Relias PACU RN A v1,V2 [ACTUAL
EXAM] LATEST VERSION
[QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS] WITH
PRACTICE EXAM DETAILED AND
VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED PASS-
LATEST UPDATE 2025 GRADED A
Meperidine (Demerol) 12.5mg every 15 minutes, IV prn is ordered for shivering in the
PACU. Meperidine is available in 50mg/1ml. How many mililiters should be given? -
CORRECT ANSWER 0.25 mililiters
Upon inspecting a patient's epidural insertion site, you notice swelling around the
catheter. What should you do? - CORRECT ANSWER ***D) Contact the
anesthesia provider
What do you consider to be a safe dose of intravenous fentanyl for an adult who does
not have tolerance to opioids? - CORRECT ANSWER ***B) 25 micrograms
Your patient in the PACU has a blood pressure of 171/92 mmHg, a heart rate of 120,
respiratory rate of 24, is grimacing, restless, and moaning in bed. What medication
should you prepare to give FIRST? - CORRECT ANSWER ***B) 50 mcg fentanyl
IV push
You are about to discharge a day surgery patient with aphasia and you discover the
family members are not available for the discharge instructions and are not responding
to your phone calls. Business hours are over and the PACU is about to close. How will
you handle the situation? - CORRECT ANSWER ***A) Wait until the family returns
You received a patient from OR post hip replacement surgery. The anesthesiologist is
planning a nerve block in PACU, but the patient did not sign the consent for the nerve
block. How will you proceed? - CORRECT ANSWER ***C) Obtain the consent
from medical POA
What is a physical manifestation of neuromuscular blockade (Roc, succinylcholine)? -
CORRECT ANSWER C) Decreased respiratory effort
,What position would help alleviate headaches after spinal anesthesia? - CORRECT
ANSWER ***D) Flat to supine
The surgeon has ordered ampicillin (Ancef) for a patient. When you check their chart,
you see an allergy to penicillin. What is the BEST action? - CORRECT ANSWER
***D) Contact the provider to question the order
You are receiving report for a patient who had a percutaneous transluminal angioplasty
for right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease and is now recovering in the PACU.
What type of surgical dressing do you expect to find for this patient? - CORRECT
ANSWER ***C) Clear dressing applied to the right groin
You are receiving a report on a post op patients from the OR nurse and during the
report when you asked for clarifications, the OR nurse became angry, belligerent, and
rude. She ended up not answering your question. How will you proceed? - CORRECT
ANSWER ***A) Report the incident to your charge nurse
You are reviewing your orders for you 8 year-old patient that recently arrive in PACU.
Which PRN pain order would you question? - CORRECT ANSWER C) PO
ketorolac
What is a physiologic effect related to unrelieved pain? - CORRECT ANSWER
***D) Decreased healing
You are caring for a patient after placement of a percutaneous J tube. A student nurse
asks you, " Where does this tube go in the patient?" How should you answer? -
CORRECT ANSWER ***A) The tube is placed into the Jejunum
When caring for a patient who is recovering from placement of a new arteriovenous
fistula in their right arm, you observe the presence of mild edema at the site. What
should you do? - CORRECT ANSWER B) Elevate the right arm above the heart
You are caring for patient who is intubated, receiving ventilatory support, and is sedated
with a propofol infusion. Over the last 5 minutes you have decreased the propofol
infusion in preparation for extubation. The patient is now opening their eyes to voice and
following commands. What should you do NEXT to prepare the patient for immediate
extubation? - CORRECT ANSWER ***C) Stop the propofol infusion
When caring for a patient who is receiving outpatient surgery, what is the BEST way to
know that a patient's post-operative blood pressure is sufficient for discharge to home? -
CORRECT ANSWER ***B) It is +/- 20% of baseline pre-operative levels
,After surgery, a sleepy yet responsive patient with an intact gag reflex has a large
amount of salivary secretions. What should you do? - CORRECT ANSWER D)
Insert an oral airway
Where is the phlebostatic axis for leveling the transducer of an arterial line? -
CORRECT ANSWER ***A) Fourth intercostal level at the midaxillary line
A carotid endarterectomy patient arrives to you in the PACU. What initial assessment is
MOST important? - CORRECT ANSWER ***A) pupil checks
There are 4 patients in PACU: A patient who is alert but disoriented to time, a patient
who reports dizziness upon sitting upright, a patient who has partial return of sensation
after spinal, and a patient who is drowsy but awakens to touch. Which patient is MOST
ready to transfer to phase 2 post-anesthesia care? - CORRECT ANSWER B) The
patient who is alert but disoriented to time
Your patient arrives to PACU with lactated ringer's ordered at 100ml/hr. Which pre-
existing condition would make you question this order? - CORRECT ANSWER
***B) End Stage Renal Disease
While assessing your post-op patient with a new dialysis graft, what should the PACU
nurse monitor to evaluate the functionality of the graft? - CORRECT ANSWER
***D) A palpable thrill and audible bruit
You are taking care of a 300lb male status post abdominal surgery, and he requests to
be repositioned. He is currently on a hover mat. What is the BEST way to achieve this?
