FLORIDA BOARD OF NURSING CERTIFIED
PLASTIC SURGERY NURSE EXAM WITH
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS, PLUS EXPLAINED
RATIONALES/EXPERT VERIFIED FOR
GUARANTEED 100% PASS 2026/LATEST
UPDATE/INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Preoperative assessment
A 46-year-old patient is scheduled for an abdominoplasty with
liposuction under general anesthesia. During the preoperative
assessment, the patient reports taking an estrogen-containing oral
contraceptive, smoking approximately one pack of cigarettes daily, and
having experienced unilateral calf swelling after a previous surgical
procedure. Which nursing action is the priority?
A. Document the information and continue with the routine preoperative
checklist
B. Instruct the patient to discontinue all medications immediately
C. Notify the surgeon/anesthesia team promptly because the patient has
multiple thromboembolic risk factors
D. Encourage the patient to ambulate immediately before surgery
Answer: C. Notify the surgeon/anesthesia team promptly because
the patient has multiple thromboembolic risk factors
Rationale: The combination of estrogen exposure, active smoking,
prior postoperative calf swelling suggestive of possible venous
thromboembolism, and major body-contouring surgery substantially
increases concern for perioperative thromboembolic complications.
The nurse should communicate these findings promptly so the surgical
and anesthesia teams can reassess risk and determine an appropriate
1
,prophylaxis and surgical plan. Simply documenting the findings is
inadequate because potentially significant risk information requires
clinical communication and escalation.
2. Surgical-site infection
A patient is postoperative day 5 following breast reduction surgery. The
nurse observes increasing erythema extending approximately 4 cm
beyond the incision, warmth, worsening tenderness, purulent drainage,
and a temperature of 38.5°C (101.3°F). Which complication should the
nurse suspect?
A. Normal inflammatory healing
B. Surgical-site infection
C. Seroma without infection
D. Expected postoperative edema
Answer: B. Surgical-site infection
Rationale: Increasing rather than decreasing erythema, warmth,
worsening pain, purulent drainage, and fever are concerning for
surgical-site infection. Normal postoperative inflammation should
generally improve rather than progressively worsen. The nurse should
notify the surgeon promptly, obtain cultures if ordered, monitor
systemic status, and anticipate antimicrobial treatment or wound
intervention.
3. Hemorrhage after abdominoplasty
Two hours after abdominoplasty, a patient becomes increasingly
restless. Blood pressure decreases from 128/76 mmHg to 94/58 mmHg,
heart rate increases from 82 to 118/min, and the abdominal dressing
becomes rapidly saturated. What is the nurse's priority action?
2
,A. Encourage oral fluids
B. Reassess the patient in 30 minutes
C. Notify the surgeon immediately while initiating appropriate
emergency assessment and support
D. Remove all abdominal dressings permanently
Answer: C. Notify the surgeon immediately while initiating
appropriate emergency assessment and support
Rationale: Tachycardia, hypotension, restlessness, and rapidly
increasing wound drainage are classic warning signs of significant
blood loss. Postoperative hemorrhage can progress rapidly to
hypovolemic shock. The nurse should immediately escalate the
situation, assess airway/breathing/circulation, maintain appropriate
monitoring and IV access, and prepare for laboratory testing,
fluid/blood replacement, and possible return to the operating room.
4. Flap viability
A patient undergoes reconstructive breast surgery involving a skin flap.
Several hours later, the flap appears pale, cool, and significantly less
responsive to gentle assessment than earlier. Which finding is most
concerning?
A. Mild postoperative edema
B. Slight bruising along the incision
C. Progressive pallor and coolness of the flap
D. Mild incisional discomfort
Answer: C. Progressive pallor and coolness of the flap
Rationale: A flap requires adequate arterial inflow and venous
drainage. Pallor and coolness can indicate compromised arterial
perfusion, whereas a congested, dusky, swollen flap may suggest
venous outflow obstruction. Early recognition is critical because
3
, prolonged vascular compromise can result in tissue necrosis. The
nurse should immediately notify the surgical team and follow the
institution's flap-monitoring protocol.
5. Venous congestion of a flap
A postoperative free flap is increasingly swollen, dark red to purple,
warm, and has brisk but abnormal capillary refill. Which complication is
most likely?
A. Arterial insufficiency
B. Venous outflow obstruction
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Normal flap maturation
Answer: B. Venous outflow obstruction
Rationale: Venous congestion commonly presents with swelling,
increasing duskiness or purple discoloration, and abnormal or brisk
capillary refill because blood enters the tissue but cannot adequately
leave through the venous system. Arterial insufficiency more typically
causes pallor, coolness, and delayed capillary refill. Rapid surgical
evaluation is essential because prolonged congestion can lead to tissue
loss.
6. Fat embolism syndrome
A patient develops sudden hypoxemia, confusion, tachycardia, and
petechial rash several hours after extensive liposuction. Which
complication is most concerning?
