PACU RN EXAM QUESTIONS AND 100%
VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS!!!
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?
0.25 mililiters
Upon inspecting a patient's epidural insertion site, you notice swelling around the catheter.
What should you do?
A) Position the patient on their side
B) Place the patient in a prone position
C) Check the epidural line for kinks
***D) Contact the anesthesia provider
What set of findings indicates a patient is likely to be ready for phase 1 discharge?
A) Has received discharge instructions, pain level 9 out 10, shortness of breath
B) Drowsy, blood pressure returned to preoperative levels, on 6 liters oxygen via face mask
***C) Drowsy, oxygen saturation of 96%, able to cough, and move all extremities
D) Fully alert, shallow breathing, on 3 liters via T-piece, can move 2 extremities
What do you consider to be a safe dose of intravenous fentanyl for an adult who does not
have tolerance to opioids?
A) 1.5 miligrams
***B) 25 micrograms
C) 100 micrograms
D 25 miligrams
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?
A) 10 mg hydralazine IV push
***B) 50 mcg fentanyl IV push
, C) 2 mg lorazepam IV push
D) 5 mg metoprolol 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?
***A) Wait until the family returns
B) Leave the discharge education on voicemail and discharge patient
C) Discharge patient with non-emergency transport
D) Take patient home yourself
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?
A) Wake up the patient to sign the consent
B) Ask a friend to sign the consent
***C) Obtain the consent from medical POA
D) Proceed with the procedure
What position would help alleviate headaches after spinal anesthesia?
A) Prone
B) Trendelenburg
C) Semi-fowlers
***D) Flat to supine
**WRONG**
What is a physical manifestation of neuromuscular blockade (Roc, succinylcholine)?
A) Decreased consciousness
B) Decreased pupillary light reflex
C) Decreased respiratory effort
**WRONG**D) Decreased sensation of pain
VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS!!!
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?
0.25 mililiters
Upon inspecting a patient's epidural insertion site, you notice swelling around the catheter.
What should you do?
A) Position the patient on their side
B) Place the patient in a prone position
C) Check the epidural line for kinks
***D) Contact the anesthesia provider
What set of findings indicates a patient is likely to be ready for phase 1 discharge?
A) Has received discharge instructions, pain level 9 out 10, shortness of breath
B) Drowsy, blood pressure returned to preoperative levels, on 6 liters oxygen via face mask
***C) Drowsy, oxygen saturation of 96%, able to cough, and move all extremities
D) Fully alert, shallow breathing, on 3 liters via T-piece, can move 2 extremities
What do you consider to be a safe dose of intravenous fentanyl for an adult who does not
have tolerance to opioids?
A) 1.5 miligrams
***B) 25 micrograms
C) 100 micrograms
D 25 miligrams
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?
A) 10 mg hydralazine IV push
***B) 50 mcg fentanyl IV push
, C) 2 mg lorazepam IV push
D) 5 mg metoprolol 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?
***A) Wait until the family returns
B) Leave the discharge education on voicemail and discharge patient
C) Discharge patient with non-emergency transport
D) Take patient home yourself
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?
A) Wake up the patient to sign the consent
B) Ask a friend to sign the consent
***C) Obtain the consent from medical POA
D) Proceed with the procedure
What position would help alleviate headaches after spinal anesthesia?
A) Prone
B) Trendelenburg
C) Semi-fowlers
***D) Flat to supine
**WRONG**
What is a physical manifestation of neuromuscular blockade (Roc, succinylcholine)?
A) Decreased consciousness
B) Decreased pupillary light reflex
C) Decreased respiratory effort
**WRONG**D) Decreased sensation of pain