- CORRECT ANSWER ***C) Wait for additional assistance before moving the
patient
What is an example of Phase 1 discharge criteria? - CORRECT ANSWER ***C)
The patient can maintain their airway
You were called in at 2am and did not leave the hospital until 4am. However, your
regular shift starts at 7am, and you are extremely tired. What is the appropriate action? -
CORRECT ANSWER D) Call your manager and ask for the unit protocol
You are caring for a patient in Phase 1 recovery and they appear ready to transfer
except that their blood pressure continues to stay 50mmHg above their pre-anesthetic
SBP. At home the patient takes a diuretic and beta-blocker for hypertension. What
should you do? - CORRECT ANSWER D) Contact the anesthesia provider
You receive a patient to Phase I recovery from IR status post cerebral aneurysm
clipping. Which assessment is most important for you to perform? - CORRECT
ANSWER ***B) Pupil response, facial and extremity movement
, Which patient is MOST at risk for developing postoperative cardiogenic shock? -
CORRECT ANSWER ***B) Pt with recent MI
When setting up a morphine PCA pump for a 5'10'' female patient recovering from hip
surgery who is 49 years old, 180 lb, and has no history of sleep apnea, what is an
expected 4-hr dose limit? - CORRECT ANSWER B) 20 mg
You are caring for a postoperative thyroidectomy patient in the PACU. What is the least
likely finding for this patient? - CORRECT ANSWER ***B) Low Hgb
After a 6-hour abdominal surgery during which a patient was on their back, a patient
reports persistent lower back pain. What should you do next? - CORRECT ANSWER
C) Inspect their lower back
What is a result of shivering? - CORRECT ANSWER ***B) Increased oxygen
demand
What combination of medications is an example of multi-modal pain management? -
CORRECT ANSWER C) IV hydromorphone and IV acetaminophen
You are caring for a patient with a brachial plexus block after surgery. The patient
begins to report chest discomfort on the side where the block was placed. A 12 lead
EKG was normal. What order do you expect to be completed NEXT for this patient? -
CORRECT ANSWER ***D) Chest X-ray
You need to obtain consent from a sedated patient post hip replacement surgery for a
regional block. Two women showed up at bedside as next of kin. One has a child with
patient and the other is the patient's girlfriend. How will you obtain the consent? -
CORRECT ANSWER ***B) Look for patient's parents or immediate family
members
What instructions for care should you include when educating a patient about their
Penrose drain? - CORRECT ANSWER B) Change your dressing 2 times a day or
when it becomes wet
You are caring for a patient with a continuous basal rate PCA infusion when the patient
becomes difficult to awaken. What should you do FIRST? - CORRECT ANSWER
Hold the PCA infusion
Which factor puts a patient MOST at risk for confusion upon awakening from general
anesthesia? - CORRECT ANSWER B) Advanced Age
EXAM] LATEST VERSION
[QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS] WITH
PRACTICE EXAM DETAILED AND
VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED PASS-
LATEST UPDATE 2025 GRADED A
Meperidine (Demerol) 12.5mg every 15 minutes, IV prn is ordered for shivering in the
PACU. Meperidine is available in 50mg/1ml. How many mililiters should be given? -
CORRECT ANSWER 0.25 mililiters
Upon inspecting a patient's epidural insertion site, you notice swelling around the
catheter. What should you do? - CORRECT ANSWER ***D) Contact the
anesthesia provider
What do you consider to be a safe dose of intravenous fentanyl for an adult who does
not have tolerance to opioids? - CORRECT ANSWER ***B) 25 micrograms
Your patient in the PACU has a blood pressure of 171/92 mmHg, a heart rate of 120,
respiratory rate of 24, is grimacing, restless, and moaning in bed. What medication
should you prepare to give FIRST? - CORRECT ANSWER ***B) 50 mcg fentanyl
IV push
You are about to discharge a day surgery patient with aphasia and you discover the
family members are not available for the discharge instructions and are not responding
to your phone calls. Business hours are over and the PACU is about to close. How will
