CAPA (ABPANC) study guide
CAPA · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA®) credential is a national professional nursing certification developed, sponsored, and managed by the American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification, Inc. It is one of the two credentials ABPANC offers - the other is the Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN®) - and both are designed for registered nurses caring for patients who have experienced sedation, analgesia, and anesthesia in a hospital or ambulatory care facility. The CAPA study guide has 5 sections and about 1,595 words.
01Preprocedure Assessment and Preparation
Preprocedure assessment answers three questions: is the patient optimized, is the planned anesthetic/sedation appropriate, and is the environment ready. Expect questions on ASA physical status (1 healthy; 2 mild systemic disease; 3 severe systemic disease; 4 severe disease that is a constant threat to life; 5 moribund; 6 organ donor; suffix E for emergency).
324 words, about 2 min02Sedation, Analgesia, and Anesthesia Care
Minimal (anxiolysis), moderate (purposeful response to verbal/tactile stimulation), deep (purposeful response to repeated or painful stimulation), and general anesthesia. Sedation depth is a continuum - a patient intended for moderate sedation can slip into deep sedation.
311 words, about 2 min03Postprocedure Recovery and Complication Management
Phase I is immediate recovery: airway reflexes returning, close monitoring, vital signs at least every 15 minutes, and readiness assessed with a scoring system (Aldrete: activity, respiration, circulation, consciousness, oxygen saturation - each 0-2; usually ≥9 needed to move on). Phase II is ambulatory readiness: the patient is awake, oriented, tolerating oral fluids as policy allows, pain and nausea controlled, and able to be discharged with an escort.
294 words, about 1 min04Patient Education, Discharge, and Follow-Up
Discharge criteria typically require stable vital signs, return to baseline consciousness and orientation, controlled pain and nausea, minimal bleeding, patent airway, ability to ambulate as appropriate, and a responsible adult escort with instructions not to drive or be left alone for 24 hours. Verify the patient understands restrictions: no driving, no operating machinery, no alcohol, no making important legal decisions, and no strenuous activity for the period specified.
331 words, about 2 min05Professional Practice, Safety, and Quality
Perianesthesia practice is anchored in professional standards (ASPAN standards of care, AORN, ASA, and accreditor requirements such as The Joint Commission). Know which documents are mandatory standards versus advisory guidance, and know the nurse's accountability for competence, delegation, and scope of practice under state nurse practice acts and facility policy.
335 words, about 2 min