A. Fat embolism syndrome
B. Simple postoperative dehydration
4
PLASTIC SURGERY NURSE EXAM WITH
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS, PLUS EXPLAINED
RATIONALES/EXPERT VERIFIED FOR
GUARANTEED 100% PASS 2026/LATEST
UPDATE/INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Preoperative assessment
A 46-year-old patient is scheduled for an abdominoplasty with
liposuction under general anesthesia. During the preoperative
assessment, the patient reports taking an estrogen-containing oral
contraceptive, smoking approximately one pack of cigarettes daily, and
having experienced unilateral calf swelling after a previous surgical
procedure. Which nursing action is the priority?
A. Document the information and continue with the routine preoperative
checklist
B. Instruct the patient to discontinue all medications immediately
C. Notify the surgeon/anesthesia team promptly because the patient has
multiple thromboembolic risk factors
D. Encourage the patient to ambulate immediately before surgery
Answer: C. Notify the surgeon/anesthesia team promptly because
the patient has multiple thromboembolic risk factors
Rationale: The combination of estrogen exposure, active smoking,
prior postoperative calf swelling suggestive of possible venous
thromboembolism, and major body-contouring surgery substantially
increases concern for perioperative thromboembolic complications.
The nurse should communicate these findings promptly so the surgical
and anesthesia teams can reassess risk and determine an appropriate
1
,prophylaxis and surgical plan. Simply documenting the findings is
inadequate because potentially significant risk information requires
clinical communication and escalation.
2. Surgical-site infection
A patient is postoperative day 5 following breast reduction surgery. The
nurse observes increasing erythema extending approximately 4 cm
beyond the incision, warmth, worsening tenderness, purulent drainage,
and a temperature of 38.5°C (101.3°F). Which complication should the
nurse suspect?
A. Normal inflammatory healing
B. Surgical-site infection
C. Seroma without infection
D. Expected postoperative edema
Answer: B. Surgical-site infection
Rationale: Increasing rather than decreasing erythema, warmth,
worsening pain, purulent drainage, and fever are concerning for
surgical-site infection. Normal postoperative inflammation should
generally improve rather than progressively worsen. The nurse should
notify the surgeon promptly, obtain cultures if ordered, monitor
systemic status, and anticipate antimicrobial treatment or wound
intervention.
3. Hemorrhage after abdominoplasty
Two hours after abdominoplasty, a patient becomes increasingly
restless. Blood pressure decreases from 128/76 mmHg to 94/58 mmHg,
heart rate increases from 82 to 118/min, and the abdominal dressing
becomes rapidly saturated. What is the nurse's priority action?
2
,A. Encourage oral fluids
B. Reassess the patient in 30 minutes
C. Notify the surgeon immediately while initiating appropriate
emergency assessment and support
D. Remove all abdominal dressings permanently
Answer: C. Notify the surgeon immediately while initiating
appropriate emergency assessment and support
Rationale: Tachycardia, hypotension, restlessness, and rapidly
increasing wound drainage are classic warning signs of significant
blood loss. Postoperative hemorrhage can progress rapidly to
hypovolemic shock. The nurse should immediately escalate the
situation, assess airway/breathing/circulation, maintain appropriate
monitoring and IV access, and prepare for laboratory testing,
fluid/blood replacement, and possible return to the operating room.
4. Flap viability
A patient undergoes reconstructive breast surgery involving a skin flap.
Several hours later, the flap appears pale, cool, and significantly less
responsive to gentle assessment than earlier. Which finding is most
concerning?
A. Mild postoperative edema
B. Slight bruising along the incision
C. Progressive pallor and coolness of the flap
D. Mild incisional discomfort
Answer: C. Progressive pallor and coolness of the flap
Rationale: A flap requires adequate arterial inflow and venous
drainage. Pallor and coolness can indicate compromised arterial
perfusion, whereas a congested, dusky, swollen flap may suggest
venous outflow obstruction. Early recognition is critical because
3
, prolonged vascular compromise can result in tissue necrosis. The
nurse should immediately notify the surgical team and follow the
institution's flap-monitoring protocol.
5. Venous congestion of a flap
A postoperative free flap is increasingly swollen, dark red to purple,
warm, and has brisk but abnormal capillary refill. Which complication is
most likely?
A. Arterial insufficiency
B. Venous outflow obstruction
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Normal flap maturation
Answer: B. Venous outflow obstruction
Rationale: Venous congestion commonly presents with swelling,
increasing duskiness or purple discoloration, and abnormal or brisk
capillary refill because blood enters the tissue but cannot adequately
leave through the venous system. Arterial insufficiency more typically
causes pallor, coolness, and delayed capillary refill. Rapid surgical
evaluation is essential because prolonged congestion can lead to tissue
loss.
6. Fat embolism syndrome
A patient develops sudden hypoxemia, confusion, tachycardia, and
petechial rash several hours after extensive liposuction. Which
complication is most concerning?
A. Fat embolism syndrome
B. Simple postoperative dehydration
4