you handle the situation? - CORRECT ANSWER ***A) Wait until the family returns
You received a patient from OR post hip replacement surgery. The anesthesiologist is
planning a nerve block in PACU, but the patient did not sign the consent for the nerve
block. How will you proceed? - CORRECT ANSWER ***C) Obtain the consent
from medical POA
What is a physical manifestation of neuromuscular blockade (Roc, succinylcholine)? -
CORRECT ANSWER C) Decreased respiratory effort
,What position would help alleviate headaches after spinal anesthesia? - CORRECT
ANSWER ***D) Flat to supine
The surgeon has ordered ampicillin (Ancef) for a patient. When you check their chart,
you see an allergy to penicillin. What is the BEST action? - CORRECT ANSWER
***D) Contact the provider to question the order
You are receiving report for a patient who had a percutaneous transluminal angioplasty
for right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease and is now recovering in the PACU.
What type of surgical dressing do you expect to find for this patient? - CORRECT
ANSWER ***C) Clear dressing applied to the right groin
You are receiving a report on a post op patients from the OR nurse and during the
report when you asked for clarifications, the OR nurse became angry, belligerent, and
rude. She ended up not answering your question. How will you proceed? - CORRECT
ANSWER ***A) Report the incident to your charge nurse
You are reviewing your orders for you 8 year-old patient that recently arrive in PACU.
Which PRN pain order would you question? - CORRECT ANSWER C) PO
ketorolac
What is a physiologic effect related to unrelieved pain? - CORRECT ANSWER
***D) Decreased healing
You are caring for a patient after placement of a percutaneous J tube. A student nurse
asks you, " Where does this tube go in the patient?" How should you answer? -
CORRECT ANSWER ***A) The tube is placed into the Jejunum
When caring for a patient who is recovering from placement of a new arteriovenous
fistula in their right arm, you observe the presence of mild edema at the site. What
should you do? - CORRECT ANSWER B) Elevate the right arm above the heart
You are caring for patient who is intubated, receiving ventilatory support, and is sedated
with a propofol infusion. Over the last 5 minutes you have decreased the propofol
infusion in preparation for extubation. The patient is now opening their eyes to voice and
following commands. What should you do NEXT to prepare the patient for immediate
extubation? - CORRECT ANSWER ***C) Stop the propofol infusion
When caring for a patient who is receiving outpatient surgery, what is the BEST way to
know that a patient's post-operative blood pressure is sufficient for discharge to home? -
CORRECT ANSWER ***B) It is +/- 20% of baseline pre-operative levels
,After surgery, a sleepy yet responsive patient with an intact gag reflex has a large
amount of salivary secretions. What should you do? - CORRECT ANSWER D)
Insert an oral airway
Where is the phlebostatic axis for leveling the transducer of an arterial line? -
CORRECT ANSWER ***A) Fourth intercostal level at the midaxillary line
A carotid endarterectomy patient arrives to you in the PACU. What initial assessment is
MOST important? - CORRECT ANSWER ***A) pupil checks
There are 4 patients in PACU: A patient who is alert but disoriented to time, a patient
who reports dizziness upon sitting upright, a patient who has partial return of sensation
after spinal, and a patient who is drowsy but awakens to touch. Which patient is MOST
ready to transfer to phase 2 post-anesthesia care? - CORRECT ANSWER B) The
patient who is alert but disoriented to time
Your patient arrives to PACU with lactated ringer's ordered at 100ml/hr. Which pre-
existing condition would make you question this order? - CORRECT ANSWER
***B) End Stage Renal Disease
While assessing your post-op patient with a new dialysis graft, what should the PACU
nurse monitor to evaluate the functionality of the graft? - CORRECT ANSWER
***D) A palpable thrill and audible bruit
You are taking care of a 300lb male status post abdominal surgery, and he requests to
be repositioned. He is currently on a hover mat. What is the BEST way to achieve this?
