Periopera ve Nursing (Test Bank) With complete
solu on | RATED A+ | NEW 2026 RATED A+
ANS: C
Periopera ve nursing care occurs before, during, and a er surgery. Preadmission tes ng occurs
before surgery and is considered preopera ve. Nursing care provided during the surgical
procedure is considered intraopera ve, and in the postanesthesia care unit, it is considered
postopera ve. All of these are parts of the periopera ve phase, but each individual phase does
not explain the term completely.
1. The nurse is caring for a surgical pa ent, when the family member asks what periopera ve
nursing means. How should the nurse respond?
a. Periopera ve nursing occurs in preadmission tes ng.
b. Periopera ve nursing occurs primarily in the post-anesthesia care unit.
c. Periopera ve nursing includes ac vi es before, during, and a er surgery.
d. Periopera ve nursing includes ac vi es only during the surgical procedure.
ANS: B
Reviewing the pa ent's laboratory tests and allergies is done before surgery in the preopera ve
phase. Periopera ve means before, during, and a er surgery. Intraopera ve means during the
surgical procedure in the opera ng suite; postopera ve means a er the surgery and could
occur in the postanesthesia care unit, in the ambulatory surgical area, or on the hospital unit.
2. The nurse is caring for a pa ent who is scheduled to undergo a surgical procedure. The nurse
is comple ng an assessment and reviews the pa ent's laboratory tests and allergies and
prepares the pa ent for surgery. In which periopera ve nursing phase is the nurse working?
a. Periopera ve
b. Preopera ve
c. Intraopera ve
d. Postopera ve
ANS: D
An emergency procedure must be done immediately to save a life or preserve the func on of a
body part. An example would be repair of a perforated appendix, repair of a trauma c
amputa on, or control of internal hemorrhaging. An urgent procedure is necessary for a
pa ent's health and o en prevents addi onal problems from developing. An example would be
,excision of a cancerous tumor, removal of a gallbladder for stones, or vascular repair for an
obstructed artery. An elec ve procedure is performed on the basis of the pa ent's choice; it is
not essen al and is not always necessary for health. An example would be a bunionectomy,
plas c surgery, or hernia reconstruc on. A major procedure involves extensive reconstruc on or
altera on in body parts; it poses great risks to well-being. An example would be a coronary
artery bypass or colon resec on.
3. The nurse is caring for a pa ent in the postanesthesia care unit. The pa ent has developed
profuse bleeding from the surgical site, and the surgeon has determined the need to return to
the opera ve area. How will the nurse classify this procedure?
a. Major
b. Urgent
c. Elec ve
d. Emergency
ANS: C
An ASA III ra ng is a pa ent with a severe systemic disease, such as poorly controlled
hypertension with an implanted pacemaker. ASA I is a normal healthy pa ent with no major
illnesses or condi ons. ASA II is a pa ent with mild systemic disease. ASA V is a moribund
pa ent who is not expected to survive without the opera on and includes pa ents with
ruptured abdominal/thoracic aneurysm or massive trauma.
4. The nurse is caring for a pa ent in preadmission tes ng. The pa ent has been assigned a
physical status classifica on by the American Society of Anesthesiologists of ASA III. Which
assessment will support this classifica on?
a. Normal, healthy pa ent
b. Denial of any major illnesses or condi ons
c. Poorly controlled hypertension with implanted pacemaker
d. Moribund pa ent not expected to survive without the opera on
ANS: B
Moderate seda on (conscious seda on) is used rou nely for procedures that do not require
complete anesthesia but rather a depressed level of consciousness. Not all pa ents who are
treated on an outpa ent basis receive moderate seda on. Regional anesthesia such as local
anesthesia provides loss of sensa on in an area of the body. General anesthesia is used for
pa ents who need to be immobile and to not remember the surgical procedure.
, 5. The pa ent has presented to the ambulatory surgery center to have a colonoscopy. The
pa ent is scheduled to receive moderate seda on (conscious seda on) during the procedure.
How will the nurse interpret this informa on?
a. The procedure results in loss of sensa on in an area of the body.
b. The procedure requires a depressed level of consciousness.
c. The procedure will be performed on an outpa ent basis.
d. The procedure necessitates the pa ent to be immobile.
ANS: A
Induc on of regional anesthesia results in loss of sensa on in an area of the body—in this case,
the le leg. The peripheral nerve block influences the por ons of sensory pathways that are
anesthe zed in the targeted area of the body. Decreased pulse, toes cool to touch, and cyanosis
are indica ons of decreased blood flow and are not expected findings. Reports of pain in the
le foot may indicate that the block is not working or is subsiding and is not an expected finding
in the immediate postopera ve period.
6. The nurse is caring for a pa ent in the post-anesthesia care unit who has undergone a le
total knee arthroplasty. The anesthesia provider has indicated that the pa ent received a le
femoral peripheral nerve block. Which assessment will be an expected finding for this pa ent?
a. Sensa on decreased in the le leg
b. Pa ent report of pain in the le foot
c. Pulse decreased at the le posterior bia
d. Le toes cool to touch and slightly cyano c
ANS: B
The goal of the preopera ve assessment is to iden fy a pa ent's normal preopera ve func on
and the presence of any risks to recognize, prevent, and minimize possible postopera ve
complica ons. Gathering appropriate equipment, planning care, and educa ng the pa ent and
family are all important interven ons that must be provided for the surgical pa ent; they are
part of the nursing process but are not the priority reason/goal for comple ng an assessment of
the surgical pa ent.
