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Care of the Surgical patient NCLEX review questions (NEW UPDATED VERSION)
LATEST ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS)- GUARANTEED PASS A+ UPDATED
A perioperative nurse is preparing a patient for surgery for treatment of a
ruptured spleen as the result of an automobile crash. The nurse knows that this
type of surgery belongs in what category?
a) Minor, diagnostic
b) Minor, elective
c) Major, emergency
d) Major, palliative - CORRECT ✔✔✔✔✔ Answer: Major, emergency
Rationale: This surgery would involve a major body organ, has the potential for
postoperative complications, requires hospitalization, and must be done
immediately to save the patient's life. Elective surgery is a procedure that is
preplanned by essentially healthy people. Diagnostic surgery is performed to
confirm a diagnosis. Palliative surgery is not curative, rather it is done to relieve
or reduce the intensity of an illness.
QUESTION : A nurse is preparing a patient for a cesarean section and teaches her
the effects of the regional anesthesia she will be receiving. Which effects would
the nurse expect? Select all that apply.
a) Loss of consciousness
b) Relaxation of skeletal muscles
c) Reduction or loss of reflex action
d) Localized loss of sensation
e) Prolonged pain relief after other anesthesia wears off
f) Infiltrates the underlying tissues in an operative area - CORRECT ✔✔✔✔✔
Answer: B, C
2026 2027 GRADED A+
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Rationale: A localized loss of sensation and possible loss of reflexes occurs with
a regional anesthetic. Loss of consciousness and relaxation of skeletal muscles
occurs with general anesthesia. Prolonged pain relief after other anesthesia
wears off and infiltration of the underlying tissues in an operative area occur with
topical anesthesia.
QUESTION : A nurse is preparing a patient for a cesarean section and teaches her
the effects of the regional anesthesia she will be receiving. Which effects would
the nurse expect? Select all that apply.
a) A 92-year-old patient who is severely confused
b) A 45-year-old patient who is oriented and alert
c) A 10-year-old patient who is oriented and alert
d) A 36-year-old patient who has had a narcotic
premedication
e) A 45-year-old mentally ill patient who has been ruled
incompetent
f) A 22-year old patient having an abortion against her
partner's wishes - CORRECT ✔✔✔✔✔ Answer: B, F
Rationale: A consent form is not legal if the patient signing the form is confused,
sedated, unconscious, or a minor.
QUESTION : A 72-year-old woman who is scheduled for a hip replacement is
taking several medications on a regular basis. Which drug category might create
a surgical risk for this patient?
a) Anticoagulants
b) Antacids
c) Laxatives
d) Sedatives - CORRECT ✔✔✔✔✔ Answer: Anticoagulants
2026 2027 GRADED A+
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Rationale: Anticoagulant drug therapy would increase the risk for hemorrhage
during surgery
QUESTION : A nurse is caring for an obese patient who has had surgery. The
nurse monitors this patient for what postoperative complication?
a) Hunger
b) Impaired wound healing
c) Hemorrhage
d) Gas pains - CORRECT ✔✔✔✔✔ Answer: Impaired wound healing
Rationale: Fatty tissue is less vascular and, therefore, less resistant to infection
and more prone to delayed wound healing
QUESTION : A responsibility of the nurse is the administration of preoperative
medications to patients. Which statements describe the action of these
medications? Select all that apply.
a) Diazepam is given to alleviate anxiety.
b) Ranitidine is given to facilitate patient sedation.
c) Atropine is given to decrease oral secretions.
d) Morphine is given to depress respiratory function.
e) Cimetidine is given to prevent laryngospasm.
f) Fentanyl citrate-droperidol is given to facilitate a
sense of calm. - CORRECT ✔✔✔✔✔ Answer: A,C,F
Rationale: Sedatives, such as diazepam (Valium), midazolam (Versed), or
lorazepam (Ativan) are given to alleviate anxiety and decrease recall of events
related to surgery. Anticholinergics, such as atropine and glycopyrrolate
(Robinul) are given to decrease pulmonary and oral secretions and to prevent
2026 2027 GRADED A+
, 4|Page
laryngospasm. Neuroleptanalgesic agents, such as fentanyl citrate-droperidol
(Innovar) are given to cause a general state of calm and sleepiness. Histamine-2
receptor blockers, such as cimetidine (Tagamet) and ranitidine (Zantac) are given
to decrease gastric acidity and volume. Narcotic analgesics, such as morphine,
are given to facilitate patient sedation and relaxation and to decrease the amount
of anesthetic agent needed.
QUESTION : A nurse is teaching a man scheduled to have same-day surgery.
Which teaching method would be most effective in preoperative teaching for
ambulatory surgery?
a) Lecture
b) Discussion
c) Audiovisuals
d) Written instructions - CORRECT ✔✔✔✔✔ Answer: Written instructions
Rationale: Written instructions are most effective in providing information for
same-day surgery.
QUESTION : A 70-year-old male is scheduled for surgery. He says to the nurse, "I
am so frightened—what if I don't wake up?" What would be the nurse's best
response?
a) "You have a wonderful doctor."
b) "Let's talk about how you are feeling."
c) "Everyone wakes up from surgery!"
d) "Don't worry, you will be just fine." - CORRECT ✔✔✔✔✔ Answer: "Let's talk
about how you are feeling."
Rationale: This answer allows the patient to talk about his feelings and fears, and
is therapeutic.
