EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE EXPECTED QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
2026 TO 2027
1. Post OP Assessments include:
labs (CBC, electrolytes), nutrition(albumin), wound inspection, lung sounds, bowel sounds, urine output
2. Major complications related to post op:
Respiratory: Atelectasis, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism Cardiovascular: Hypotension, hypertension,
dysrhythmias, DVT GI: Nausea/vomiting, ileus, constipation GU: urinary retention, UTI Neuro: Delirium,
pain, stroke Skin: Infection, dehiscence, evisceration
3. Post-operative terms and meanings:
Dehiscence: Wound reopening Evisceration: Organs protruding through wound Atelectasis: Collapsed
alveoli, risk for pneumonia DVT: Blood clot formation and embolism SSI: Surgical site infection
4. Post OP Nursing intervention
Splinting wounds, incentive spirometry, early ambulation, right diet, hydration, pain management,
anti-embolism devices, ABC
5. Medications given preoperatively:
- Sedatives (Midazolam) - Anticholinergics (Atropine, scopolamine) reduced secretions - Antiemetics
(Phenergan) - prevents nausea - Antibiotics - infection prevention
6. Drug classifications & examples:
- NSAIDs: Inflammation, pain relief (Aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, indomethacin)- thin your blood -
Scopolamine: Anticholinergic - reduces secretions - Robinul (Glycopyrrolate): Anticholinergic, dries
secretions - Atropine: Reduces secretions, increases HR - Phenergan: Antiemetic, sedative; watch for
sedation, hypotension - Acetophenone: Tylenol - Minimal anti-inflammatory, children can take - Opioid
Analgesics: Morphine, Fenty(mcg), oxy, Dilauted= hydromorphone Severe pain, sedation
7. Post-op assessment process:
Expected: Slight temp increase, mild discomfort, return of bowel sounds in 1-3 days Unexpected: Bleeding,
fever > 101 F, tachycardia, hypoxia, wound dehiscence Importance: Early detection can prevent serious
complications
8. Prioritization post-operative:
- ABC - Maslow's Hierarchy - Adress pain, oxygenation, bleeding Example: a client with a low o2> nausea>
minor wound drainage
9. Malignant Hyperthermia (MH):
Patho: Genetic reaction to anesthesia ’ muscle rigidity, hyperthermia Signs: Increased CO2, tachycardia,
muscle rigidity, rapid temp rise, rapid temp rise. Nursing actions: Stop anesthesia, administer dantrolene,
cool patient, notify surgeon
10. Pre/post-surgical nursing interventions:
Pre: Teaching, consent check, NPO, Med review Post: Monitor VS, pain, wound, mobility, respiratory status
Safety: Fall risk, infection control, DVT prevention
11. What are the key components of pain assessment?
Includes patient self-report, influenced by culture, age, and past experience.
1
, 12. What scales are used for pain assessment?
Numeric scale, Wong-Baker faces, FLACC for non-verbal patients.
13. What are the types of pain?
Acute, chronic, nociceptive, neuropathic.
14. Adult assessment tools:
- PQRST - Wong-Baker Faces
15. PQRST
Provocative/Palliative Quality Region/Radiation Severity Timing
16. Wong-Baker Faces:
-pain rating scale asks children to compare their pain to a series of faces ranging from a broad smile to a
tearful grimace
17. Nurse/client pain observations:
Nurse sees: Facial grimacing, guarding, restlessness Client says: Descriptions like "sharp" "burning",
intensity 0-10
18. Objective VS subjective:
Objective: HR, BP, sweating, facial expressions Subjective: What patient says about their pain
19. Chronic VS Acute Pain:
Acute: Sudden onset, identifiable cause, short term Chronic: >3 months, may not have clear cause,
persistent Treatment: Acute - opioids/ NSAIDs; chronic-Multimodal, often non opioid
20. Non-pharmacologic pain relief:
Techniques: Heat/cold, repositioning, massage, distraction, guided imagery, music, tens unit When used:
Mild pain, adjunct to meds, or when meds are contraindicated
21. Nurses' role in pain relief and teaching:
Assessment: Assess pain regularly using standardized tools Interventions: Administer prescribed
medication, offer non-pharmacologic strategies Teaching: Educate patients on medication timing, side
effects, importance of reporting pain early Advocacy: Ensure pain management is adequate and tailored to
individual needs
22. Types of pain:
Nociceptive Pain: Due to tissue damage (Surgery, arthritis) described as sharp, throbbing Neuropathic
pain: Nerve damage described as burning, tingling (Diabetic neuropathy) Acute pain: Short term
identifiable cause Chronic pain: Long term, often no clear cause Referred Pain: Pain felt in a location
