Intraoperative NCLEX questions and answers
A break in sterile technique during surgery would occur when the scrub nurse touches
a. the mask with gloved hands
b. gloves hands to the gown at chest level
c. the drape at the incision site with gloved hands
d. the lower arms to the instruments on the instrument tray - ansA- The mask covering the face is not
considered sterile, and if in contact with sterile gloved hands, contaminates the gloves. The gown at chest level
and to 2 inches above elbows is considered sterile, as is the drape placed at the surgical area.
A preoperative patient reveals that an uncle died during surgery because of a fever and cardiac arrest. The
perioperative nurse alerts the surgical team, knowing that if the patient is at risk for malignant hyperthermia,
a. the surgery will have to be cancelled
b. specific precautions can be taken to safely anesthetize the patient
c. dantrolene (Dantrium) must be given to prevent hyperthermia during surgery
d. the patient should be placed on a cooling blanket during the surgical procedure - ansB- Although malignant
hyperthermia can result in cardiac arrest and death, if the patient is known or suspected to be at risk for the
disorder, appropriate precautions taken by the ACP can provide for safe anesthesia for the patient. Because
preventive measures are possible if the risk is known, it is critical that the preoperative assessment include a
careful family history of surgical events
At the end of the surgical procedure, the perioperative nurse evaluates the patient's response to the nursing
care delivered during the perioperative period. Which of the following criteria reflects an outcome related to
the patient's physical status?
a. the patient's right to privacy is maintained
b. the patient's care is consistent with the perioperative plan of care
c. the patient receives consistent and comparable care regardless of the setting
d. the patient's respiratory function is consistent with or improved from baseline levels established
preoperatively. - ansD- The Perioperative Nursing Data Set includes outcome statements that reflect standards
and recommended practices or perioperative nursing. Outcomes related to physiologic responses include those
of physiologic function, such as respiratory function; perioperative safety includes the patient's freedom from
any type of injury; and behavioral responses include knowledge and actions of the patient and family, including
the consistency of the patient's care with the perioperative plan and the patient's right to privacy.
, Because of the rapid elimination of volatile liquids used for general anesthesia, the nurse should anticipate that
early in the anesthesia recovery period, the patient will need
a. warm blankets
b. analgesic medication
c. observation for respiratory depression
d. airway protection in anticipation of vomiting - ansB- The volatile liquid inhalation agents have very little
residual analgesia, and patients experience early onset of pain when the agents are discontinued. They are
associated with a low incidence of nausea and vomiting. Prolonged respiratory depression is not common
because of their rapid elimination. Hypothermia is not related to use of these agents, but they may precipitate
malignant hyperthermia in conjunction with neuromuscular blocking agents.
During epidural and spinal anesthesia, the nurse should monitor the patient for
a. spinal headache
b. hypotension and bradycardia
c. loss of consciousness
d. downward extension of nerve block - ansB. During epidural and spinal anesthesia, a sympathetic nervous
system blockade may occur that results in hypotension, bradycardia, and nausea and vomiting. A spinal
headache may occur after, not during, spinal anesthesia, and unconsciousness and seizures are indicative of IV
absorption overdose. Upward extension of the effect of the anesthesia results in inadequate respiratory
excursion and apnea
During surgery, a patient has a nursing diagnosis of risk for perioperative positioning injury. A common risk
factor for this nursing diagnosis is
a. skin lesions
b. break in sterile technique
c. musculoskeletal deformities
d. electrical or mechanical equipment failure - ansC- Musculoskeletal deformities can be a risk factor for
positioning injuries and require special padding and support on the operating table. Skin lesions and break in
sterile technique are risk factors for infection, and electrical equipment failure may lead to other types of
injuries.
A break in sterile technique during surgery would occur when the scrub nurse touches
a. the mask with gloved hands
b. gloves hands to the gown at chest level
c. the drape at the incision site with gloved hands
d. the lower arms to the instruments on the instrument tray - ansA- The mask covering the face is not
considered sterile, and if in contact with sterile gloved hands, contaminates the gloves. The gown at chest level
and to 2 inches above elbows is considered sterile, as is the drape placed at the surgical area.
A preoperative patient reveals that an uncle died during surgery because of a fever and cardiac arrest. The
perioperative nurse alerts the surgical team, knowing that if the patient is at risk for malignant hyperthermia,
a. the surgery will have to be cancelled
b. specific precautions can be taken to safely anesthetize the patient
c. dantrolene (Dantrium) must be given to prevent hyperthermia during surgery
d. the patient should be placed on a cooling blanket during the surgical procedure - ansB- Although malignant
hyperthermia can result in cardiac arrest and death, if the patient is known or suspected to be at risk for the
disorder, appropriate precautions taken by the ACP can provide for safe anesthesia for the patient. Because
preventive measures are possible if the risk is known, it is critical that the preoperative assessment include a
careful family history of surgical events
At the end of the surgical procedure, the perioperative nurse evaluates the patient's response to the nursing
care delivered during the perioperative period. Which of the following criteria reflects an outcome related to
the patient's physical status?
a. the patient's right to privacy is maintained
b. the patient's care is consistent with the perioperative plan of care
c. the patient receives consistent and comparable care regardless of the setting
d. the patient's respiratory function is consistent with or improved from baseline levels established
preoperatively. - ansD- The Perioperative Nursing Data Set includes outcome statements that reflect standards
and recommended practices or perioperative nursing. Outcomes related to physiologic responses include those
of physiologic function, such as respiratory function; perioperative safety includes the patient's freedom from
any type of injury; and behavioral responses include knowledge and actions of the patient and family, including
the consistency of the patient's care with the perioperative plan and the patient's right to privacy.
, Because of the rapid elimination of volatile liquids used for general anesthesia, the nurse should anticipate that
early in the anesthesia recovery period, the patient will need
a. warm blankets
b. analgesic medication
c. observation for respiratory depression
d. airway protection in anticipation of vomiting - ansB- The volatile liquid inhalation agents have very little
residual analgesia, and patients experience early onset of pain when the agents are discontinued. They are
associated with a low incidence of nausea and vomiting. Prolonged respiratory depression is not common
because of their rapid elimination. Hypothermia is not related to use of these agents, but they may precipitate
malignant hyperthermia in conjunction with neuromuscular blocking agents.
During epidural and spinal anesthesia, the nurse should monitor the patient for
a. spinal headache
b. hypotension and bradycardia
c. loss of consciousness
d. downward extension of nerve block - ansB. During epidural and spinal anesthesia, a sympathetic nervous
system blockade may occur that results in hypotension, bradycardia, and nausea and vomiting. A spinal
headache may occur after, not during, spinal anesthesia, and unconsciousness and seizures are indicative of IV
absorption overdose. Upward extension of the effect of the anesthesia results in inadequate respiratory
excursion and apnea
During surgery, a patient has a nursing diagnosis of risk for perioperative positioning injury. A common risk
factor for this nursing diagnosis is
a. skin lesions
b. break in sterile technique
c. musculoskeletal deformities
d. electrical or mechanical equipment failure - ansC- Musculoskeletal deformities can be a risk factor for
positioning injuries and require special padding and support on the operating table. Skin lesions and break in
sterile technique are risk factors for infection, and electrical equipment failure may lead to other types of
injuries.
