preoperative care
The outpatient surgery nurse reviews the complete blood cell (CBC) count results for a patient who is scheduled for surgery. The results are white blood cell (WBC) count 10.2 ´ 103/µL; hemoglobin 15 g/dL; hematocrit 45%; platelets 150 ´ 103/µL. Which action should the nurse take? a. Notify the surgeon and anesthesiologist immediately. b. Ask the patient about any symptoms of a recent infection. c. Continue to prepare the patient for the surgical procedure. d. Discuss the possibility of blood transfusion with the patient.
c
When caring for a preoperative patient on the day of surgery, which actions included in the plan of care can the nurse delegate to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) (select all that apply)? a. Teach incentive spirometer use. b. Explain routine preoperative care. c. Obtain and document baseline vital signs. d. Remove nail polish and apply pulse oximeter. e. Transport the patient by stretcher to the operating room.
C, D, E
A patient who is scheduled for a therapeutic abortion tells the nurse, "Having an abortion is wrong." Which functional health pattern should the nurse further assess? a. Value-belief c. Sexuality-reproductive b. Cognitive-perceptual d. Coping-stress tolerance
a
The nurse interviews a patient scheduled to undergo general anesthesia for a bilateral hernia repair. Which information is most important to communicate to the surgeon and anesthesiologist before surgery? a. The patient's father died after general anesthesia for abdominal surgery. b. The patient drinks 3 cups of coffee every morning before going to work. c. The patient takes a baby aspirin daily but stopped taking aspirin 10 days ago. d. The patient drank 4 ounces of apple juice 3 hours before coming to the hospital.
a
The surgical unit nurse has just received a patient with a history of smoking from the postanesthesia care unit. Which action is most important at this time? a. Auscultate for adventitious breath sounds. b. Obtain the blood pressure and temperature. c. Remind the patient about harmful effects of smoking. d. Ask the health care provider to prescribe a nicotine patch.
a
Which information in the preoperative patient's medication history is most important to communicate to the health care provider? a. The patient takes garlic capsules every day. b. The patient quit using cocaine 10 years ago. c. The patient took a prescribed sedative the previous night. d. The patient uses acetaminophen (Tylenol) for aches and pains.
a
A patient arrives at the outpatient surgical center for a scheduled laparoscopy under general anesthesia. Which information requires the nurse's preoperative intervention to maintain patient safety? a. The patient has never had general anesthesia. b. The patient is planning to drive home after surgery. c. The patient had a sip of water 4 hours before arriving. d. The patient's insurance does not cover outpatient surgery.
b
A patient scheduled for an elective hysterectomy tells the nurse, "I am afraid that I will die in surgery like my mother did!" Which initial response by the nurse is appropriate? a. "Surgical techniques have improved in recent years." b. "Tell me more about what happened to your mother." c. "You will receive medication to reduce your anxiety." d. "You should talk to the doctor again about the surgery."
b
A patient who has diabetes and uses insulin to control blood glucose has been NPO since midnight before having a knee replacement surgery. Which action should the nurse take? a. Withhold the usual scheduled insulin dose because the patient is NPO. b. Obtain a blood glucose measurement before any insulin administration. c. Give the patient the usual insulin dose because stress will increase the blood glucose. d. Give half the usual dose of insulin because there will be no oral intake before surgery.
b
A patient who has not had any prior surgeries tells the nurse doing the preoperative assessment about allergies to avocados and bananas. Which action is most important for the nurse to take? a. Notify the dietitian about the specific food allergies. b. Alert the surgery center about a possible latex allergy. c. Reassure the patient that all allergies are noted on the health record. d. Ask whether the patient uses antihistamines to reduce allergic reactions.
b
Five minutes after receiving the ordered preoperative midazolam by IV injection, the patient asks to get up to go to the bathroom to urinate. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate? a. Assist the patient to the bathroom. b. Offer the patient a urinal or bedpan. c. Ask the patient to wait until the drug has been fully metabolized. d. Tell the patient that a bladder catheter will be placed in the operating room.
b
The nurse is preparing to witness the patient signing the operative consent form when the patient says, "I don't understand what the doctor said about the surgery." Which action should the nurse take next? a. Provide a thorough explanation of the planned surgical procedure. b. Notify the surgeon that the informed consent process is not complete. c. Give the prescribed preoperative antibiotics and withhold sedative medications. d. Notify the operating room nurse to give a more complete explanation of the procedure.
b
Which statement by a patient scheduled for surgery is most important to report to the health care provider? a. "I have a strong family history of cancer." b. "I had a heart valve replacement last year." c. "I had bacterial pneumonia 3 months ago." d. "I have knee pain whenever I walk or jog."
b
Which topic is most important for the nurse to discuss preoperatively with a patient who is scheduled for an open cholecystectomy? a. Care for the surgical incision b. Deep breathing and coughing c. Oral antibiotic therapy after discharge d. Medications to be used during surgery
b
A 38-yr-old woman is admitted for an elective surgical procedure. Which information obtained by the nurse during the preoperative assessment is most important to communicate to the anesthesiologist and surgeon before surgery? a. The patient's lack of knowledge about postoperative pain control b. The patient's history of an infection following a cholecystectomy c. The patient's report that her last menstrual period was 8 weeks ago d. The patient's concern about being able to resume lifting heavy items
c
A patient undergoing an emergency appendectomy has been using St. John's wort to prevent depression. Which complication would the nurse expect in the postanesthesia care unit? a. Increased discomfort b. Increased blood pressure c. Increased anesthesia recovery time d. Increased postoperative wound bleeding
c
A patient who takes a diuretic and a b-blocker to control blood pressure is scheduled for breast reconstruction surgery. Which patient information is most important to communicate to the health care provider before surgery? a. Hematocrit 36% c. Serum potassium 3.2 mEq/L b. Blood pressure 144/82 d. Pulse rate 54-58 beats/minute
c
The nurse is preparing a patient on the morning of surgery. The patient refuses to remove a wedding ring, saying, "I've never taken it off since the day I was married." Which response by the nurse is best? a. Have the patient sign a release form and leave the ring on. b. Tell the patient that the hospital is not liable for loss of the ring. c. Suggest that the patient give the ring to a family member to keep. d. Inform the operating room personnel that the patient is wearing a ring.
c
The nurse obtains a health history from a patient who is scheduled for elective hip surgery in 1 week. The patient reports use of garlic and ginkgo biloba. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate? a. Teach the patient that these products may be continued preoperatively. b. Advise the patient to stop the use of herbs and supplements at this time. c. Discuss the herb and supplement use with the patient's health care provider. d. Reassure the patient that there will be no interactions with anesthetic agents.
c
The nurse plans to provide preoperative teaching to an alert older man who has hearing and vision deficits. His wife answers most questions that are directed to the patient. Which action should the nurse take when doing the teaching? a. Use printed materials for instruction so that the patient will have more time to review the material. b. Direct all the teaching toward the wife because she is the obvious support and caregiver for the patient. c. Provide additional time for the patient to understand preoperative instructions and carry out procedures. d. Ask the patient's wife to wait in the hall in order to focus preoperative teaching with the patient himself.
c
A patient has received atropine before surgery and complains of dry mouth. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate? a. Check for skin tenting. b. Notify the health care provider. c. Ask the patient about any weakness or dizziness. d. Explain that dry mouth is an expected side effect.
d
