NR 226 Adult Health I - Week 9 Study Guide (Perioperative and
Fluid/Electrolytes) 2026 |Chamberlain College
1. A nurse is reviewing the informed consent process for a patient scheduled for
surgery. Which of the following is a primary responsibility of the nurse?
A. Explaining the risks and benefits of the procedure
B. Describing alternative treatments available
C. Obtaining the surgical consent from the patient
D. Witnessing the patient sign the consent form
Answer: D
Rationale: The surgeon is responsible for explaining the procedure, risks, and benefits.
The nurse’s role is to witness the signature and ensure the patient understands they are
signing a consent form.
2. A patient is being prepared for surgery and reports an allergy to avocados and
bananas. Which of the following is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Alert the surgical team of a potential latex allergy
B. Notify the dietary department
C. Document the food allergy in the medical record
D. Request a skin test for latex sensitivity
Answer: A
Rationale: An allergy to certain foods, such as avocados, bananas, and kiwis, is highly
correlated with a latex allergy due to cross-reactivity.
,3. During a surgical procedure, the patient develops muscle rigidity and a rapid
rise in body temperature. Which medication should the nurse anticipate
administering?
A. Dantrolene
B. Atropine
C. Naloxone
D. Epinephrine
Answer: A
Rationale: Malignant hyperthermia is a life-threatening complication of general
anesthesia. Dantrolene is the specific antidote used to treat the muscle rigidity and
hypermetabolic state.
4. A nurse is caring for a postoperative patient. Which of the following is the
most effective way to prevent respiratory complications like atelectasis?
A. Turning the patient every 4 hours
B. Maintaining bed rest for 24 hours
C. Encouraging the use of an incentive spirometer
D. Administering prophylactic antibiotics
Answer: C
Rationale: Incentive spirometry promotes deep breathing and lung expansion, which helps
prevent atelectasis and pneumonia in postoperative patients.
5. The nurse is assessing a patient with a potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L. Which of
the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Muscle weakness and leg cramps
B. Peaked T-waves on ECG
C. Hyperactive bowel sounds
D. Numbness and tingling in the fingers
Answer: A
, Rationale: Hypokalemia (potassium < 3.5 mEq/L) commonly causes muscle weakness, leg
cramps, and cardiac dysrhythmias (such as flattened T-waves).
6. A patient is diagnosed with fluid volume excess. Which of the following
clinical manifestations should the nurse expect to find?
A. Flat neck veins
B. Crackles in the lungs
C. Decreased blood pressure
D. Dry mucous membranes
Answer: B
Rationale: Fluid volume excess often leads to pulmonary edema, which manifests as
crackles upon auscultation of the lungs.
7. Which of the following IV fluids is considered hypotonic?
A. 0.9% Normal Saline
B. Lactated Ringer’s
C. 5% Dextrose in 0.9% Saline
D. 0.45% Sodium Chloride
Answer: D
Rationale: 0.45% Sodium Chloride (half-normal saline) is a hypotonic solution used to
shift fluid from the intravascular space into the cells.
8. A nurse is caring for a patient who has just returned from surgery. What is the
priority nursing assessment?
A. Surgical dressing integrity
B. Level of pain
C. Airway patency
D. Urinary output
Answer: C
Fluid/Electrolytes) 2026 |Chamberlain College
1. A nurse is reviewing the informed consent process for a patient scheduled for
surgery. Which of the following is a primary responsibility of the nurse?
A. Explaining the risks and benefits of the procedure
B. Describing alternative treatments available
C. Obtaining the surgical consent from the patient
D. Witnessing the patient sign the consent form
Answer: D
Rationale: The surgeon is responsible for explaining the procedure, risks, and benefits.
The nurse’s role is to witness the signature and ensure the patient understands they are
signing a consent form.
2. A patient is being prepared for surgery and reports an allergy to avocados and
bananas. Which of the following is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Alert the surgical team of a potential latex allergy
B. Notify the dietary department
C. Document the food allergy in the medical record
D. Request a skin test for latex sensitivity
Answer: A
Rationale: An allergy to certain foods, such as avocados, bananas, and kiwis, is highly
correlated with a latex allergy due to cross-reactivity.
,3. During a surgical procedure, the patient develops muscle rigidity and a rapid
rise in body temperature. Which medication should the nurse anticipate
administering?
A. Dantrolene
B. Atropine
C. Naloxone
D. Epinephrine
Answer: A
Rationale: Malignant hyperthermia is a life-threatening complication of general
anesthesia. Dantrolene is the specific antidote used to treat the muscle rigidity and
hypermetabolic state.
4. A nurse is caring for a postoperative patient. Which of the following is the
most effective way to prevent respiratory complications like atelectasis?
A. Turning the patient every 4 hours
B. Maintaining bed rest for 24 hours
C. Encouraging the use of an incentive spirometer
D. Administering prophylactic antibiotics
Answer: C
Rationale: Incentive spirometry promotes deep breathing and lung expansion, which helps
prevent atelectasis and pneumonia in postoperative patients.
5. The nurse is assessing a patient with a potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L. Which of
the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Muscle weakness and leg cramps
B. Peaked T-waves on ECG
C. Hyperactive bowel sounds
D. Numbness and tingling in the fingers
Answer: A
, Rationale: Hypokalemia (potassium < 3.5 mEq/L) commonly causes muscle weakness, leg
cramps, and cardiac dysrhythmias (such as flattened T-waves).
6. A patient is diagnosed with fluid volume excess. Which of the following
clinical manifestations should the nurse expect to find?
A. Flat neck veins
B. Crackles in the lungs
C. Decreased blood pressure
D. Dry mucous membranes
Answer: B
Rationale: Fluid volume excess often leads to pulmonary edema, which manifests as
crackles upon auscultation of the lungs.
7. Which of the following IV fluids is considered hypotonic?
A. 0.9% Normal Saline
B. Lactated Ringer’s
C. 5% Dextrose in 0.9% Saline
D. 0.45% Sodium Chloride
Answer: D
Rationale: 0.45% Sodium Chloride (half-normal saline) is a hypotonic solution used to
shift fluid from the intravascular space into the cells.
8. A nurse is caring for a patient who has just returned from surgery. What is the
priority nursing assessment?
A. Surgical dressing integrity
B. Level of pain
C. Airway patency
D. Urinary output
Answer: C
