,NUR242/NUR 242 Exam 1 | Medical-Surgical
Nursing | Galen College | Q & A | 2026/2027
Edition (PDF)
**1. A client is scheduled for surgery, and the nurse is obtaining informed consent. The client cannot
read or write. Which action should the nurse take?**
A) Have the spouse sign the consent form
B) Notify administration to appoint a legal guardian
C) Allow the client to sign with an "X" in front of two witnesses
D) Cancel the surgery until the client can sign
Correct Answer: Allow the client to sign with an "X" in front of two witnesses
Rationale: The lack of ability to read or write does not constitute incapacity to give legal consent. If the
client meets all other legal and clinical aspects of competence, he or she may use an "X" to demonstrate
consent if the act is witnessed by two persons.
**2. The nurse is preparing a client for surgery. Which classification of surgery is performed without
delay due to a life-threatening condition?**
A) Elective surgery
B) Urgent surgery
C) Emergent surgery
D) Optional surgery
Correct Answer: Emergent surgery
Rationale: Emergent surgery is performed without delay because the situation is life-threatening. Think
"EMERGENt" = EMERGENCY. Urgent surgery is performed within 24-30 hours, elective surgery is
scheduled at the client's convenience, and optional surgery is based on personal preference.
,**3. A client is scheduled for surgery within the next 24 hours due to an acute condition that is not
immediately life-threatening. The nurse identifies this surgery as:**
A) Elective surgery
B) Urgent surgery
C) Emergent surgery
D) Optional surgery
Correct Answer: Urgent surgery
Rationale: Urgent surgery is performed within 24-30 hours for a condition that requires prompt
attention but is not immediately life-threatening. Emergent surgery is without delay, elective surgery is
scheduled at the client's convenience, and optional surgery is based on personal preference.
**4. The nurse is teaching a client about the perioperative periods. Which timeframe is correctly
matched with the intraoperative period?**
A) From decision for surgery to transfer to the OR table
B) From transfer to the OR table to the PACU
C) From admission to PACU to follow-up appointment
D) From discharge to home
Correct Answer: From transfer to the OR table to the PACU
Rationale: The intraoperative period is the time from when the patient is transferred to the operating
room table until they arrive in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). The preoperative period begins
when the decision for surgical intervention is made, and the postoperative period begins with admission
to PACU.
**5. A client asks the nurse about the difference between elective and optional surgery. Which response
by the nurse is correct?**
A) "Elective surgery is performed without delay."
B) "Optional surgery is based on personal preference."
C) "Elective surgery is performed within 24-30 hours."
, D) "Optional surgery is performed for life-threatening conditions."
Correct Answer: "Optional surgery is based on personal preference."
Rationale: Optional surgery is based on personal preference. Elective surgery is scheduled at the client's
convenience and failure to have surgery is not catastrophic. Emergent surgery is performed without
delay, and urgent surgery is performed within 24-30 hours.
**6. The nurse is performing a surgical scrub. Which technique is correct for rinsing the hands and
forearms?**
A) Rinse starting at the hand with water running up the forearm
B) Rinse starting with the hand positioned so water runs off the elbows
C) Rinse hands and forearms together simultaneously
D) Rinse the forearms first, then the hands
Correct Answer: Rinse starting with the hand positioned so water runs off the elbows
Rationale: When rinsing after a surgical scrub, the hands should be positioned so that water runs off the
elbows (water runs down from the hands toward the elbows). This prevents contaminated water from
running back over clean hands.
**7. The nurse is caring for an elderly, bedridden client. The nurse aide is struggling to lift the client.
What does the No-Lift Policy entail?**
A) Nurses are not allowed to lift patients under any circumstances
B) Proper equipment will be available to reduce risks associated with manual patient handling
C) Only male staff members are allowed to lift patients
D) Patients must be able to lift themselves
Correct Answer: Proper equipment will be available to reduce risks associated with manual patient
handling
Nursing | Galen College | Q & A | 2026/2027
Edition (PDF)
**1. A client is scheduled for surgery, and the nurse is obtaining informed consent. The client cannot
read or write. Which action should the nurse take?**
A) Have the spouse sign the consent form
B) Notify administration to appoint a legal guardian
C) Allow the client to sign with an "X" in front of two witnesses
D) Cancel the surgery until the client can sign
Correct Answer: Allow the client to sign with an "X" in front of two witnesses
Rationale: The lack of ability to read or write does not constitute incapacity to give legal consent. If the
client meets all other legal and clinical aspects of competence, he or she may use an "X" to demonstrate
consent if the act is witnessed by two persons.
**2. The nurse is preparing a client for surgery. Which classification of surgery is performed without
delay due to a life-threatening condition?**
A) Elective surgery
B) Urgent surgery
C) Emergent surgery
D) Optional surgery
Correct Answer: Emergent surgery
Rationale: Emergent surgery is performed without delay because the situation is life-threatening. Think
"EMERGENt" = EMERGENCY. Urgent surgery is performed within 24-30 hours, elective surgery is
scheduled at the client's convenience, and optional surgery is based on personal preference.
,**3. A client is scheduled for surgery within the next 24 hours due to an acute condition that is not
immediately life-threatening. The nurse identifies this surgery as:**
A) Elective surgery
B) Urgent surgery
C) Emergent surgery
D) Optional surgery
Correct Answer: Urgent surgery
Rationale: Urgent surgery is performed within 24-30 hours for a condition that requires prompt
attention but is not immediately life-threatening. Emergent surgery is without delay, elective surgery is
scheduled at the client's convenience, and optional surgery is based on personal preference.
**4. The nurse is teaching a client about the perioperative periods. Which timeframe is correctly
matched with the intraoperative period?**
A) From decision for surgery to transfer to the OR table
B) From transfer to the OR table to the PACU
C) From admission to PACU to follow-up appointment
D) From discharge to home
Correct Answer: From transfer to the OR table to the PACU
Rationale: The intraoperative period is the time from when the patient is transferred to the operating
room table until they arrive in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). The preoperative period begins
when the decision for surgical intervention is made, and the postoperative period begins with admission
to PACU.
**5. A client asks the nurse about the difference between elective and optional surgery. Which response
by the nurse is correct?**
A) "Elective surgery is performed without delay."
B) "Optional surgery is based on personal preference."
C) "Elective surgery is performed within 24-30 hours."
, D) "Optional surgery is performed for life-threatening conditions."
Correct Answer: "Optional surgery is based on personal preference."
Rationale: Optional surgery is based on personal preference. Elective surgery is scheduled at the client's
convenience and failure to have surgery is not catastrophic. Emergent surgery is performed without
delay, and urgent surgery is performed within 24-30 hours.
**6. The nurse is performing a surgical scrub. Which technique is correct for rinsing the hands and
forearms?**
A) Rinse starting at the hand with water running up the forearm
B) Rinse starting with the hand positioned so water runs off the elbows
C) Rinse hands and forearms together simultaneously
D) Rinse the forearms first, then the hands
Correct Answer: Rinse starting with the hand positioned so water runs off the elbows
Rationale: When rinsing after a surgical scrub, the hands should be positioned so that water runs off the
elbows (water runs down from the hands toward the elbows). This prevents contaminated water from
running back over clean hands.
**7. The nurse is caring for an elderly, bedridden client. The nurse aide is struggling to lift the client.
What does the No-Lift Policy entail?**
A) Nurses are not allowed to lift patients under any circumstances
B) Proper equipment will be available to reduce risks associated with manual patient handling
C) Only male staff members are allowed to lift patients
D) Patients must be able to lift themselves
Correct Answer: Proper equipment will be available to reduce risks associated with manual patient
handling