7. The nurse is preparing a pa ent for surgery. Which goal is a priority for assessing the pa ent
before surgery?
a. Plan for care a er the procedure.
b. Establish a pa ent's baseline of normal func on.
solu on | RATED A+ | NEW 2026 RATED A+
ANS: C
Periopera ve nursing care occurs before, during, and a er surgery. Preadmission tes ng occurs
before surgery and is considered preopera ve. Nursing care provided during the surgical
procedure is considered intraopera ve, and in the postanesthesia care unit, it is considered
postopera ve. All of these are parts of the periopera ve phase, but each individual phase does
not explain the term completely.
1. The nurse is caring for a surgical pa ent, when the family member asks what periopera ve
nursing means. How should the nurse respond?
a. Periopera ve nursing occurs in preadmission tes ng.
b. Periopera ve nursing occurs primarily in the post-anesthesia care unit.
c. Periopera ve nursing includes ac vi es before, during, and a er surgery.
d. Periopera ve nursing includes ac vi es only during the surgical procedure.
ANS: B
Reviewing the pa ent's laboratory tests and allergies is done before surgery in the preopera ve
phase. Periopera ve means before, during, and a er surgery. Intraopera ve means during the
surgical procedure in the opera ng suite; postopera ve means a er the surgery and could
occur in the postanesthesia care unit, in the ambulatory surgical area, or on the hospital unit.
2. The nurse is caring for a pa ent who is scheduled to undergo a surgical procedure. The nurse
is comple ng an assessment and reviews the pa ent's laboratory tests and allergies and
prepares the pa ent for surgery. In which periopera ve nursing phase is the nurse working?
a. Periopera ve
b. Preopera ve
c. Intraopera ve
d. Postopera ve
ANS: D
An emergency procedure must be done immediately to save a life or preserve the func on of a
body part. An example would be repair of a perforated appendix, repair of a trauma c
amputa on, or control of internal hemorrhaging. An urgent procedure is necessary for a
pa ent's health and o en prevents addi onal problems from developing. An example would be
,excision of a cancerous tumor, removal of a gallbladder for stones, or vascular repair for an
obstructed artery. An elec ve procedure is performed on the basis of the pa ent's choice; it is
not essen al and is not always necessary for health. An example would be a bunionectomy,
plas c surgery, or hernia reconstruc on. A major procedure involves extensive reconstruc on or
altera on in body parts; it poses great risks to well-being. An example would be a coronary
artery bypass or colon resec on.
3. The nurse is caring for a pa ent in the postanesthesia care unit. The pa ent has developed
profuse bleeding from the surgical site, and the surgeon has determined the need to return to
the opera ve area. How will the nurse classify this procedure?
a. Major
b. Urgent
c. Elec ve
d. Emergency
ANS: C
An ASA III ra ng is a pa ent with a severe systemic disease, such as poorly controlled
hypertension with an implanted pacemaker. ASA I is a normal healthy pa ent with no major
illnesses or condi ons. ASA II is a pa ent with mild systemic disease. ASA V is a moribund
pa ent who is not expected to survive without the opera on and includes pa ents with
ruptured abdominal/thoracic aneurysm or massive trauma.
4. The nurse is caring for a pa ent in preadmission tes ng. The pa ent has been assigned a
physical status classifica on by the American Society of Anesthesiologists of ASA III. Which
assessment will support this classifica on?
a. Normal, healthy pa ent
b. Denial of any major illnesses or condi ons
c. Poorly controlled hypertension with implanted pacemaker
d. Moribund pa ent not expected to survive without the opera on
ANS: B
Moderate seda on (conscious seda on) is used rou nely for procedures that do not require
complete anesthesia but rather a depressed level of consciousness. Not all pa ents who are
treated on an outpa ent basis receive moderate seda on. Regional anesthesia such as local
anesthesia provides loss of sensa on in an area of the body. General anesthesia is used for
pa ents who need to be immobile and to not remember the surgical procedure.
, 5. The pa ent has presented to the ambulatory surgery center to have a colonoscopy. The
pa ent is scheduled to receive moderate seda on (conscious seda on) during the procedure.
How will the nurse interpret this informa on?
a. The procedure results in loss of sensa on in an area of the body.
b. The procedure requires a depressed level of consciousness.
c. The procedure will be performed on an outpa ent basis.
d. The procedure necessitates the pa ent to be immobile.
ANS: A
Induc on of regional anesthesia results in loss of sensa on in an area of the body—in this case,
the le leg. The peripheral nerve block influences the por ons of sensory pathways that are
anesthe zed in the targeted area of the body. Decreased pulse, toes cool to touch, and cyanosis
are indica ons of decreased blood flow and are not expected findings. Reports of pain in the
le foot may indicate that the block is not working or is subsiding and is not an expected finding
in the immediate postopera ve period.
6. The nurse is caring for a pa ent in the post-anesthesia care unit who has undergone a le
total knee arthroplasty. The anesthesia provider has indicated that the pa ent received a le
femoral peripheral nerve block. Which assessment will be an expected finding for this pa ent?
a. Sensa on decreased in the le leg
b. Pa ent report of pain in the le foot
c. Pulse decreased at the le posterior bia
d. Le toes cool to touch and slightly cyano c
ANS: B
The goal of the preopera ve assessment is to iden fy a pa ent's normal preopera ve func on
and the presence of any risks to recognize, prevent, and minimize possible postopera ve
complica ons. Gathering appropriate equipment, planning care, and educa ng the pa ent and
family are all important interven ons that must be provided for the surgical pa ent; they are
part of the nursing process but are not the priority reason/goal for comple ng an assessment of
the surgical pa ent.
7. The nurse is preparing a pa ent for surgery. Which goal is a priority for assessing the pa ent
before surgery?
a. Plan for care a er the procedure.
b. Establish a pa ent's baseline of normal func on.
