ABPANC-CAPA Exam Information and Guideline
ABPANC Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse
Below are complete topics detail with latest syllabus and course outline, that will help you good knowledge about exam objectives and topics that you have to prepare. These contents are covered in questions and answers pool of exam.
Type of Exam: Computer-based test (CBT)
Number of Questions: 165 multiple-choice questions
- 150 scored questions
- 15 unscored (pretest) questions (used for future exam development)
Exam Duration: 3 hours (180 minutes)
A scaled score of 75 or higher is required to pass the exam (on a scale of 0–100).
1. Preoperative Assessment and Preparation
- Patient History and Physical Assessment:
- Comprehensive evaluation of the patient’s medical
- surgical
- anesthesia history
- Diagnostic Tests:
- Interpretation of preoperative lab results
- imaging studies
- other diagnostic tests
- Risk Assessment: Identification of risk factors for anesthesia and surgery, including ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) classification.
- Patient Education: Preoperative instructions, informed consent, and patient/family education regarding the procedure and anesthesia.
- Medication Management: Review of current medications, including anticoagulants, and preoperative medication adjustments.
2. Anesthesia Care
- Types of Anesthesia: Understanding of general, regional, local, and monitored anesthesia care (MAC).
- Anesthetic Agents: Knowledge of commonly used anesthetic agents, their mechanisms of action, and side effects.
- Airway Management: Techniques for airway assessment, management, and emergency interventions.
- Monitoring: Intraoperative monitoring standards, including hemodynamic, respiratory, and neurological monitoring.
- Complications: Recognition and management of anesthesia-related complications such as malignant hyperthermia, anaphylaxis, and respiratory depression.
3. Intraoperative Care
- Surgical Environment: Understanding the roles and responsibilities within the surgical team.
- Positioning: Proper patient positioning to prevent complications such as pressure ulcers and nerve damage.
- Infection Control: Sterile techniques, surgical site preparation, and prevention of surgical site infections (SSIs).
- Hemostasis: Techniques for controlling bleeding during surgery.
- Documentation: Accurate and timely documentation of intraoperative events and interventions.
4. Postoperative Care
- PACU (Post-Anesthesia Care Unit) Management: Immediate postoperative assessment and monitoring, including airway, breathing, circulation, and neurological status.
- Pain Management: Assessment and management of postoperative pain, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.
- Nausea and Vomiting: Prevention and treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV).
- Fluid and Electrolyte Balance: Management of intravenous fluids and recognition of electrolyte imbalances.
- Complications: Identification and management of postoperative complications such as hemorrhage, infection, and respiratory distress.
5. Discharge Criteria and Education
- Discharge Readiness: Criteria for safe discharge from the PACU, including Aldrete Score or Modified Aldrete Score.
- Patient Education: Postoperative instructions, including wound care, activity restrictions, and signs of complications.
- Follow-Up Care: Coordination of follow-up appointments and communication with primary care providers.
- Documentation: Accurate documentation of discharge instructions and patient status at discharge.
6. Professional Practice
- Ethical and Legal Issues: Understanding of ethical principles, legal responsibilities, and patient rights.
- Scope of Practice: Adherence to the scope of practice for perianesthesia nurses.
- Quality Improvement: Participation in quality improvement initiatives and evidence-based practice.
- Patient Advocacy: Advocacy for patient safety, informed consent, and patient-centered care.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Effective communication and collaboration with other healthcare professionals.
7. Special Considerations
- Pediatric Patients: Unique considerations for the care of pediatric patients, including developmental stages and family-centered care.
- Geriatric Patients: Special considerations for elderly patients, including polypharmacy and age-related physiological changes.
- Bariatric Patients: Care considerations for obese patients, including equipment needs and anesthesia risks.
- Patients with Comorbidities: Management of patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disorders.
8. Emergency Situations
- Cardiac Arrest: Recognition and management of cardiac arrest, including Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) protocols.
- Respiratory Emergencies: Management of acute respiratory distress, including airway obstruction and pulmonary embolism.
- Anaphylaxis: Recognition and treatment of anaphylactic reactions.
- Malignant Hyperthermia: Early recognition and management of malignant hyperthermia, including the use of dantrolene.
9. Pharmacology
- Anesthetic Agents: Knowledge of the pharmacology of anesthetic agents, including induction agents, inhalational agents, and neuromuscular blocking agents.
