Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA) Practice Exam

Monitoring vital signs in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) is essential for ensuring patient safety and assessing recovery from anesthesia. The correct choice focuses on vital signs that directly indicate the physiological stability and overall well-being of a patient immediately after surgery.

Blood pressure is crucial as it provides information about the cardiovascular status of the patient and helps detect any potential complications like hypotension or hypertension that can arise from anesthesia or surgical stress. Heart rate is likewise important, as significant changes can indicate issues such as pain, anxiety, or complications related to anesthesia or the surgical procedure itself. Respiratory rate is monitored to assess the patient's ventilation status, ensuring that they are effectively breathing after anesthesia, which can sometimes depress respiratory function. Oxygen saturation is vital as it measures the adequacy of oxygen in the bloodstream, helping to prevent hypoxemia and related complications.

Other choices include vital signs or parameters that, while important, do not encompass the immediate monitoring needs in the PACU as comprehensively as the correct response. For example, urinary output is indeed significant but is typically monitored more closely post-operatively rather than immediately in the PACU. Similarly, while temperature and capillary refill can provide valuable information, they are not as immediate or critical as the signs included in the