CAPA Cheat Sheet | ExamFinch

Anesthesia

20% of exam
Techniques Agents Reversal Sedation Depth Special Populations

Physiology

16% of exam
Systems Comorbidities Temperature Fluids Glucose

Monitoring + Intervention

30% of exam
Airway Pain PONV Emergencies Intervention Picker

Care Considerations

25% of exam
Continuum Handoff Discharge Teaching Discharge Picker

Professional Practice

9% of exam
Standards Consent Privacy Documentation Escalation

Quick Facts

Exam CAPA
Credential Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse
Questions 185 MCQ
Scored 140 scored + 45 pretest
Time 3 hours
Pass 450/800 scaled
Eligibility RN + 1,200 hours
Windows Mar-May; Sep-Nov

MAC vs General AN

MAC

Anesthesia service
Depth can vary
Assess patient

General

Unconscious patient
Airway often supported
Reflexes impaired
Label never guarantees depth

Techniques AN

General Unconscious; airway risk
Regional Block region
Local Site anesthesia
Moderate Purposeful response
Deep Airway help possible
MAC Provider-managed sedation
TIVA IV maintenance
Spinal Sympathetic block

Agents + Reversal AN

Propofol Fast; no analgesia
Midazolam Amnesia; sedation
Fentanyl Analgesia; hypoventilation
Ketamine Analgesic dissociation
Dexmedetomidine Bradycardia; sedation
Naloxone Opioid reversal
Flumazenil Benzo reversal
Dantrolene MH treatment
Sugammadex Rocuronium reversal

Systems PH

Respiratory Oxygenation first
Cardiac Perfusion + rhythm
Neuro Awake; baseline
Endocrine Glucose swings
Renal Retention; clearance
GI PONV; aspiration
Integumentary Wounds; pressure
Hematologic Bleeding risk

Comorbidities PH

OSA Opioid sensitivity
Obesity Rapid desaturation
Diabetes Glucose; wounds
CKD Drug clearance
Pregnancy Aspiration; positioning
Geriatric Delayed clearance
Pediatrics Airway reserve
Anticoagulants Bleeding risk

Priority Ladder MO

Airway, breathing, circulation before discharge decisions.
Airway Breathing Circulation Discharge

MH vs LAST MO

MH

Volatile trigger
Rising CO2
Dantrolene

LAST

Local anesthetic
Neuro symptoms
Lipid emulsion
Trigger identifies treatment

Intervention Picker MO

Snoring respirations → Open airway ( Position first )
Apnea or RR6 → Assist ventilation ( Call anesthesia )
Opioid oversedation → Naloxone ( Monitor rebound )
Benzo oversedation → Flumazenil ( Seizure risk )
Rigidity + hypercarbia → MH protocol ( Dantrolene )
Metallic taste → LAST protocol ( Lipid ready )
Hives + hypotension → Epinephrine ( Airway priority )
Wheezing recovery → Oxygen + bronchodilator ( Escalate )
Saturated dressing → Assess bleeding ( Notify surgeon )

Airway MO

Obstruction Position; open airway
Hypoventilation Assist ventilation
Laryngospasm No air movement
Bronchospasm Wheeze; beta agonist
Aspiration Protect airway
OSA Room-air stability
Opioids Monitor sedation
CPAP Use if prescribed

Emergencies MO

MH Dantrolene; cooling
LAST Lipid emulsion
Anaphylaxis Epinephrine; airway
Bleeding Quantify; escalate
Shock Perfusion support
Fire Stop gases
Stroke Neuro change
Chest pain ABC; notify

Pain + PONV MO

Pain score Trend + function
IV opioid Recheck 15-30 min
Oral meds Recheck 45-60 min
Multimodal Opioid sparing
Regional block Protect numb limb
PONV Aspiration delay
Hydration Nausea support
Shivering Oxygen demand

Home Teaching CA

Meds, wound, warning signs, escort, resources.
Meds Wound Warnings Escort Resources

CAPA vs CPAN CA

CAPA

Preanesthesia focus
Phase II recovery
Discharge central

CPAN

Phase I focus
Immediate emergence
Stabilization central
Match practice phase

Discharge Picker CA

Unstable airway → Continue monitoring ( No discharge )
OSA desaturates → Room-air trial ( Escalate )
Motor block persists → Fall precautions ( Delay ambulation )
PONV uncontrolled → Treat nausea ( Delay discharge )
No escort → Hold discharge ( Responsible adult )
Teaching unclear → Teach-back ( Use interpreter )
New chest pain → Emergency response ( No discharge )
Home equipment missing → Case management ( Resource gap )

Continuum CA

Preadmission Screen risks
Day-of Verify readiness
Phase II Functional recovery
Extended care Ongoing observation
Transport Stable transfer
Escort Responsible adult
Teaching Patient + caregiver
Home resources Equipment; support

Stable vs Ready CA

Stable

Vitals acceptable
Moment assessment
May still risk

Ready

Criteria met
Escort prepared
Instructions understood
Discharge needs function

Professional Filter PR

Scope, standards, consent, privacy, documentation.
Scope Standards Consent Privacy Document

Consent vs Witness PR

Consent

Provider explains
Patient decides
Questions answered

Witness

Signature observed
Identity verified
Concerns escalated
Nurse verifies process

Exam Facts PR

Owner ABPANC
Delivery PSI computer exam
Total 185 questions
Scored 140 questions
Pretest 45 unscored
Limit 3 hours
Passing 450 scaled
Scale 200-800

Blueprint Weights PR

Monitoring 30%
Care 25%
Anesthesia 20%
Physiology 16%
Practice 9%
Big two 55% combined

Standards PR

ASPAN Specialty standards
ASA Anesthesia guidance
ACLS Adult resuscitation
PALS Pediatric resuscitation
MHAUS MH readiness
HIPAA Privacy rule
Consent Verify; clarify
Scope Competency limits

Common Traps

MAC

Not fixed sedation ≠ Assess current depth

Pretest Items

Not labeled ≠ Treat all scored

Scaled Score

Not raw percent ≠ 450 always passes

Room Air

Oxygen masks risk ≠ Stability proves readiness

Nerve Block

Comfort not readiness ≠ Motor function matters

Consent

Nurse does not obtain ≠ Nurse verifies process

Last Minute

1. CAPA focus: ambulatory phases
2. Monitoring plus care equals 55%
3. 185 questions in 3 hours
4. 450 scaled score passes
5. Airway first, discharge later
6. MAC depth can change
7. LAST needs lipid readiness
8. MH needs dantrolene
9. No escort means no discharge
10. Verify consent before procedure

CAPA

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