Med-Surg Pre-Op, Intra-Op & Post-Op Review Questions and Answers
2026 | Surgical Nursing Exam Prep & Study Guide
Prex-xOpxQuestionsx-x
1.xDuringxthexpreoperativexinterview,xaxpatientxscheduledxforxanxelectivexhysterectomyxtellsxthexnurse,x
IxamxafraidxthatxIxwillxdiexinxsurgeryxlikexmyxmotherxdid!xWhichxresponsexbyxthexnursexisxmostxappropri
ate?
a.
Tellxmexmorexaboutxwhatxhappenedxtoxyourxmother.
b.
Youxwillxreceivexmedicationsxtoxreducexyourxanxiety.
c.
Youxshouldxtalkxtoxthexdoctorxagainxaboutxthexsurgery.
d.
Surgicalxtechniquesxhaveximprovedxaxlotxinxrecentxyears.x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅ANS:xA
Thexpatientsxstatementxmayxindicatexanxunusuallyxhighxanxietyxlevelxorxaxfamilyxhistoryxofxproblemsxsu
chxasxmalignantxhyperthermia,xwhichxwillxrequirexprecautionsxduringxsurgery.xThexotherxstatementsxals
oxmayxaddressxthexpatientsxconcerns,xbutxfurtherxassessmentxisxneededxfirst.
2.xAxpatientxarrivesxatxthexambulatoryxsurgeryxcenterxforxaxscheduledxoutpatientxsurgery.xWhichxinform
ationxisxofxmostxconcernxtoxthexnurse?
a.
Thexpatientxhasxnotxhadxoutpatientxsurgeryxbefore.
b.
Thexpatientxisxplanningxtoxdrivexhomexafterxsurgery.
c.
Thexpatientsxinsurancexdoesxnotxcoverxoutpatientxsurgery.
d.
Thexpatientxhadxaxglassxofxwaterxaxfewxhoursxbeforexarriving.x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅ANS:xB
,Afterxoutpatientxsurgery,xthexpatientxshouldxnotxdrivexhomexandxwillxneedxassistancexwithxtransportati
onxandxhomexcare.xThexpatientsxexperiencexwithxoutpatientxsurgeryxisxassessed,xbutxitxdoesxnotxhavexa
sxmuchxapplicationxtoxthexpatientsxphysiologicxsafety.xThexpatientsxinsurancexcoveragexisximportantxtox
establish,xbutxthisxisxnotxusuallyxthexnursesxrolexorxaxpriorityxinxnursingxcare.xHavingxclearxliquidsxaxfewx
hoursxbeforexsurgeryxdoesxnotxusuallyxincreasexriskxforxaspiration.
3.xAxpatientxwhoxisxscheduledxforxsurgeryxinxaxweekxtellsxthexnursexdoingxthexpreoperativexassessmentx
aboutxanxallergyxtoxbananas,xkiwifruit,xandxlatexxproducts.xWhichxactionxisxmostximportantxforxthexnurs
extoxtake?
a.
Notifyxthexdietitianxaboutxthexfoodxallergies.
b.
Alertxthexsurgeryxcenterxaboutxthexlatexxallergy.
c.
Reassurexthexpatientxthatxallxallergiesxarexnotedxonxthexmedicalxrecord.
d.
Askxwhetherxthexpatientxusesxantihistaminesxtoxreducexallergicxreactions.x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅ANS:xB
Whenxaxpatientxisxallergicxtoxlatex,xspecialxnonlatexxmaterialsxarexusedxduringxsurgicalxproceduresxandxt
hexstaffxwillxneedxtoxknowxaboutxthexallergyxinxadvancextoxobtainxappropriatexnonlatexxmaterialsxandxh
avexthemxavailablexonxthexsurgicalxdate.xThexotherxactionsxalsoxmayxbexappropriate,xbutxpreventionxofx
allergicxreactionx(eitherxcontactxdermatitisxorxanaphylaxis)xduringxsurgeryxisxthexmostximportantxaction.
4.xAnyxpatientxguiltxaboutxhavingxaxtherapeuticxabortionxmayxbexidentifiedxwhenxthexnursexassessesxth
exfunctionalxhealthxpatternxof
a.
value-belief.
b.
cognitive-perceptual.
c.
sexuality-reproductive.
d.
