Continuous Positive Airway Pressure

Overview

4.7 out of 5 (51 Reviews)

Credits

1.00

Post-Assessment Questions

5

Start Date

1 Sep 2023

Last Review Date

3 May 2025

Expiration Date

31 Aug 2026

Estimated Time To Finish

60 Minutes


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Activity Description

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) sustains a steady positive pressure throughout the respiratory cycle, maintaining airway patency during both inspiration and expiration. By preserving positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), CPAP enhances alveolar recruitment, reduces atelectasis, improves ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) matching, and optimizes oxygenation.

CPAP is commonly used in treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), cardiogenic pulmonary edema, and mild acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Additional indications include postoperative support, prevention of reintubation, and weaning from invasive ventilation. Contraindications include hemodynamic instability, impaired consciousness, facial trauma or surgery, excessive secretions, and untreated pneumothorax.

CPAP requires a generator, a sealed face or nasal mask, and pressure-delivery tubing. Unlike bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP), CPAP supports oxygenation without providing separate inspiratory assistance, making it suitable for hypoxemic rather than hypercapnic conditions. Complications may include barotrauma, aspiration, gastric distention, pressure ulcers, and poor tolerance. Appropriate patient selection, careful mask fitting, and close monitoring reduce these risks and support treatment success.

This activity for healthcare professionals is designed to enhance learners' competence in administering CPAP and evaluating potential candidates. Participants will deepen their understanding of the action mechanism, indications, contraindications, and potential complications of this intervention. Proper equipment and preparation measures will be emphasized. Improved skills will equip clinicians to collaborate confidently within an interprofessional team caring for individuals experiencing respiratory distress.


Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians, physician associates, nurses, pharmacists, and nurse practitioners.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the learner will be better able to:

  • Assess patients with respiratory symptoms for suitability for continuous positive airway pressure administration.

  • Apply best practices when administering continuous positive airway pressure.

  • Improve communication strategies to educate patients with chronic respiratory conditions about the importance of compliance with continuous positive airway pressure therapy and address common barriers to long-term use.

  • Collaborate with other healthcare professionals to achieve positive outcomes for patients receiving continuous positive airway pressure.

Disclosures

StatPearls, LLC requires everyone who influences the content of an educational activity to disclose relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies that have occurred within the past 24 months. Ineligible companies are organizations whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. All relevant conflict(s) of interest have been mitigated. Hover over contributor names for financial disclosures. Others involved in planning this educational activity have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Commercial Support: This activity has received NO commercial support.

Continuing Education Accreditation Information

In support of improving patient care, StatPearls, LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

 

Nurses: StatPearls designates this activity for 1.00 ANCC contact hour(s). Nurses should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Please consult your professional licensing board for information on the applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity.

Method of Participation and Credit

  1. Register for the activity.    
  2. Review the target audience, learning objectives, and disclosure information.
  3. Study the educational content of the enduring material.
  4. Choose the best answer to each activity test question. To receive credit and a certificate, you must pass the test questions with a minimum score of 100%.
  5. Complete the post-activity assessment survey.

If you have concerns regarding the CE/CME system, please contact support@statpearls.com.

Disclaimer

This educational activity was planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Faculty may discuss investigational products or off-label uses of products regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Readers should verify all information before employing any therapies described in this educational activity.

The information provided for this activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical/clinical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition. The information presented does not necessarily reflect the views of StatPearls or any commercial supporters of educational activities on statpearls.com. StatPearls expressly disclaims responsibility for any adverse consequences resulting directly or indirectly from information in the course, for undetected error, or through a participant's misunderstanding of the content.

Unapproved Uses of Drugs/Devices: In accordance with FDA requirements, the audience is advised that information presented in this continuing education activity may contain references to unlabeled or unapproved uses of drugs or devices. Please refer to the FDA-approved package insert for each drug/device for full prescribing/utilization information.

Cancellation Policy: Please see the cancellation policy. StatPearls, LLC reserves the right to cancel any course due to unforeseen circumstances.

 

 
 

Reviews

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Unlimited Nurse CE

Stay up to date on the latest medical knowledge with 6696 CE activities. In these online self-assessment activities, read our reference articles and test your knowledge with more than 7961.5 hours of CE.

Single Activity

Take this single activity

$25 1 activity

6 Month Unlimited Nurse CE

Access to all the Unlimited Nurse CE activities in all specialties.

$89 per half year per user

1 Year Unlimited Nurse CE

Access to all the Unlimited Nurse CE activities in all specialties.

$139 per 1 year per user