CPAN Roles and Responsibilities 3

Question 1

A PACU nurse is orienting a new graduate nurse. Which statement best reflects the professional responsibility of perianesthesia nursing?

Accepted Answer

Perianesthesia nurses practice autonomously within defined standards to promote safe recovery

Answer

PACU nurses primarily follow orders from the surgeon and anesthesiologist

Answer

The PACU nurse's role is limited to monitoring vital signs until discharge criteria are met

Answer

PACU nursing requires less clinical judgment than other acute care specialties

Question 2

Which action best demonstrates the PACU nurse's responsibility for maintaining professional competency?

Accepted Answer

Pursuing CPAN certification and participating in ongoing specialty education

Answer

Attending mandatory hospital safety training annually

Answer

Reviewing hospital policies once per year

Answer

Shadowing experienced nurses on complex cases

Question 3

During a busy shift, a PACU nurse is simultaneously caring for two Phase I patients. One patient begins showing signs of malignant hyperthermia. What is the nurse's immediate responsibility?

Accepted Answer

Activate the MH protocol and call for additional help while initiating treatment

Answer

Complete assessment of the stable patient before addressing the MH patient

Answer

Transfer the stable patient to Phase II before managing the MH emergency

Answer

Notify the charge nurse and await further instruction before acting

Question 4

A surgeon calls the PACU and gives a verbal order for a medication that seems unusually high dose. The PACU nurse should:

Accepted Answer

Clarify the order with the surgeon and verify against references before administration

Answer

Administer the medication as ordered since the surgeon is responsible

Answer

Refuse to give the medication and document the refusal

Answer

Ask another nurse to administer it to avoid liability

Question 5

A PACU nurse discovers that a colleague made a medication error on the previous shift but did not document or report it. What is the nurse's professional obligation?

Accepted Answer

Encourage the colleague to self-report and, if necessary, report through appropriate channels

Answer

Ignore it since it occurred on a prior shift and the patient appears fine

Answer

Confront the colleague publicly to prevent future errors

Answer

Notify the patient's family directly about the error

Question 6

Which of the following is within the PACU nurse's independent scope of practice without a physician order?

Accepted Answer

Prescribing supplemental oxygen titration per ASPAN respiratory protocol

Answer

Administering a PRN opioid analgesic per standing protocol

Answer

Ordering a chest X-ray for suspected pneumothorax

Answer

Initiating a blood transfusion for anemia

Question 7

A PACU nurse is preparing a patient for transfer to the medical-surgical floor. The receiving nurse is not available for 20 minutes. What is the appropriate action?

Accepted Answer

Delay transfer until a verbal hand-off report can be given to the receiving nurse

Answer

Send the patient to the floor with written documentation only

Answer

Have the transport aide deliver the patient with the chart

Answer

Ask the charge nurse to call the floor and leave a message