, coping-stressxtolerance.x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅ANS:xA
Thexvalue-
beliefxpatternxincludesxinformationxaboutxconflictsxbetweenxaxpatientsxvaluesxandxproposedxmedicalxca
re.xInxthexcognitive-
perceptualxpattern,xthexnursexwillxaskxquestionsxaboutxpainxandxsensoryxintactness.xThexsexuality-
reproductivexpatternxincludesxdataxaboutxtheximpactxofxthexsurgeryxonxthexpatientsxsexuality.xThexcopi
ng-
stressxtolerancexpatternxassessmentxwillxelicitxinformationxaboutxhowxthexpatientxfeelsxaboutxthexsurge
ry.
5.xDuringxthexpreoperativexassessmentxofxaxpatientxscheduledxforxaxcolonxresection,xthexpatientxtellsxth
exnursexaboutxusingxSt.xJohnsxwortxtoxpreventxdepression.xThexnursexshouldxalertxthexstaffxinxthexposta
nesthesiaxrecoveryxareaxthatxthexpatientxmay
a.
experiencexincreasedxpain.
b.
havexhypertensivexepisodes.
c.
takexlongerxtoxrecoverxfromxthexanesthesia.
d.
havexmorexpostoperativexbleedingxthanxexpected.x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅ANS:xC
St.xJohnsxwortxmayxprolongxthexeffectsxofxanestheticxagentsxandxincreasexthextimextoxwakenxcompletel
yxafterxsurgery.xItxisxnotxassociatedxwithxincreasedxbleedingxrisk,xhypertension,xorxincreasedxpain.
6.xOnxthexdayxofxsurgery,xthexnursexisxadmittingxaxpatientxwithxaxhistoryxofxcigarettexsmoking.xWhichxac
tionxisxmostximportantxatxthisxtime?
a.
Auscultatexforxadventitiousxbreathxsounds.
b.
Askxwhetherxthexpatientxhasxsmokedxrecently.
c.
Remindxthexpatientxaboutxharmfulxeffectsxofxsmoking.
2026 | Surgical Nursing Exam Prep & Study Guide
Prex-xOpxQuestionsx-x
1.xDuringxthexpreoperativexinterview,xaxpatientxscheduledxforxanxelectivexhysterectomyxtellsxthexnurse,x
IxamxafraidxthatxIxwillxdiexinxsurgeryxlikexmyxmotherxdid!xWhichxresponsexbyxthexnursexisxmostxappropri
ate?
a.
Tellxmexmorexaboutxwhatxhappenedxtoxyourxmother.
b.
Youxwillxreceivexmedicationsxtoxreducexyourxanxiety.
c.
Youxshouldxtalkxtoxthexdoctorxagainxaboutxthexsurgery.
d.
Surgicalxtechniquesxhaveximprovedxaxlotxinxrecentxyears.x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅ANS:xA
Thexpatientsxstatementxmayxindicatexanxunusuallyxhighxanxietyxlevelxorxaxfamilyxhistoryxofxproblemsxsu
chxasxmalignantxhyperthermia,xwhichxwillxrequirexprecautionsxduringxsurgery.xThexotherxstatementsxals
oxmayxaddressxthexpatientsxconcerns,xbutxfurtherxassessmentxisxneededxfirst.
2.xAxpatientxarrivesxatxthexambulatoryxsurgeryxcenterxforxaxscheduledxoutpatientxsurgery.xWhichxinform
ationxisxofxmostxconcernxtoxthexnurse?
a.
Thexpatientxhasxnotxhadxoutpatientxsurgeryxbefore.
b.
Thexpatientxisxplanningxtoxdrivexhomexafterxsurgery.
c.
Thexpatientsxinsurancexdoesxnotxcoverxoutpatientxsurgery.
d.
