CPN(C) Perioperative case studies
CPN(C) Perioperative · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The CPN(C) Perioperative credential is a specialty certification for registered nurses who care for children before, during, and after surgery. It signals that a nurse has moved beyond general pediatric competence into the distinct demands of the pediatric surgical suite: tiny airways, rapid thermal loss, weight-based dosing, developmental communication, and families under acute stress. Candidates are typically nurses with pediatric perioperative experience who want a portable, verifiable marker of that expertise for employers, credentialing committees, and their own career planning. The exam samples broadly across the pediatric surgical continuum. Topics on this exam: Preoperative Assessment and Planning, Pediatric Surgical Anatomy and Physiology, Anesthesia and Sedation Considerations for Children, Intraoperative Nursing Care and Asepsis, Postoperative Monitoring and Recovery, Pain Management in Pediatric Surgical Patients, Family-Centered Care and Psychosocial Support, Patient Safety and Quality Improvement in Perioperative Settings, and Professional Practice, Ethics, and Role Development. The CPN(C) Perioperative case studies are 5 cases and about 2,296 words.
1Preop Assessment: The Wheezing Child Booked for Hernia Repair
A 3-year-old boy (16 kg) is scheduled for elective right inguinal hernia repair at 10:00 tomorrow. His mother reports he has had a clear runny nose and a low-grade cough for four days, but no fever today.
603 words, about 3 min2Intraoperative Asepsis and Count Discrepancy in a Toddler
A 2-year-old (11 kg) is undergoing an open appendectomy for perforated appendicitis. The abdomen is contaminated with purulent fluid.
473 words, about 2 min3Postop Respiratory Distress After Tonsillectomy
A 5-year-old (20 kg) is in the PACU 30 minutes after adenotonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnea. He has a history of loud snoring and witnessed apneas at home.
401 words, about 2 min4Pain Management and Opioid-Sparing in a School-Age Child
An 8-year-old (25 kg) is day 1 after a laparoscopic appendectomy. He rates his pain as 7/10 with movement and 4/10 at rest.
400 words, about 2 min5Family Conflict and Ethical Decision-Making Around a Minor Procedure
A 6-year-old (18 kg) is scheduled for placement of a central line and a minor procedure under sedation. The parents are divorced and share legal custody.
419 words, about 2 min