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Shadow Health Patient Care Rounds Postoperative Check-
In Results Completed NURS 2121 Newest Exam Preparation
With Complete Questions And Correct Answers With
Rationales Already Graded A+ Brand New Version!!
1. A postoperative patient reports a pain level of 7 out of 10 at the
surgical site. What is the nurse’s priority intervention?
A. Encourage the patient to use relaxation techniques.
B. Administer prescribed IV opioid analgesic.
C. Reposition the patient to improve comfort.
D. Notify the healthcare provider of the patient's pain level.
Answer: B
Explanation: Uncontrolled postoperative pain can have detrimental
physiological and psychological effects. According to the provided
materials, a pain level greater than 4 out of 10 should be treated with
an IV opioid as ordered to maintain patient comfort and prevent
complications such as delayed recovery . While repositioning and
relaxation are important adjuncts, they are not the priority when a
patient is experiencing significant pain and is due for medication.
2. The nurse is assessing a patient who is 2 hours post-operative from a
below-knee amputation. What is the priority assessment for this
patient?
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A. Pain level at the surgical site.
B. Patency of the patient's airway.
C. The patient's emotional response to the procedure.
D. The amount of drainage on the surgical dressing.
Answer: B
Explanation: The immediate post-operative period requires strict
adherence to the ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation). Ensuring a
patent airway and adequate oxygenation is the priority to prevent life-
threatening hypoxemia . While pain, surgical site, and emotional status
are important, they are secondary to physiological stability.
3. A patient is recovering from major abdominal surgery. The nurse
notes the patient's SpO2 is 88% on room air. What is the most
appropriate first action?
A. Encourage the patient to cough and deep breathe.
B. Administer oxygen via nasal cannula.
C. Assess the patient's respiratory rate and depth.
D. Notify the rapid response team.
Answer: B
Explanation: Post-operative patients are at high risk for atelectasis
and hypoxemia. A key intervention is to maintain SpO2 at 94% or
greater using supplemental oxygen . This is a direct action to correct the
identified problem. While assessing respiratory rate and encouraging
deep breathing are also vital, administering oxygen is the immediate
priority to resolve the hypoxemia.
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4. A postoperative patient is receiving both promethazine for nausea
and oxycodone for pain. What is the nurse's most important
assessment related to this medication combination?
A. The patient's level of alertness and sedation.
B. The patient's pain level.
C. The patient's bowel sounds.
D. The patient's urinary output.
Answer: A
Explanation: Both promethazine and oxycodone have sedative effects.
When administered together, these effects are additive, increasing the
patient's risk for respiratory depression . Therefore, a priority
assessment is monitoring the patient's level of consciousness and
sedation to intervene early if respiratory depression is suspected.
5. The nurse is preparing a patient for surgery and is reviewing the
preoperative checklist. The patient has a signed surgery consent form.
What additional action is required of the nurse regarding informed
consent?
A. Ask the patient if they have any questions about the procedure.
B. Co-sign the consent form as a witness.
C. Explain the risks and benefits of the procedure.
D. Administer preoperative sedatives.
Answer: A
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Explanation: The nurse’s role in informed consent is to verify the
patient has been informed and is ready for surgery. The RN cannot
provide the informed consent themselves (the provider must do this) .
They can, however, act as a witness to the signature and ask the patient
basic questions to confirm their understanding, ensuring the patient can
state what procedure they are having done .
6. A patient who had surgery yesterday now has a temperature of
101.2°F (38.4°C). What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Administer antipyretics as ordered.
B. Obtain blood cultures and notify the provider.
C. Increase oral fluid intake.
D. Apply a cooling blanket.
Answer: B
Explanation: A postoperative fever can indicate a developing infection
such as a surgical site infection or pneumonia. While the patient may
eventually receive antipyretics, the priority is to identify the source.
Obtaining blood cultures before administering antibiotics and notifying
the provider are critical steps in addressing a potential infection .
7. During the postoperative assessment, the nurse observes that the
surgical dressing is saturated with bright red blood. What is the nurse's
immediate action?