- CORRECT ANSWER ***C) Wait for additional assistance before moving the
patient
What is an example of Phase 1 discharge criteria? - CORRECT ANSWER ***C)
The patient can maintain their airway
You were called in at 2am and did not leave the hospital until 4am. However, your
regular shift starts at 7am, and you are extremely tired. What is the appropriate action? -
CORRECT ANSWER D) Call your manager and ask for the unit protocol
You are caring for a patient in Phase 1 recovery and they appear ready to transfer
except that their blood pressure continues to stay 50mmHg above their pre-anesthetic
SBP. At home the patient takes a diuretic and beta-blocker for hypertension. What
should you do? - CORRECT ANSWER D) Contact the anesthesia provider
You receive a patient to Phase I recovery from IR status post cerebral aneurysm
clipping. Which assessment is most important for you to perform? - CORRECT
ANSWER ***B) Pupil response, facial and extremity movement
, Which patient is MOST at risk for developing postoperative cardiogenic shock? -
CORRECT ANSWER ***B) Pt with recent MI
When setting up a morphine PCA pump for a 5'10'' female patient recovering from hip
surgery who is 49 years old, 180 lb, and has no history of sleep apnea, what is an
expected 4-hr dose limit? - CORRECT ANSWER B) 20 mg
You are caring for a postoperative thyroidectomy patient in the PACU. What is the least
likely finding for this patient? - CORRECT ANSWER ***B) Low Hgb
After a 6-hour abdominal surgery during which a patient was on their back, a patient
reports persistent lower back pain. What should you do next? - CORRECT ANSWER
C) Inspect their lower back
What is a result of shivering? - CORRECT ANSWER ***B) Increased oxygen
demand
What combination of medications is an example of multi-modal pain management? -
CORRECT ANSWER C) IV hydromorphone and IV acetaminophen
You are caring for a patient with a brachial plexus block after surgery. The patient
begins to report chest discomfort on the side where the block was placed. A 12 lead
EKG was normal. What order do you expect to be completed NEXT for this patient? -
CORRECT ANSWER ***D) Chest X-ray
You need to obtain consent from a sedated patient post hip replacement surgery for a
regional block. Two women showed up at bedside as next of kin. One has a child with
patient and the other is the patient's girlfriend. How will you obtain the consent? -
CORRECT ANSWER ***B) Look for patient's parents or immediate family
members
What instructions for care should you include when educating a patient about their
Penrose drain? - CORRECT ANSWER B) Change your dressing 2 times a day or
when it becomes wet
You are caring for a patient with a continuous basal rate PCA infusion when the patient
becomes difficult to awaken. What should you do FIRST? - CORRECT ANSWER
Hold the PCA infusion
Which factor puts a patient MOST at risk for confusion upon awakening from general
anesthesia? - CORRECT ANSWER B) Advanced Age
