A study of perianesthesia nursing practice: the foundation for newly revised CPAN and CAPA certification examinations

The CPAN and CAPA nursing certification programs, sponsored by ABPANC, are designed to promote and enhance the quality of care delivered to patients who have received anesthesia. This article describes ABPANC's most recent Role Delineation Study (RDS), also called the Study of Practice. The work of a think tank that convened to reconceptualize the organizing framework for the certification examination programs is described, including the results of an environmental analysis. A variety of methods were used to conduct the study. As a result of study findings, the CPAN and CAPA programs have been redesigned to focus on the physiological, behavioral and cognitive, safety, and advocacy needs of perianesthesia patients. Those needs and the knowledge base that is required of perianesthesia nurses to meet those needs are defined. The first CPAN and CAPA examinations using the new framework will be given November 3, 2001.