Thexpatientxhadxaxglassxofxwaterxaxfewxhoursxbeforexarriving.x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅ANS:xB
,Afterxoutpatientxsurgery,xthexpatientxshouldxnotxdrivexhomexandxwillxneedxassistancexwithxtransportati
onxandxhomexcare.xThexpatientsxexperiencexwithxoutpatientxsurgeryxisxassessed,xbutxitxdoesxnotxhavexa
sxmuchxapplicationxtoxthexpatientsxphysiologicxsafety.xThexpatientsxinsurancexcoveragexisximportantxtox
establish,xbutxthisxisxnotxusuallyxthexnursesxrolexorxaxpriorityxinxnursingxcare.xHavingxclearxliquidsxaxfewx
hoursxbeforexsurgeryxdoesxnotxusuallyxincreasexriskxforxaspiration.
3.xAxpatientxwhoxisxscheduledxforxsurgeryxinxaxweekxtellsxthexnursexdoingxthexpreoperativexassessmentx
aboutxanxallergyxtoxbananas,xkiwifruit,xandxlatexxproducts.xWhichxactionxisxmostximportantxforxthexnurs
extoxtake?
a.
Notifyxthexdietitianxaboutxthexfoodxallergies.
b.
Alertxthexsurgeryxcenterxaboutxthexlatexxallergy.
c.
Reassurexthexpatientxthatxallxallergiesxarexnotedxonxthexmedicalxrecord.
d.
Askxwhetherxthexpatientxusesxantihistaminesxtoxreducexallergicxreactions.x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅ANS:xB
Whenxaxpatientxisxallergicxtoxlatex,xspecialxnonlatexxmaterialsxarexusedxduringxsurgicalxproceduresxandxt
hexstaffxwillxneedxtoxknowxaboutxthexallergyxinxadvancextoxobtainxappropriatexnonlatexxmaterialsxandxh
avexthemxavailablexonxthexsurgicalxdate.xThexotherxactionsxalsoxmayxbexappropriate,xbutxpreventionxofx
allergicxreactionx(eitherxcontactxdermatitisxorxanaphylaxis)xduringxsurgeryxisxthexmostximportantxaction.
4.xAnyxpatientxguiltxaboutxhavingxaxtherapeuticxabortionxmayxbexidentifiedxwhenxthexnursexassessesxth
exfunctionalxhealthxpatternxof
a.
value-belief.
b.
cognitive-perceptual.
c.
sexuality-reproductive.
d.
, coping-stressxtolerance.x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅ANS:xA
Thexvalue-
beliefxpatternxincludesxinformationxaboutxconflictsxbetweenxaxpatientsxvaluesxandxproposedxmedicalxca
re.xInxthexcognitive-
perceptualxpattern,xthexnursexwillxaskxquestionsxaboutxpainxandxsensoryxintactness.xThexsexuality-
reproductivexpatternxincludesxdataxaboutxtheximpactxofxthexsurgeryxonxthexpatientsxsexuality.xThexcopi
ng-
stressxtolerancexpatternxassessmentxwillxelicitxinformationxaboutxhowxthexpatientxfeelsxaboutxthexsurge
ry.
5.xDuringxthexpreoperativexassessmentxofxaxpatientxscheduledxforxaxcolonxresection,xthexpatientxtellsxth
exnursexaboutxusingxSt.xJohnsxwortxtoxpreventxdepression.xThexnursexshouldxalertxthexstaffxinxthexposta
nesthesiaxrecoveryxareaxthatxthexpatientxmay
a.
experiencexincreasedxpain.
b.
havexhypertensivexepisodes.
c.
takexlongerxtoxrecoverxfromxthexanesthesia.
d.
havexmorexpostoperativexbleedingxthanxexpected.x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅ANS:xC
St.xJohnsxwortxmayxprolongxthexeffectsxofxanestheticxagentsxandxincreasexthextimextoxwakenxcompletel
yxafterxsurgery.xItxisxnotxassociatedxwithxincreasedxbleedingxrisk,xhypertension,xorxincreasedxpain.
6.xOnxthexdayxofxsurgery,xthexnursexisxadmittingxaxpatientxwithxaxhistoryxofxcigarettexsmoking.xWhichxac
tionxisxmostximportantxatxthisxtime?
a.
Auscultatexforxadventitiousxbreathxsounds.
b.
Askxwhetherxthexpatientxhasxsmokedxrecently.
c.
Remindxthexpatientxaboutxharmfulxeffectsxofxsmoking.
