Perioperative nursing care
150 practice questions with answer rationales
COURSE Perioperative nursing care
QUESTIONS 150
PREPARED August 2026
,Perioperative nursing care
Exam Overview
This academic exam resource gives Nursing School a focused 150-question practice set for
Perioperative nursing care. The material is written to support careful review, practical reasoning, and
steady preparation without promotional claims or repeated title wording. Questions use clear
professional language, credible answer choices, and concise rationales that help students understand
why one option is best. The document provides high-quality academic material for independent
revision, classroom reinforcement, and identifying knowledge gaps before assessments. Students
should pair it with course notes, textbooks, instructor guidance, and current academic standards for
the strongest preparation. Each item supports careful review, confident practice, and steady.
Question 1: What is the main purpose of the preoperative nursing assessment?
A. To begin postoperative discharge teaching
B. To replace the surgeon's consent process
C. To decide the exact surgical technique
D. To determine the patient's readiness and identify risks before surgery
Answer: D
Rationale: The preoperative assessment identifies baseline status, risks, and needed interventions
before surgery.
Question 2: What is the main purpose of the perioperative nursing assessment before
surgery?
A. To delay all medications until the patient reaches the operating room
B. To replace the surgeon's diagnostic evaluation
C. To determine the final surgical incision site
D. To identify risks and establish a baseline for safe care
Answer: D
Rationale: The preoperative assessment focuses on safety: it identifies factors such as allergies,
medications, airway concerns, and baseline status. The surgeon determines the procedure and incision
site; the nurse does not replace that evaluation.
Question 3: Which action best confirms correct surgical site verification before the
procedure?
A. Asking the family to identify the site
B. Relying on the patient's verbal report only
C. Using the consent form, markings, and team verification
D. Checking the site after anesthesia is given
Answer: C
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,Perioperative nursing care
Rationale: Site verification is a safety process that includes documentation, marking, and team
checks.
Question 4: A patient removes their wedding ring before surgery. What should the nurse
do with the item?
A. Place it in the chart pocket
B. Discard it to avoid loss
C. Leave it at the bedside table
D. Label and secure it according to facility policy
Answer: D
Rationale: Patient belongings should be secured and documented per policy to prevent loss.
Question 5: Which finding should the nurse report before surgery because it increases
bleeding risk?
A. Mild anxiety
B. Normal vital signs
C. NPO status
D. Use of aspirin or anticoagulants
Answer: D
Rationale: Aspirin and anticoagulants can increase perioperative bleeding risk and must be reported.
Question 6: Before transfer to the operating room, which item is most important to verify
for informed consent?
A. The patient's preferred meal choice
B. The preoperative bath was completed
C. The patient is wearing hospital slippers
D. The surgeon has explained the procedure and the form is signed
Answer: D
Rationale: Consent must be explained by the provider performing the procedure and signed before
surgery.
Question 7: Which instruction is most appropriate for a patient who will receive general
anesthesia about eating and drinking before surgery?
A. Drink clear liquids until arrival time unless told otherwise
B. Chew gum to reduce dry mouth during the fasting period
C. Have a light meal with toast 2 hours before surgery
D. Avoid all solid food and liquids for the prescribed fasting period
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, Perioperative nursing care
Answer: D
Rationale: Preoperative fasting reduces the risk of aspiration during anesthesia. Clear liquids and
gum can still increase gastric contents or stimulate secretions, so they do not meet standard fasting
instructions.
Question 8: A patient scheduled for an elective cholecystectomy tells the nurse, "I started
having a fever and a sore throat last night." What is the nurse's best initial action?
A. Teach the patient deep-breathing exercises for after surgery
B. Give the patient a warm blanket and recheck the temperature in 1 hour
C. Proceed with transport because mild upper respiratory symptoms are common
D. Notify the surgeon and anesthesia provider before the patient is transported
Answer: D
Rationale: A new fever and sore throat can indicate an active infection or airway risk that may
change whether surgery should proceed, so the provider must be notified before transfer. Rechecking
later delays needed evaluation, and transport should not continue until the concern is addressed.
Deep-breathing teaching is useful, but it does not resolve the immediate preoperative safety issue.
Question 9: What is the primary purpose of preoperative skin antisepsis?
A. To improve wound closure strength
B. To numb the tissue before incision
C. To prevent bleeding during surgery
D. To reduce the number of microorganisms at the surgical site
Answer: D
Rationale: Skin prep lowers the microbial load and helps reduce surgical site infection risk.
Question 10: Which item should a nurse make sure is removed before the patient enters
the operating room because it can interfere with monitoring or become a hazard?
A. A hospital identification band
B. A pulse oximeter probe
C. Prescription eyeglasses
D. A silicone wristwatch
Answer: D
Rationale: Jewelry and watches are commonly removed because they can be lost, injure the patient,
or interfere with equipment and skin prep. A hospital identification band and monitoring devices must
remain in place, and glasses are usually removed later per facility policy.
Question 11: A preoperative patient reports taking aspirin daily for knee pain. Why should
the nurse clarify this medication history before surgery?