different from the source (MI pain in the jaw or arm)
2
2026 TO 2027
1. Post OP Assessments include:
labs (CBC, electrolytes), nutrition(albumin), wound inspection, lung sounds, bowel sounds, urine output
2. Major complications related to post op:
Respiratory: Atelectasis, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism Cardiovascular: Hypotension, hypertension,
dysrhythmias, DVT GI: Nausea/vomiting, ileus, constipation GU: urinary retention, UTI Neuro: Delirium,
pain, stroke Skin: Infection, dehiscence, evisceration
3. Post-operative terms and meanings:
Dehiscence: Wound reopening Evisceration: Organs protruding through wound Atelectasis: Collapsed
alveoli, risk for pneumonia DVT: Blood clot formation and embolism SSI: Surgical site infection
4. Post OP Nursing intervention
Splinting wounds, incentive spirometry, early ambulation, right diet, hydration, pain management,
anti-embolism devices, ABC
5. Medications given preoperatively:
- Sedatives (Midazolam) - Anticholinergics (Atropine, scopolamine) reduced secretions - Antiemetics
(Phenergan) - prevents nausea - Antibiotics - infection prevention
6. Drug classifications & examples:
- NSAIDs: Inflammation, pain relief (Aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, indomethacin)- thin your blood -
Scopolamine: Anticholinergic - reduces secretions - Robinul (Glycopyrrolate): Anticholinergic, dries
secretions - Atropine: Reduces secretions, increases HR - Phenergan: Antiemetic, sedative; watch for
sedation, hypotension - Acetophenone: Tylenol - Minimal anti-inflammatory, children can take - Opioid
Analgesics: Morphine, Fenty(mcg), oxy, Dilauted= hydromorphone Severe pain, sedation
7. Post-op assessment process:
Expected: Slight temp increase, mild discomfort, return of bowel sounds in 1-3 days Unexpected: Bleeding,
fever > 101 F, tachycardia, hypoxia, wound dehiscence Importance: Early detection can prevent serious
complications
8. Prioritization post-operative:
- ABC - Maslow's Hierarchy - Adress pain, oxygenation, bleeding Example: a client with a low o2> nausea>
minor wound drainage
9. Malignant Hyperthermia (MH):
Patho: Genetic reaction to anesthesia ’ muscle rigidity, hyperthermia Signs: Increased CO2, tachycardia,
muscle rigidity, rapid temp rise, rapid temp rise. Nursing actions: Stop anesthesia, administer dantrolene,
cool patient, notify surgeon
10. Pre/post-surgical nursing interventions:
Pre: Teaching, consent check, NPO, Med review Post: Monitor VS, pain, wound, mobility, respiratory status
Safety: Fall risk, infection control, DVT prevention
11. What are the key components of pain assessment?
Includes patient self-report, influenced by culture, age, and past experience.
1
, 12. What scales are used for pain assessment?
Numeric scale, Wong-Baker faces, FLACC for non-verbal patients.
13. What are the types of pain?
Acute, chronic, nociceptive, neuropathic.
14. Adult assessment tools:
- PQRST - Wong-Baker Faces
15. PQRST
Provocative/Palliative Quality Region/Radiation Severity Timing
16. Wong-Baker Faces:
-pain rating scale asks children to compare their pain to a series of faces ranging from a broad smile to a
tearful grimace
17. Nurse/client pain observations:
Nurse sees: Facial grimacing, guarding, restlessness Client says: Descriptions like "sharp" "burning",
intensity 0-10
18. Objective VS subjective:
Objective: HR, BP, sweating, facial expressions Subjective: What patient says about their pain
19. Chronic VS Acute Pain:
Acute: Sudden onset, identifiable cause, short term Chronic: >3 months, may not have clear cause,
persistent Treatment: Acute - opioids/ NSAIDs; chronic-Multimodal, often non opioid
20. Non-pharmacologic pain relief:
Techniques: Heat/cold, repositioning, massage, distraction, guided imagery, music, tens unit When used:
Mild pain, adjunct to meds, or when meds are contraindicated
21. Nurses' role in pain relief and teaching:
Assessment: Assess pain regularly using standardized tools Interventions: Administer prescribed
medication, offer non-pharmacologic strategies Teaching: Educate patients on medication timing, side
effects, importance of reporting pain early Advocacy: Ensure pain management is adequate and tailored to
individual needs
22. Types of pain:
Nociceptive Pain: Due to tissue damage (Surgery, arthritis) described as sharp, throbbing Neuropathic
pain: Nerve damage described as burning, tingling (Diabetic neuropathy) Acute pain: Short term
identifiable cause Chronic pain: Long term, often no clear cause Referred Pain: Pain felt in a location
different from the source (MI pain in the jaw or arm)
2