2026 2027 GRADED A+
Care of the Surgical patient NCLEX review questions (NEW UPDATED VERSION)
LATEST ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS)- GUARANTEED PASS A+ UPDATED
A perioperative nurse is preparing a patient for surgery for treatment of a
ruptured spleen as the result of an automobile crash. The nurse knows that this
type of surgery belongs in what category?
a) Minor, diagnostic
b) Minor, elective
c) Major, emergency
d) Major, palliative - CORRECT ✔✔✔✔✔ Answer: Major, emergency
Rationale: This surgery would involve a major body organ, has the potential for
postoperative complications, requires hospitalization, and must be done
immediately to save the patient's life. Elective surgery is a procedure that is
preplanned by essentially healthy people. Diagnostic surgery is performed to
confirm a diagnosis. Palliative surgery is not curative, rather it is done to relieve
or reduce the intensity of an illness.
QUESTION : A nurse is preparing a patient for a cesarean section and teaches her
the effects of the regional anesthesia she will be receiving. Which effects would
the nurse expect? Select all that apply.
a) Loss of consciousness
b) Relaxation of skeletal muscles
c) Reduction or loss of reflex action
d) Localized loss of sensation
e) Prolonged pain relief after other anesthesia wears off
f) Infiltrates the underlying tissues in an operative area - CORRECT ✔✔✔✔✔
Answer: B, C
2026 2027 GRADED A+
,2|Page
Rationale: A localized loss of sensation and possible loss of reflexes occurs with
a regional anesthetic. Loss of consciousness and relaxation of skeletal muscles
occurs with general anesthesia. Prolonged pain relief after other anesthesia
wears off and infiltration of the underlying tissues in an operative area occur with
topical anesthesia.
QUESTION : A nurse is preparing a patient for a cesarean section and teaches her
the effects of the regional anesthesia she will be receiving. Which effects would
the nurse expect? Select all that apply.
a) A 92-year-old patient who is severely confused
b) A 45-year-old patient who is oriented and alert
c) A 10-year-old patient who is oriented and alert
d) A 36-year-old patient who has had a narcotic
premedication
e) A 45-year-old mentally ill patient who has been ruled
incompetent
f) A 22-year old patient having an abortion against her
partner's wishes - CORRECT ✔✔✔✔✔ Answer: B, F
Rationale: A consent form is not legal if the patient signing the form is confused,
sedated, unconscious, or a minor.
QUESTION : A 72-year-old woman who is scheduled for a hip replacement is
taking several medications on a regular basis. Which drug category might create
a surgical risk for this patient?
a) Anticoagulants
b) Antacids
c) Laxatives
d) Sedatives - CORRECT ✔✔✔✔✔ Answer: Anticoagulants
2026 2027 GRADED A+
,3|Page
Rationale: Anticoagulant drug therapy would increase the risk for hemorrhage
during surgery
QUESTION : A nurse is caring for an obese patient who has had surgery. The
nurse monitors this patient for what postoperative complication?
a) Hunger
b) Impaired wound healing
c) Hemorrhage
d) Gas pains - CORRECT ✔✔✔✔✔ Answer: Impaired wound healing
Rationale: Fatty tissue is less vascular and, therefore, less resistant to infection
and more prone to delayed wound healing
QUESTION : A responsibility of the nurse is the administration of preoperative
medications to patients. Which statements describe the action of these
medications? Select all that apply.
a) Diazepam is given to alleviate anxiety.
b) Ranitidine is given to facilitate patient sedation.
c) Atropine is given to decrease oral secretions.
d) Morphine is given to depress respiratory function.
e) Cimetidine is given to prevent laryngospasm.
f) Fentanyl citrate-droperidol is given to facilitate a
sense of calm. - CORRECT ✔✔✔✔✔ Answer: A,C,F
Rationale: Sedatives, such as diazepam (Valium), midazolam (Versed), or
lorazepam (Ativan) are given to alleviate anxiety and decrease recall of events
related to surgery. Anticholinergics, such as atropine and glycopyrrolate
(Robinul) are given to decrease pulmonary and oral secretions and to prevent
2026 2027 GRADED A+
, 4|Page
laryngospasm. Neuroleptanalgesic agents, such as fentanyl citrate-droperidol
(Innovar) are given to cause a general state of calm and sleepiness. Histamine-2
receptor blockers, such as cimetidine (Tagamet) and ranitidine (Zantac) are given
to decrease gastric acidity and volume. Narcotic analgesics, such as morphine,
are given to facilitate patient sedation and relaxation and to decrease the amount
of anesthetic agent needed.
QUESTION : A nurse is teaching a man scheduled to have same-day surgery.
Which teaching method would be most effective in preoperative teaching for
ambulatory surgery?
a) Lecture
b) Discussion
c) Audiovisuals
d) Written instructions - CORRECT ✔✔✔✔✔ Answer: Written instructions
Rationale: Written instructions are most effective in providing information for
same-day surgery.
QUESTION : A 70-year-old male is scheduled for surgery. He says to the nurse, "I
am so frightened—what if I don't wake up?" What would be the nurse's best
response?
a) "You have a wonderful doctor."
b) "Let's talk about how you are feeling."
c) "Everyone wakes up from surgery!"
d) "Don't worry, you will be just fine." - CORRECT ✔✔✔✔✔ Answer: "Let's talk
about how you are feeling."
Rationale: This answer allows the patient to talk about his feelings and fears, and
is therapeutic.
2026 2027 GRADED A+
