Med Surg: Perioperative Care Comprehensive Questions
And Verified Answers
1. 1. 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. "Tell me more about what
happened to your mother."
2. 2. A patient arrives at the outpatient surgical center for a scheduled la-
paroscopy 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. The patient is
planning to drive home after surgery.
3. 3. 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. The
patient's report that her last menstrual period was 8 weeks ago
- This statement suggests that the patient may be pregnant and pregnancy testing is needed before administration
of anesthetic agents. Although the other data may also be communicated with the surgeon and anesthesiologist, they
will attect postoperative care and do not indicate a need for further assessment before surgery.
,4. 4. 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.
Alert the surgery center about a possible latex allergy.
- Certain food allergies (e.g., eggs, avocados, bananas, chestnuts, potatoes, peaches) are related to latex allergies.
When a patient is allergic to latex, special nonlatex materials are used during surgical procedures. The statt will need
to know about the allergy in advance to obtain appropriate nonlatex materials and have them available during surgery.
The other actions also may be appropriate, but prevention of allergic reaction during surgery is the most important
action.
5. 5. 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
b. Cognitive-perceptual
c. Sexuality-reproductive
d. Coping-stress tolerance: a. Value-belief
6. 6. 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. Increased anesthesia recovery time
- St. John's wort may prolong the ettects of anesthetic agents and increase the time to waken completely after surgery.
It is not associated with increased bleeding risk, hypertension, or increased pain
7. 7. 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.
And Verified Answers
1. 1. 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. "Tell me more about what
happened to your mother."
2. 2. A patient arrives at the outpatient surgical center for a scheduled la-
paroscopy 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. The patient is
planning to drive home after surgery.
3. 3. 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. The
patient's report that her last menstrual period was 8 weeks ago
- This statement suggests that the patient may be pregnant and pregnancy testing is needed before administration
of anesthetic agents. Although the other data may also be communicated with the surgeon and anesthesiologist, they
will attect postoperative care and do not indicate a need for further assessment before surgery.
,4. 4. 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.
Alert the surgery center about a possible latex allergy.
- Certain food allergies (e.g., eggs, avocados, bananas, chestnuts, potatoes, peaches) are related to latex allergies.
When a patient is allergic to latex, special nonlatex materials are used during surgical procedures. The statt will need
to know about the allergy in advance to obtain appropriate nonlatex materials and have them available during surgery.
The other actions also may be appropriate, but prevention of allergic reaction during surgery is the most important
action.
5. 5. 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
b. Cognitive-perceptual
c. Sexuality-reproductive
d. Coping-stress tolerance: a. Value-belief
6. 6. 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. Increased anesthesia recovery time
- St. John's wort may prolong the ettects of anesthetic agents and increase the time to waken completely after surgery.
It is not associated with increased bleeding risk, hypertension, or increased pain
7. 7. 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.