Page 3 of 42
150 practice questions with answer rationales
COURSE Perioperative nursing care
QUESTIONS 150
PREPARED August 2026
,Perioperative nursing care
Exam Overview
This academic exam resource gives Nursing School a focused 150-question practice set for
Perioperative nursing care. The material is written to support careful review, practical reasoning, and
steady preparation without promotional claims or repeated title wording. Questions use clear
professional language, credible answer choices, and concise rationales that help students understand
why one option is best. The document provides high-quality academic material for independent
revision, classroom reinforcement, and identifying knowledge gaps before assessments. Students
should pair it with course notes, textbooks, instructor guidance, and current academic standards for
the strongest preparation. Each item supports careful review, confident practice, and steady.
Question 1: What is the main purpose of the preoperative nursing assessment?
A. To begin postoperative discharge teaching
B. To replace the surgeon's consent process
C. To decide the exact surgical technique
D. To determine the patient's readiness and identify risks before surgery
Answer: D
Rationale: The preoperative assessment identifies baseline status, risks, and needed interventions
before surgery.
Question 2: What is the main purpose of the perioperative nursing assessment before
surgery?
A. To delay all medications until the patient reaches the operating room
B. To replace the surgeon's diagnostic evaluation
C. To determine the final surgical incision site
D. To identify risks and establish a baseline for safe care
Answer: D
Rationale: The preoperative assessment focuses on safety: it identifies factors such as allergies,
medications, airway concerns, and baseline status. The surgeon determines the procedure and incision
site; the nurse does not replace that evaluation.
Question 3: Which action best confirms correct surgical site verification before the
procedure?
A. Asking the family to identify the site
B. Relying on the patient's verbal report only
C. Using the consent form, markings, and team verification
D. Checking the site after anesthesia is given
Answer: C
Page 1 of 42
,Perioperative nursing care
Rationale: Site verification is a safety process that includes documentation, marking, and team
checks.
Question 4: A patient removes their wedding ring before surgery. What should the nurse
do with the item?
A. Place it in the chart pocket
B. Discard it to avoid loss
C. Leave it at the bedside table
D. Label and secure it according to facility policy
Answer: D
Rationale: Patient belongings should be secured and documented per policy to prevent loss.
Question 5: Which finding should the nurse report before surgery because it increases
bleeding risk?
A. Mild anxiety
B. Normal vital signs
C. NPO status
D. Use of aspirin or anticoagulants
Answer: D
Rationale: Aspirin and anticoagulants can increase perioperative bleeding risk and must be reported.
Question 6: Before transfer to the operating room, which item is most important to verify
for informed consent?
A. The patient's preferred meal choice
B. The preoperative bath was completed
C. The patient is wearing hospital slippers
D. The surgeon has explained the procedure and the form is signed
Answer: D
Rationale: Consent must be explained by the provider performing the procedure and signed before
surgery.
Question 7: Which instruction is most appropriate for a patient who will receive general
anesthesia about eating and drinking before surgery?
A. Drink clear liquids until arrival time unless told otherwise
B. Chew gum to reduce dry mouth during the fasting period
C. Have a light meal with toast 2 hours before surgery
D. Avoid all solid food and liquids for the prescribed fasting period
Page 2 of 42
, Perioperative nursing care
Answer: D
Rationale: Preoperative fasting reduces the risk of aspiration during anesthesia. Clear liquids and
gum can still increase gastric contents or stimulate secretions, so they do not meet standard fasting
instructions.
Question 8: A patient scheduled for an elective cholecystectomy tells the nurse, "I started
having a fever and a sore throat last night." What is the nurse's best initial action?
A. Teach the patient deep-breathing exercises for after surgery
B. Give the patient a warm blanket and recheck the temperature in 1 hour
C. Proceed with transport because mild upper respiratory symptoms are common
D. Notify the surgeon and anesthesia provider before the patient is transported
Answer: D
Rationale: A new fever and sore throat can indicate an active infection or airway risk that may
change whether surgery should proceed, so the provider must be notified before transfer. Rechecking
later delays needed evaluation, and transport should not continue until the concern is addressed.
Deep-breathing teaching is useful, but it does not resolve the immediate preoperative safety issue.
Question 9: What is the primary purpose of preoperative skin antisepsis?
A. To improve wound closure strength
B. To numb the tissue before incision
C. To prevent bleeding during surgery
D. To reduce the number of microorganisms at the surgical site
Answer: D
Rationale: Skin prep lowers the microbial load and helps reduce surgical site infection risk.
Question 10: Which item should a nurse make sure is removed before the patient enters
the operating room because it can interfere with monitoring or become a hazard?
A. A hospital identification band
B. A pulse oximeter probe
C. Prescription eyeglasses
D. A silicone wristwatch
Answer: D
Rationale: Jewelry and watches are commonly removed because they can be lost, injure the patient,
or interfere with equipment and skin prep. A hospital identification band and monitoring devices must
remain in place, and glasses are usually removed later per facility policy.
Question 11: A preoperative patient reports taking aspirin daily for knee pain. Why should
the nurse clarify this medication history before surgery?
Page 3 of 42