A. Reinforce the dressing with additional gauze.
B. Document the finding in the patient's chart.
Shadow Health Patient Care Rounds Postoperative Check-
In Results Completed NURS 2121 Newest Exam Preparation
With Complete Questions And Correct Answers With
Rationales Already Graded A+ Brand New Version!!
1. A postoperative patient reports a pain level of 7 out of 10 at the
surgical site. What is the nurse’s priority intervention?
A. Encourage the patient to use relaxation techniques.
B. Administer prescribed IV opioid analgesic.
C. Reposition the patient to improve comfort.
D. Notify the healthcare provider of the patient's pain level.
Answer: B
Explanation: Uncontrolled postoperative pain can have detrimental
physiological and psychological effects. According to the provided
materials, a pain level greater than 4 out of 10 should be treated with
an IV opioid as ordered to maintain patient comfort and prevent
complications such as delayed recovery . While repositioning and
relaxation are important adjuncts, they are not the priority when a
patient is experiencing significant pain and is due for medication.
2. The nurse is assessing a patient who is 2 hours post-operative from a
below-knee amputation. What is the priority assessment for this
patient?
,2|Page
A. Pain level at the surgical site.
B. Patency of the patient's airway.
C. The patient's emotional response to the procedure.
D. The amount of drainage on the surgical dressing.
Answer: B
Explanation: The immediate post-operative period requires strict
adherence to the ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation). Ensuring a
patent airway and adequate oxygenation is the priority to prevent life-
threatening hypoxemia . While pain, surgical site, and emotional status
are important, they are secondary to physiological stability.
3. A patient is recovering from major abdominal surgery. The nurse
notes the patient's SpO2 is 88% on room air. What is the most
appropriate first action?
A. Encourage the patient to cough and deep breathe.
B. Administer oxygen via nasal cannula.
C. Assess the patient's respiratory rate and depth.
D. Notify the rapid response team.
Answer: B
Explanation: Post-operative patients are at high risk for atelectasis
and hypoxemia. A key intervention is to maintain SpO2 at 94% or
greater using supplemental oxygen . This is a direct action to correct the
identified problem. While assessing respiratory rate and encouraging
deep breathing are also vital, administering oxygen is the immediate
priority to resolve the hypoxemia.
,3|Page
4. A postoperative patient is receiving both promethazine for nausea
and oxycodone for pain. What is the nurse's most important
assessment related to this medication combination?
A. The patient's level of alertness and sedation.
B. The patient's pain level.
C. The patient's bowel sounds.
D. The patient's urinary output.
Answer: A
Explanation: Both promethazine and oxycodone have sedative effects.
When administered together, these effects are additive, increasing the
patient's risk for respiratory depression . Therefore, a priority
assessment is monitoring the patient's level of consciousness and
sedation to intervene early if respiratory depression is suspected.
5. The nurse is preparing a patient for surgery and is reviewing the
preoperative checklist. The patient has a signed surgery consent form.
What additional action is required of the nurse regarding informed
consent?
A. Ask the patient if they have any questions about the procedure.
B. Co-sign the consent form as a witness.
C. Explain the risks and benefits of the procedure.
D. Administer preoperative sedatives.
Answer: A
, 4|Page
Explanation: The nurse’s role in informed consent is to verify the
patient has been informed and is ready for surgery. The RN cannot
provide the informed consent themselves (the provider must do this) .
They can, however, act as a witness to the signature and ask the patient
basic questions to confirm their understanding, ensuring the patient can
state what procedure they are having done .
6. A patient who had surgery yesterday now has a temperature of
101.2°F (38.4°C). What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Administer antipyretics as ordered.
B. Obtain blood cultures and notify the provider.
C. Increase oral fluid intake.
D. Apply a cooling blanket.
Answer: B
Explanation: A postoperative fever can indicate a developing infection
such as a surgical site infection or pneumonia. While the patient may
eventually receive antipyretics, the priority is to identify the source.
Obtaining blood cultures before administering antibiotics and notifying
the provider are critical steps in addressing a potential infection .
7. During the postoperative assessment, the nurse observes that the
surgical dressing is saturated with bright red blood. What is the nurse's
immediate action?
A. Reinforce the dressing with additional gauze.
B. Document the finding in the patient's chart.
