complement pharmacologic pain management in the PACU.

  5. What is the most serious adverse effect to monitor when administering opioids in the PACU?

    Answer: Respiratory depression

    Respiratory depression is the most serious and potentially life-threatening side effect of opioid administration in the PACU.

  6. A PACU patient reports a pain score of 8/10 after receiving opioids. What should the nurse assess first?

    Answer: Respiratory rate and oxygen saturation

    Before administering additional analgesics, the PACU nurse must first assess respiratory status to ensure it is safe to give more opioids.

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  1. abpanc.org — Renewal, score validity, exam format, passing score, retake policy, time limit, fees, test dates, eligibility, test delivery · verified Oct 2026