- Analgesics: Understanding of opioid and non-opioid analgesics, including their indications, dosages, and side effects.
- Sedatives and Hypnotics: Use of sedatives and hypnotics in the perianesthesia setting.
- Reversal Agents: Knowledge of reversal agents such as naloxone and flumazenil.
- Antiemetics: Use of antiemetic medications to prevent and treat PONV.
10. Infection Control and Safety
- Standard Precautions: Adherence to standard precautions to prevent the transmission of infections.
- Surgical Asepsis: Techniques for maintaining a sterile field and preventing surgical site infections.
- Environmental Safety: Ensuring a safe environment for patients and staff, including proper handling of hazardous materials.
- Emergency Preparedness: Knowledge of emergency preparedness protocols, including fire safety and disaster response.
11. Patient and Family Education
- Preoperative Education: Providing information about the surgical procedure, anesthesia, and preoperative preparations.
- Postoperative Instructions: Educating patients and families about postoperative care, including pain management, activity restrictions, and signs of complications.
- Emotional Support: Providing emotional support and addressing the psychological needs of patients and families.
12. Documentation and Communication
- Medical Records: Accurate and timely documentation of patient care, including assessments, interventions, and outcomes.
- Handoff Communication: Effective communication during handoff reports, including SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) technique.
- Interdisciplinary Communication: Collaboration and communication with other healthcare team members to ensure continuity of care.
13. Research and Evidence-Based Practice
- Evidence-Based Practice: Application of current research and evidence-based guidelines in perianesthesia nursing practice.
- Quality Improvement: Participation in quality improvement projects to enhance patient outcomes and safety.
- Professional Development: Commitment to ongoing education and professional development in perianesthesia nursing.
14. Cultural Competence
- Cultural Sensitivity: Providing culturally competent care that respects the beliefs, values, and practices of diverse patient populations.
- Health Disparities: Understanding and addressing health disparities in perianesthesia care.
- Patient-Centered Care: Tailoring care to meet the individual needs and preferences of patients and families.
15. Legal and Ethical Issues
- Informed Consent: Ensuring that patients have a clear understanding of the risks, benefits, and alternatives to the procedure and anesthesia.
- Confidentiality: Protecting patient privacy and confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA regulations.
- Ethical Dilemmas: Navigating ethical dilemmas in perianesthesia practice, including end-of-life care and patient autonomy.
16. Technology and Equipment
- Monitoring Equipment: Familiarity with the use and interpretation of monitoring equipment, including ECG, pulse oximetry, and capnography.
- Anesthesia Machines: Understanding the components and function of anesthesia delivery systems.
- Emergency Equipment: Knowledge of the location and use of emergency equipment, including defibrillators and airway management tools.
17. Patient Safety
- Error Prevention: Strategies to prevent medical errors, including medication errors and wrong-site surgery.
- Patient Identification: Ensuring accurate patient identification using at least two patient identifiers.
- Time-Out Procedures: Participation in time-out procedures to verify the correct patient, procedure, and site.
18. Pain Management
- Pain Assessment: Use of pain assessment tools and scales to evaluate patient pain levels.
- Pharmacological Interventions: Administration of analgesics, including opioids, non-opioids, and adjuvant medications.
- Non-Pharmacological Interventions: Use of non-pharmacological pain management techniques, such as relaxation, distraction, and positioning.
19. Complications and Emergencies
- Recognition and Response: Early recognition and response to complications such as bleeding, infection, and respiratory distress.
- Emergency Protocols: Familiarity with emergency protocols for cardiac arrest, anaphylaxis, and malignant hyperthermia.
- Crisis Management: Effective management of crisis situations, including communication and teamwork.
20. Professional Role and Responsibilities
- Scope of Practice: Understanding the scope of practice for perianesthesia nurses and adhering to professional standards.
- Continuing Education: Commitment to ongoing education and professional development.
- Leadership and Advocacy: Leadership in promoting patient safety, quality care, and advocacy for patients and families.
- Aldrete Score
- ASA Classification
- MAC (Monitored Anesthesia Care)
- PONV (Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting)
- Malignant Hyperthermia
- SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation)
- HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
- BLS (Basic Life Support)
- ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support)